How serious is a bulge in a barrel? This shotgun is an old Ruko side by side 20g. One of the barrels has a noticeable bulge just past the end of the chamber. The guy that owns it inherited it and is concerned about the bulge. Could someone have fired and 3” shell in the 2 3/4” chamber to cause the bulge so close to the chamber? Is a bulge close to the chamber more dangerous than one close to the muzzle? Thanks.
Cause: likely a stuck wad, base wad, cleaning patch, wasp nest, etc. hung up in the forcing cone that acted as a momentary but effective barrier to the next charge of shot coming out. 3" shells in 2 3/4" chambers cause a pressure spike to one degree or another when its case mouth extends past the chamber upon discharge causing the shot charge/wad to have to elbow its way past with a little more difficulty than normal. The increase in pressure, such as it is, is thence confined to the chamber, and typically won't actually bulge the barrel ahead of the chamber. I've never heard of a 3" in 2 3/4" (or 2 3/4" in 2 1/2", etc.) actually causing a bulge. Bulges happen when shot charges encounter obstructions, and it doesn't take much of an obstruction.
As for said bulge being back so far in the barrel- yes it's "more dangerous" than a bulge close to the muzzle where internal pressure has tapered off dramatically behind the escaping shot charge. Will it blow next time it's fired? Maybe, or maybe it'll go the rest of your natural life without blowing. No way to predict it. How lucky do you feel?
What's a "Ruko" by the way? Is that short for Miroku?
Cause: likely a stuck wad, base wad, cleaning patch, wasp nest, etc. hung up in the forcing cone that acted as a momentary but effective barrier to the next charge of shot coming out. 3" shells in 2 3/4" chambers cause a pressure spike to one degree or another when its case mouth extends past the chamber upon discharge causing the shot charge/wad to have to elbow its way past with a little more difficulty than normal. The increase in pressure, such as it is, is thence confined to the chamber, and typically won't actually bulge the barrel ahead of the chamber. I've never heard of a 3" in 2 3/4" (or 2 3/4" in 2 1/2", etc.) actually causing a bulge. Bulges happen when shot charges encounter obstructions, and it doesn't take much of an obstruction.
As for said bulge being back so far in the barrel- yes it's "more dangerous" than a bulge close to the muzzle where internal pressure has tapered off dramatically behind the escaping shot charge. Will it blow next time it's fired? Maybe, or maybe it'll go the rest of your natural life without blowing. No way to predict it. How lucky do you feel?
What's a "Ruko" by the way? Is that short for Miroku?
Damn,you sound like you know what the hell you're talking about. I'm gonna have to hang around you more often.
I hung out with a curmudgeonly old shotgun smith for a long time who drilled this stuff into our heads. If he were still alive he would be a perfect fit in our "beer for lunch" club!
Ruko is an importer much like charles daly, the shotgun could have been made a number of places. Some of the shotguns they import are italian made, some made in spain and likely many more places.
As for said bulge being back so far in the barrel- yes it's "more dangerous" than a bulge close to the muzzle where internal pressure has tapered off dramatically behind the escaping shot charge. Will it blow next time it's fired? Maybe, or maybe it'll go the rest of your natural life without blowing. No way to predict it. How lucky do you feel?
Exactly... Just me - but I'd NOT use that barrel... FWIW.
Cause: likely a stuck wad, base wad, cleaning patch, wasp nest, etc. hung up in the forcing cone that acted as a momentary but effective barrier to the next charge of shot coming out. 3" shells in 2 3/4" chambers cause a pressure spike to one degree or another when its case mouth extends past the chamber upon discharge causing the shot charge/wad to have to elbow its way past with a little more difficulty than normal. The increase in pressure, such as it is, is thence confined to the chamber, and typically won't actually bulge the barrel ahead of the chamber. I've never heard of a 3" in 2 3/4" (or 2 3/4" in 2 1/2", etc.) actually causing a bulge. Bulges happen when shot charges encounter obstructions, and it doesn't take much of an obstruction.
As for said bulge being back so far in the barrel- yes it's "more dangerous" than a bulge close to the muzzle where internal pressure has tapered off dramatically behind the escaping shot charge. Will it blow next time it's fired? Maybe, or maybe it'll go the rest of your natural life without blowing. No way to predict it. How lucky do you feel?
What's a "Ruko" by the way? Is that short for Miroku?
Thanks for the info, I’ll let the guy know that it’s a bad idea to use the barrel.
Ruko is an importer much like charles daly, the shotgun could have been made a number of places. Some of the shotguns they import are italian made, some made in spain and likely many more places.
Thanks bluedot,
The barrel had a Ruko -Canada stamp on it.
Gnoahhh nailed it IMO!
Often the bulge in a double barrel will damage the soldered joint between barrels causing them to separate.