bending a shotgun barrel?

[Gatehouse]

I have a cheap as hell single shot 20 guage, I think it's a CIL or something.

Single shot, break open, and I bought it years ago for $30, at Lever Arms.

I often chuck it in the back of the truck to nail agrouse or 3 on the road when big game hunting. I don't take it out when I am "grouse hunting"

The problem is that it shoots really low. I dont' use it for wingshooting, just sluicing . If I am careful, I keep the bead well above the grouse head, and just nail the head. If I screw up, and hold too low...Grouse gets shredded (it's a full choke)

I seem to remember an articel some time ago about bending a barrel to shoot higher/lower. IIRC, they clamped it in a vise, stuck a pipe over (or in) the barel, and just yarded it up , or some other bubba mechanics like that.

I don't want to spend alot on a $30 gun, any suggestions?? Maybe I shoudl just leave well enough alone and shoot high all the time..

Or maybe I should chop the barrel a bit and leave it as an open choke so I dont' blow grouse to hell??

 

[guntech]

If you can put a gentle bend in it, that's all you need to do. If you bend it too much... bend it back.

 

[sunray]

How long's the barrel?

 

[beretta boy]

Solidly supporting both ends of the barrel, apply some reasonable pressure ( a hand press works great - a barrel is not all that hard to bend) to the centre of the barrel to cause a slight bend upwards. Standard procedure years ago when installing Simmons Ribs ( done after the rib supports were silver soldered on and machined, but before the rib was fitted ) Careful not to overdue it. Strongly suggest patterning the gun at 10 yards with a careful hold and a rest first, then bending a little at a time and re-shooting, until you get the pattern to impactwhere your point of aim is. A .010 ( "ten thou" ) bend will move the impact point considerably !

Once done, I would also suggest cutting the barrel back a 1/2 " to remove some (but likely not all) of the choke. Make sure there are no burrs and you finish the muzzle off square. Will solve another part of your dilema. And with only $ 30 invested, you ain't got a lot to lose !