cracked shotgun barrel

[ccsniper]

I have a mossberg shotgun that the barrel was cut down to exactly 18 and a quarter inches. Now I used a pipe cutter on the barrel and when I shot some buck shot threw it, It split about 1/16th of an inch on the muzzle end. I really can't cut it down anymore than I already have. Is it still safe to shoot? My best judgment says no, or at least nothing more than birdshot.

 

[oneounceload]

Why would you think birdshot would be OK but buckshot wouldn't?

 

[Fred Fuller]

I'd see if I could get an inch or so of steel sleeve silver soldered on the muzzle (outside of the barrel) to reinforce it, before I shot it any more. In the meantime, factory short barrels (18.5") for Mossbergs are pretty common and reasonably inexpensive, if you don't want to wait for that. Either way I don't think I'd shoot it any more in its current condition without a fix in place.

JMHO, YMMV

lpl

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

That's what you get for cutting with a pipe cutter instead of a hacksaw. Pipe cutters bend the material inwards as they cut, basically resulting in a super tight, super abrupt choke.

 

[MCgunner]

New barrels from e-gunparts.com aren't expensive. Just BUY the barrel you want on it.

 

[ccsniper]

I would be afraid to shoot full power loads threw it, I think I will just get a new barrel. Agreed on the pipe cutter is a bad idea, oh well live and learn.