Barrel Bulge near Breech - SPE 16

[JasonPeck]

Bought this 16 gauge SPE grade with SST a while back for parts.

In your opinion is the bulge worth fixing? I wouldn't even consider it on a lesser grade gun, but they didn't make many of these.

I imagine the approach would be to build a tight fitting mandrel and insert it into the bore and then exert some force on the outside wall of the barrel. The ribs may have to be lifted and relayed after the work and then the whole thing would need re-blued. Costly for sure.

[vaturkey]

IMO no and even though a pretty hard to find gun, the value doesn't warrant doing something such as sleeving. I've seen folks repair some pretty hard to find guns for bulges over the years, but I personally think your messing with dynamite. I listened to a conversation between two well known gunsmiths are the NE/SXS talking about bulges and neither one of them were keen on the idea of repairing them.

PS. Others may have totally other ideas, but these were two pretty well known guys and they wouldn't do it.

[spyder]

I have an early CE with a bulged barrel near the breech. Every knowledgeable person I've spoken with said to either have it sleeved (non starter) or hang it on the wall. Once the metal has been plastically deformed, it has lost structural strength and can't with any degree of safety be returned to its original state.

[JasonPeck]

IMO no and even though a pretty hard to find gun, the value doesn't warrant doing something such as sleeving. I've seen folks repair some pretty hard to find guns for bulges over the years, but I personally think your messing with dynamite. I listened to a conversation between two well known gunsmiths are the NE/SXS talking about bulges and neither one of them were keen on the idea of repairing them.

PS. Others may have totally other ideas, but these were two pretty well known guys and they wouldn't do it.

Agreed. My gunsmith specializes in side by sides and he wouldn't touch it.

[Stan Hillis]

Several years ago I tried to prove that I could successfully remove a ring bulge on the right barrel of a set of Fox barrels. It was about 10" from the muzzles and I theorized that pressures would be low enough at that point that strength wouldn't be as crucial an issue. Using a bore plug, I began peening very slowly and gently with a 2 oz. hammer. I had the bulge 90% gone, except for the area between the top and bottom ribs, when the top rib popped loose. At that point I already had several hours into the job ....... wasted. I sent the barrels to a well known doublegun smith to finish removing the bulge in the area between the ribs, and relay the ribs. He found a crack in the bulged area between the top and bottom ribs. This could have been a time bomb, eventually. I'm grateful for the rib popping loose, now, as it might have saved a very unfortunate incident later. The barrels are on my bench now, as a reminder.

Bottom line, for me ............... don't walk away from bulged barrels .................. RUN!

SRH

[DSizemore]

Good story with sound advice.