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Buldged Barrel (fire or not)

mawhtb
Hi,
I have an Berreta BL3(era1980's) O/U and the top barrel is buldged, took it to a gunsmith and he said I could fire it 1 time or 1000 times.

My question is what would... happen if something went wrong. Would the barrel break apart or would it just split. also if I use it has a single shot would it effect the the bulgded barrel.

I know some say its ok to fire and some say no.

Its my favorite gun and with the South Dakota opener this weekend I don't have time to look for another gun.

If anyone has advice would like to hear from you.

Thanks
David
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • babun
    Where is buldged {sp} and how badly?? Pics please. My uncle shot a single barrel trap gun for years with a pregnant spot about 5" from the muzzle and and he swore it made the patterns better. By the way, many specialized target shot guns use a back bored or oversized bore for that very reason. In short if it was ballooned on the first 14" or so from the chamber end, I would worry about pressures, but towards the muzzle the pressures drop a lot. Be careful. Bob
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by babun
    Where is buldged {sp} and how badly?? Pics please. My uncle shot a single barrel trap gun for years with a pregnant spot about 5" from the muzzle and and he swore it made the patterns better. By the way, many specialized target shot guns use a back bored or oversized bore for that very reason. In short if it was ballooned on the first 14" or so from the chamber end, I would worry about pressures, but towards the muzzle the pressures drop a lot. Be careful. Bob


    #1- Back boring is not the same as a bulge. The steel has been streaaed at the bulge, and not at the backbore.

    #2-It is not advisable to maybe shoot any firearm with a ringed or bulged barrel. That is a bad practice to give information, that could possibly get SOMEONE ELSES face blown off.

    mawhtb,

    Your gunsmith was trying to tell you that he wouldn't. Eventually that bulge will burst, it is just not known when it will. The first shot, or the 1000th, might be the straw that broke. I would call Beretta USA, and ask them for help. I would refrain from shooting it.

    Best

    EDIT 1

    babun,

    Now that was not me you sold those to. I do not do much work on shotguns, other than general cleaning, repair, or sight mounting. Just rifles and handguns, and extreme accuracy are my specialty.

    Best
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  • gearheaddad
    I'm far from an expert, but there is NO WAY I would shoot a gun with a bulged barrel.
    Great excuse to buy a new gun. If you like your BL-3 watch the auction side and step up to a BL-4. Auto ejectors!
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  • babun
    quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by babun
    Where is buldged {sp} and how badly?? Pics please. My uncle shot a single barrel trap gun for years with a pregnant spot about 5" from the muzzle and and he swore it made the patterns better. By the way, many specialized target shot guns use a back bored or oversized bore for that very reason. In short if it was ballooned on the first 14" or so from the chamber end, I would worry about pressures, but towards the muzzle the pressures drop a lot. Be careful. Bob


    #1- Back boring is not the same as a bulge. The steel has been streaaed at the bulge, and not at the backbore.

    #2-It is not advisable to maybe shoot any firearm with a ringed or bulged barrel. That is a bad practice to give information, that could possibly get SOMEONE ELSES face blown off.

    mawhtb,

    Your gunsmith was trying to tell you that he wouldn't. Eventually that bulge will burst, it is just not known when it will. The first shot, or the 1000th, might be the straw that broke. I would call Beretta USA, and ask them for help. I would refrain from shooting it.

    Best


    I take your capitalized words as I don't care about others. You sir are wrong about that.
    I did not tell him to shoot it, That would be as simple minded as telling him NOT to shoot it. I asked for more info. There are thousands of ringed barrel .22's still firing to this day. And as many shot guns also. I am not saying just go shoot it, but rather supply more info and pics so EVERYONE here can offer their judgments. Something to think about...Saami pressures for the 12 gauge is less than 1/2 of the .22 short rimfire. Most
    ringed shot guns were caused by dirt or obstructions. While the steel is "weaker" in that area, I still would want to see where and how bad it was before saying it was unsafe. I sold my internal mandrels and barrel blocks to a gunsmith in upstate NY almost 25 years ago. No telling how many shot guns he fixed since then. { it wasn't you was it???} Bob
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  • wpage
    Try taking it up with Beretta and also with your ammo maker...

    Had it happen with a pistol using Remington loads. Remington credited me some free bullets. Interarms still in business at the time took the gun and replaced the barrel free. They even gave back the old one for a souvenir.
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by mawhtb
    Hi,
    I have an Berreta BL3(era1980's) O/U and the top barrel is buldged, took it to a gunsmith and he said I could fire it 1 time or 1000 times.

