Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Straightening a Shotgun Barrel

Anyone know of a place that straightens bent shotgun barrels?

Thanks.

Jim

TBM: Since you are from Texas, I can tell you a place NOT to go and that's Briley's in Houston. I had a M12 that didn't seem right. (I couldn't hit a dove with it). I took it to Briley's an they told me to pattern it and bring it back. When I did, I learned that it's patterns were hitting consistently high and left. I took the data back to Briley's and they said I needed new choke tubes (which cost big $$$).

I really didn't want choke tubes so I looked around a while, thinking that the barrel must be bent and needed to be straightened. Finally took the gun to another 'smith who noticed that the front sight bead was off center. For $50 he fixed it and the gun shoots great.

Needless to say, I won't be visiting Briley's for a while...

But to answer your question, I never found anyone who would "straighten" shotgun barrels.

Jim

You do not say what type of shotgun you have - I would call possibly Kohler in Racine WI. They deal in both Kohler and Krieghoff. Very high dollar guns (if you want them to be!!) and I am sure they would know who can do the work you desire or tell you if (other than sentimental reasons) the barrel is worth straightening. Plus they could tell you if your barrel is just to far gone.

Another place to call is Chadwicks in Tyler TX - dealers of expensive guns so they also may know of someone who may be able to do so. I recommend the expensive shops because at the prices some of these guns go for it is not easy to just buy a new one- like say a barrel for an 870.

I know what you mean about Briley's. They are high. I used to have the name of a place in Nebraska that had a hydraulic machine that would straighten the barrel and make aim point and impact the same place. It's been too long and I can't remember who they were. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Thanks a lot.

Jim

Thanks Andrew. The gun is a muzzle loader. It is about 4" low at 20 yards. I may just have to learn to live with it.

Jim

Try taping a little cheek pad on the comb or installing two beads (if you like shooting with them) with the rear one a little higher than the front. Either method will raise your face a little and the muzzle should follow...

Bending a barel is not a big deal, but only after the obvious fixes...
art

I like the two bead idea. That seems to be a pretty easy fix.
Thanks a lot.
Jim

Also make sure the gun FITS. My father had a browning that was vcery close to fitting him, took it to a guy who used to be some stock guru for rem, spent the day mounting and measuring the gun- the guy then bent the stock to the correct places so it fit my dad- ave went up 2 birds- just because it hit EXACTLY where he was looking.

Stock fit really seems to be a big deal on a scattergun.

Good luck!

Thanks Andrew

Teal:



I'm not picking on you, but Kohler makes plumbing fixtures, Kolar makes shotguns. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> And, Chaddick's is in Terrell, Texas. I don't know of a Chadwick's in Tyler.



Now, back to the topic at hand, unless the barrel is actually bent (check it by holding it up with the image of some kind of a straight object, such as a telephone pole, reflecting down the side of the barrel, a bend should be fairly obvious, the reflection won't be straight), I wouldn't bend it for such a small correction. 4 inches low at 20 yards equals about 3/16 plus a skosh correction in comb height. As Sitka Deer said, you can get a pad and fit it to the stock. For those of us who are country boys, 4 inches is just a few layers of duct tape from perfection, unless you ask our wives. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Man I gotta learn to type! My brain is faster than the fingers and they do not link up - kind of like the fingers are askin "what he say?" My brain is bout 2 pages into it and the fingers just guesstimate the words! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Kohler make a nice bathtub and Kolar makes an awesome clays gun, ironicaly they are both fairly close to each other (N of Milwaukee).

Yes you are right Chaddicks.

To continue, if you really need to straighten the barrel, it is fairly easy. However, it is a trail and error process. The real way to do it is to get a press and carefully apply pressure on the opposite side of the bend in the barrel, while supporting the barrel a little ways back on each side of the pressure point. The country boy way to do it is to get 3 bags of shot, support the barrel across 2 of the, with the bend up, then whack it with the bad of shot while it is being held by a buddy. Check for straightness, repeat as necessary.

Teal,

I got a kohler. Can't figure out what to do with it. Wife says put it in the bathroom. HAHAHAHAHA. Just kidding ya. I really appreciate everyones help. That is what makes this such a nice place. I will try the pad idea or the higher bead.
Thanks again guys. I really appreciate ya'll.
Jim

Ha <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'll bet it didn't cost teh 18k some of those Kolars do!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Good luck!