Abnormal discharge of shotgun

S

Stevefancypix

Member
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Location
Vancouver Island
Has anyone experienced a shotgun that immediately scatters shot out of the barrel? Instead of the wad containing and then expanding and releasing the shot in a controlled way. From the GoPro video I have it looks like the wad disintegrates out of the top barrel along with the normal pattern of shot.

If you have heard of this before what could be the cause?

Shotgun: browning 725 20g field. Browning ds chokes ic (bottom) modified (top)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3388.jpg
    IMG_3388.jpg
    36.2 KB · Views: 465
  • IMG_3387.jpg
    IMG_3387.jpg
    20.2 KB · Views: 466
You are correct, it does look like the wad is all ready disintegrating as it is coming out of the barrel. What kind of ammunition are you using? Might be worth cutting one of them open to inspect the wad itself.
 
Plastic wads usually open up and stay in one piece, not disintegrate. What make of ammunition is it? Does other ammo do this?
 
Just a thought - how old is that ammo? Unlikely, but old brittle wads maybe? Also, what kind of shape are your barrels and chokes, and is there a ridge at the transition from the bore to the choke? Maybe there's something happening in there that's shredding your wads and scattering your shot? Might be worthwhile to take a closer look, maybe with a bore scope. Doesn't have to be damage or improperly seated chokes either, excessive fouling, oil and/or grease can cause pressures to rise quite a bit (thousands of psi in some cases).
 
Just for kicks have you tried to recreate that on paper, like at 5 yards or so? I'm just asking because I'm really surprised a go-pro can record at a frame-rate that would be capable of recording a single frame with individual shot pellets clearly visible like that. It almost seems like the velocity is way down and the powder is somehow bypassing the wad and burning/exploding at the muzzle and forcing shot sideways.
 
My frame rate on the camera was 60 fps. If you don't know, means 60 individual images per second. Gopro has capability of shooting at 120 fps.

I just did a thorough cleaning of my choke tubes and they were pretty grimy. If I have to guess i'm thinking that's the cause. @denydart Your suggestion of trying to recreate it at 5 yards or so is a good idea. I'll definitely try that and hopefully the deep clean on the chokes solves the problem. @Canuck65 It does not seem like there is a ridge between the bore or the chokes and the bores seem spotless. It makes me think the major cause would be significant carbon build up on the chokes themselves being that is a constriction point with the build up of psi as you were mentioning. Thoughts?
 
The wad is visible in the top pic. The cloud of pellets looks ok.

I wonder if the shrapnel is shot cards coming apart? Not pellets.

Pattern the gun with the ammo in question.
 
I don't think your chokes (dirty or clean) are the cause of this... wad failure due to what? Brittle? Cut a shell open, remove the wad and bend it and see if you can break it...
 
Looks like the old Mark V Winchester stuff that had a plastic wrap around the shot and fibre under wads. A little research shows that Winchester is now using a plastic wad with collapsible leg section in the Super X line. How old are your shells?
Darryl
 
All in all, the photos make me think that the quality of the stated brands of shell has fallen to the level of their bulk .22 LR ammo, which is a pretty deep pit to fall into.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom