Yes, the barrel is bulged. The plan now is to convert the barrel into a 26" modified choke. One of the owners of a local gun shop is a machinist in his other life and he is going to measure the ID of the barrel to see if he can remove the damaged section and leave me with 26" give or take and a proper modified or improved modified dimension, then re-install the bead. I'm actually pleased with this, since the full choke wasn't really what I want anyway. I was thinking of having it bored out to a modified anyway, and although this is a little more pricey I can live with it.