I have an old Iver Johnson Champion .410 single shot shotgun that has a slight buldge about 8" back from the muzzle. I do not know exactly how it happened, but obviously the gun was fired with some kind of obstruction in the bore (wad, mud or snow would be my guess). I know the previous owner had fired it after the buldge was present, is this safe practice or has this shotgun become a wall-hanger? Thank you for your replies, WK
Slight Buldge in Shotgun Barrel, is it Still Usable?
- Thread starter WeakKnee
- Start date
Potato boy
Regular
- Location
- North of the mountain
This^^^^, You can pick up used single shot shotguns for 100 bucks or less, if you can’t keep it legal by cutting the barrel just sell it for parts,it’s not worth the risk
You may have yourself a jug choke. Could be a bit further back from the muzzle as normally desired but I see no reason not to shoot the gun if there's no evidence of stress or metal fatigue. . Jug choking was common, years back, with open choked shotguns where the inside bore diameter was increased slightly, a few inches from the muzzle, creating an inner choke commonly referred to as a jug choke..
On a single shot iver. I don't think so. Plus it was inside the bore not a outside difference like a bulge
Cheers
Jug Choke - A form of choke boring sometimes performed on an older gun with less constriction than now desired---achieved by reaming the bore to a larger internal diameter a few inches back from the muzzle so that the existing diameter at the muzzle becomes, de facto, a constriction.
How long is the barrel?
Shotguns aren't exactly the most high pressure firearms. I'd be tempted to still use it - people iron out bumps in shotgun barrels, I don't see how this is much different?
I'm interested to see what the experts say when they chime in.
Shotguns aren't exactly the most high pressure firearms. I'd be tempted to still use it - people iron out bumps in shotgun barrels, I don't see how this is much different?
I'm interested to see what the experts say when they chime in.
Willy Tincup
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Owen Sound
I would use it as it but monitor the appearance of the bulge after every shot [single shot gun] for several shots. Any sign of cracking or change then I would chop it or hang it, whatever........otherwise continue to enjoy it.
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
Pressure in a shotgun barrel has dropped considerably when it gets to where you indicated the location of the bulge. Having said that the bulged area has likely expanded to it's limit and even reduced pressure could cause it to fail. I would not shoot it. Like anything else fatigued it could handle a lifetime of shooting or it could fail on the next shot.
Darryl
Darryl
Gee. thanks for the education, but I know what a jug choke is. What the hell does a single shot Iver have to do with it?
If the barrel is slightly bulged I believe it's fair to assume the inside diameter is increased along with the outside. . What'do think huh? .
It's only a .410.....just don't be shooting any slugs or buckshot......bird shot should be fine....I'd use it till it blows
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
.410 shotguns generate more pressure than IIRC all other gauges.
Darryl
Darryl
It bulged because of an obstruction right where it bulged. Just make sure the barrel is not obstructed again.
Shoot what ever you want in it... the bulge is far enough away from the choke it should not adversely affect anything and the bulge that far away from the chamber presents no safety concerns for me. A sawed off .410 with no choke is pretty useless.
Shoot what ever you want in it... the bulge is far enough away from the choke it should not adversely affect anything and the bulge that far away from the chamber presents no safety concerns for me. A sawed off .410 with no choke is pretty useless.
What I think is this guy who loves models 21's may have heard of a jug choke but never owned one HUH???
Sorry I pissed you off but you need education since here is a drawing of one and there is ZERO outside bulge in the barrel. The inside is not increased like you think
The iver is too cheap of a gun for some to have paid to have this work done plus who opens a single shot 410 choke
Cheers
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What I think is this guy who loves models 21's may have heard of a jug choke but never owned one HUH???
Sorry I pissed you off but you need education since here is a drawing of one and there is ZERO outside bulge in the barrel. The inside is not increased like you think
The iver is too cheap of a gun for some to have paid to have this work done plus who opens a single shot 410 choke
Cheers
3macs1, I think what Rod was originally suggesting was that accidental bulge had, in effect, created a jug choke. I don’t think he ever meant to suggest that someone had taken the gun to a smith and paid to have it jug choked.
I'd shoot it, just because... Bear in mind that thickness of barrel required to hold the hoop stress near the end of the barrel (not at the choke constriction) would be in the order of 30 thou. The extra barrel meat is to provide mechanical rigidity.
Thank you for all the knowledgable responses. Lucky the bludge is right at 19", if the barrel was cut at 18.5" it would be still legal and the buldge would be gone. It would be easy to re-tap the bead sight again. What about forcing a choke on the exterior of the barrel, I have read that this was done on shotguns in the past? This is beyond the gun smithing I can do, but will be an option to the person I sell it to cheap. WK
