Fix for pitted shotgun barrel?

colin455

colin455

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I have a nice old double barrel 12ga from my grandfather in nice shape except for the barrel being badly pitted just in front of the chamber. I would be hesitant to use it in it's current condition. I would like to use it with my son on the occasional duck hunt. It would be a nice memory for him to be able to use his great-grandfathers shotgun with his dad on a hunt.
My question is - is there a fix for this condition? Bore and sleeve, Nicasil, chrome line....anything? It isn't a $10,000 gun destined for the Museum. It's a nice shooter with a long and strong family history that I'd like to perserve and enhance if possible.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Guys.
 
I've seen stories of lightly pitted barrels working just fine. After all, it's a shotgun and not a precision long range rifle. As long as the pitting isn't so deep that it compromises the ability to hold in the pressure I'd say just clean it up with a bore brush and carry on.
 
Depending on the age and choke of the gun I would do a little research before putting steel shot through it. Sometimes the fixed full choke will cause the barrel to bulge at the constriction.
 
The pitting in one barrel is large and deep enough to cause me to refrain from firing it. Depth of pitting is unknown as I have no way to measure. Not sure if I can get a picture of it, just trying to find alternate routes to try before I take up a gunsmiths time.
 
I wouldn't even consider using steel shot in a gun of that age.

Damascas or Nitro rated it was not made to handle steel and will almost certainly be damaged. Possible that the shooter will be too.

Depending on the pitting, if its damascas it might handle light lead shot trap loads. Many people would recommend against that and personally I shoot only black powder in the ones I use.

Have a gunsmith check it and then maybe use it for some upland gamebirds. For the right piece (and price) sleeving might be an option.
 
I would get a couple of 20 gauge inserts. That would take care of any pitting and pressure problems. I would also get a competent gunsmith to check it over before you invest in inserts.
 
Over and above the pitting issue, you need to have the chambers bored for a long forcing cone and the choke reduced before firing steel shot through it. Alternately would be handloading with bismuth shot, if you can find it and sticking with moderate loads, after addressing the pitting issue

cheers mooncoon
 
Thanks for the advice guys. It isn't a damascus barrel so I don't have to worry about that. I'll have to try and find a gunsmith in or near Edmonton that can bore out the forcing cone. Of course providing that it is within specs. I had thought Nicasil plating or chrome lining would have been an option. Anybody know about those processes and if they might be an option?
 
Plating the barrel won't fill in pits or other damage. Any sort of plating is only as good as the metal it covers.

You're doing the right thing by having a good smith inspect and pass judgement on the surface damage and what actions are possible. They may even suggest the same back boring that was shown in the Midway video to remove some or all of the pitting.
 
Pitted barrel

I have an old Damascus-barreled 24 gauge, and the barrel was quite pitted. I found that it would chamber modern 20 gauge ammo. Given that the chamber is only 2 1/2 in., I buy cheap 20 gauge ammo, dump out the lead and power, reload with a very mild black powder load (about 30 gr.), use card and felt for wadding, put about 1/2 the shot back with an over-shot wad and re-crimp. I've been shooting it this way for almost 30 years, without a problem. It always served me fine for grouse.
 
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