Question on an old H&R single 16ga

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Seagull

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I just inherited my Grandfather's grouse gun, H&R Model 48 Topper16 ga. and noticed a slight bulge about where the the choke is. I found it when I was running a cloth over it to clean it up, just felt weird as the barrel tapered as normal but then all of a sudden got slightly fatter and then smaller again. Is this normal? I really don't think it is as there is some crud build up on the inside but if anyone has one around that could check for me it would be appreciated.
 
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Thanks, the bulge is almost at the muzzle end and not the chamber. I am thiking it might be due to the slight powder build up on the inside as I can feel a diameter change on the outside. Is this even possible that a lack of barrel cleaning could cause this?
 
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Im having troubles with the discpretion, if you can take a picture It would HELP alot. ALL I think of with out seeing it would be powder build up, severly damaged choke, rust etc
 
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Fleguel - Bulged near the choke you say? Older full choke barrel? This is the classic sign that someone was shooting steel shot loads through the gun. (hunting ducks?) That could/would have bulged the barrel right where the chokes begin. These guns were built for lead shot.

It may or may not be a problem. To find out, you need to shoot the gun at paper (30 X 30 inches), using lead bird shot, at a distance of at least 16 yards. In some cases the bulge will not matter much and the gun will remain useable. In other cases the gun will just blow the pellets all over the sky, rendering it useless.

From your description the bulge is not that large, and you do not mention any visible cracks or other signs of metal stress. The gun may be safe to shoot, but certainly not with steel shot.


Sharptail
 
When I was a kid I did the same thing to a 12 ga Topper when I fired a round with a partial snow obstruction in the barrel. Like yours, the barrel bulged slightly just behind the choke. You should pattern the gun, chances are you will find it produces an unuasual pattern.
 
dutchhunter said:
just havetwoor three inches cut off by a smith DUTCH
Click to expand...

That would certainly eliminate the bulge. It would also eliminate the choke. Unless you intend to only shoot to distances of 25 yards or less, I wouldn't recommend turning your gun into cylinder bore.

You could have a choke threaded in after cutting the barrel, but cutting and threading will cost as much or more than the gun is worth (even without the bulge).
 
So a little more investigation reveals that the there was a lot of power residue right where the buldge was, maybe build up from many years. I would bet it was 1/32" thick in some spots. Even when cleaning, the patch (wad of paper towel) went through this area really easy tell me it is expanded quite a bit. I think the choke would be useless but a patterning shot would tell, not sure I want to be the one pulling the trigger :)

I know for sure it was Not steel shot that did this, Grampa didn't believe they even made steel shot :) I also haven't seen steel in 16 ga. anywhere yet and it is hard enough to find lead 16ga.

Well might but a cut off of a couple of inchs but I hope not, will have to see how it patterns if I think it is safe to do.

Thanks guys
 
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