    My question is what would... happen if something went wrong. Would the barrel break apart or would it just split. also if I use it has a single shot would it effect the the bulgded barrel.

    I know some say its ok to fire and some say no.

    Its my favorite gun and with the South Dakota opener this weekend I don't have time to look for another gun.

    If anyone has advice would like to hear from you.

    Thanks
    David


    To actually answer the question requires one piece of information.

    WHY DID THE BARREL BULGE in the first place?

    Presumably you had either a bad load, a barrel obstruction (which is the most usual cause) or both.

    If you KNOW the cause, then I'd say its perfectly fine to shoot the OTHER OK barrel, until you can have the bad one fixed.

    If you do NOT know the cause, you have to assume there MAY (though probably isn't) a manufacturing defect in the gun, in which case you probably shouldn't shoot EITHER barrel.

    In terms of shooting the BAD barrel, you'll get (and just got) mixed opinions on that. I'd say that IN GENERAL, shotguns operate at relatively low pressures (compared to say, rifles or modern handguns) and that you'll PROBABLY be OK shooting the bad barrel.

    I think we've all heard stories of people shooting bulged barrel guns for years with no problems. . .though that doesn't necessarily mean that nobody ever has a problem!

    What would happen if you're NOT OK? Impossible to know for sure, but any other barrel failure will probably cause the barrel to crack, burst, or fray apart. While you'd *probably* escape serious injury (especially if you have eye and ear protection in place, as you are supposed to), there is absolutely no guarantee that you would, and there is certainly a real chance you could sustain permanent or even fatal injury from a piece of shrapnel.

    Superficial wounds to the supporting hand are probably the most common injury associated with burst shotgun barrels.
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  • Bill Jordan
    I would ask Beretta if they could, and how much it would cost, to get a new set of barrels fit. Then you could decide if it is worth it, or get another gun.

    I'm nearing the end of my shooting career, so I look at money maybe a little different than your $ situation.
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  • john w
    Depends where it is bulged. If it is bulged lets say 1-2" from the end you can have them shortened and re-choked with a new bead and shoot it till your tired of it. Also as said here see if you can get another set of barrles and have them fitted.
    It also depends on the quality of the shotgun as if it is a nice expensive Beretta you can fix it and be good to go cash wise if you ever resell it.
    If it is a cheaper one you can also have it fixed by the above method and still be ok price wise. If the bulge is near the end and is not to badly bulged i see no reason why it would be unsafe to fire but the pattern will most likely be crappy. If it is bulged mid way or near the chamber than a new set of barrels is in order.
    I have had a few bargain basement shotguns with end bulges and have shot the poop out of them for a close up gun with no problems or any more stretching of the bulge. It is best to fix it up though if you can do it reasonable.
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  • sandwarrior
    quote:Originally posted by mawhtb
    Hi,
    I have an Berreta BL3(era1980's) O/U and the top barrel is buldged, took it to a gunsmith and he said I could fire it 1 time or 1000 times.

    My question is what would... happen if something went wrong. Would the barrel break apart or would it just split. also if I use it has a single shot would it effect the the bulgded barrel.

    I know some say its ok to fire and some say no.

    Its my favorite gun and with the South Dakota opener this weekend I don't have time to look for another gun.

    If anyone has advice would like to hear from you.

    Thanks
    David


    Missing your face or body parts is a LOT MORE PAINFUL than missing pheasant opener.... Take the time to find a new barrel or new shotgun. That's what your gunsmith is telling you.
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by john w
    Depends where it is bulged. If it is bulged lets say 1-2" from the end you can have them shortened and re-choked with a new bead and shoot it till your tired of it. Also as said here see if you can get another set of barrles and have them fitted.
    It also depends on the quality of the shotgun as if it is a nice expensive Beretta you can fix it and be good to go cash wise if you ever resell it.
    If it is a cheaper one you can also have it fixed by the above method and still be ok price wise. If the bulge is near the end and is not to badly bulged i see no reason why it would be unsafe to fire but the pattern will most likely be crappy. If it is bulged mid way or near the chamber than a new set of barrels is in order.
    I have had a few bargain basement shotguns with end bulges and have shot the poop out of them for a close up gun with no problems or any more stretching of the bulge. It is best to fix it up though if you can do it reasonable.


    Read the post from the original poster. This is an over/under.
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