Question about shotgun barrel taper

[Corn-Picker]

My father gave me a shotgun (Mossberg 500), and when I was looking at it I noticed that the muzzle end of the barrel looked fatter than the middle. I put my calipers to it, and the middle measured 0.860 and the last few inches of the muzzle measured 0.890. I’m ignorant when it comes to shotguns, so I was wondering if this is normal or if the barrel is bulged due to some incompatible combo of shot and choke at some point in the past? Thank you all for your time and efforts.

 

[Bull Nutria]

that bulge is probably to accommodate choke tubes if the gun has choke tubes. any bulges is a shotgun barrel are signs of over pressure and possible blow up.

Bull

 

[entropy]

If it has choke tubes, Bull Nutria has your answer. Bulges form overpressure (usually from a stuck wad or mud in the bore) are short, and usually very visually obvious.

 

[Riomouse911]

My Dad gave me two well-used 12 gauge Remingtons with bulged barrels, a Sportsman 58 and an 1100. If yours looks like this it’s an issue you’ll need to get fixed.

Here is the Sportsman 58’s barrel (The 1100 is similar). He blamed it on stuck wads from a friends reloads he used while hunting quail in Az.

Sooner or later I’m going to take them both in to be cut down before the bulge and then threaded for Rem-Choke tubes.

Stay safe.

 

[Corn-Picker]

Thanks everyone, after considering this information I do not believe my barrel is abnormal. The taper is very gradual, and the shotgun is configured with screw in choke tubes. I will continue to use it as is.

 

[Armored farmer]

#1 son had a bad morning on Christmas eve. This happened while shooting ducks on the Wabash.
3½" black cloud #2 steel in a .680 extended range tube. We think the wad hung in the tube and then he fired another round.
Fortunately nobody was hurt.

 

[entropy]

.680 is a bit tight for #2steel......

 

[Armored farmer]

.680 is a bit tight for #2steel......

I agree, but it was approved by the choke manufacturer.

My tube is .690 in my 870 supermag

 

[entropy]

.690 is better. Maybe he'll go a tad looser with the next one.

 

[Armored farmer]

.690 is better. Maybe he'll go a tad looser with the next one.

I insist that he does. "Fool me once" etc.

I'm actually upset with myself about buying the. 690 tube for the 870. I generally despise aftermarket parts, but let son and a sales kid talk me into it when I had a $27 full remchoke in my hand. I paid $79 for the extended. 690 Jeb's

 

[entropy]

I have a Patternmaster Anaconda Striker Turkey choke that is .670, but I only run 7 1/2 and 8 lead through it-it's my Annie Oakley tube; also was lucky enough to pick it up from Midway towards the end of turkey season last year, for $17.
It also has annular rings inside to retard the wad slightly, like the old Ljutic Mono-guns have.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have a Patternmaster Anaconda Striker Turkey choke that is .670, but I only run 7 1/2 and 8 lead through it-it's my Annie Oakley tube; also was lucky enough to pick it up from Midway towards the end of turkey season last year, for $17.
It also has annular rings inside to retard the wad slightly, like the old Ljutic Mono-guns have.

Just for kicks...run a wad through that .670 with a cleaning rod. Just see how tight it is.
It'll be tight

 

[Riomouse911]

#1 son had a bad morning on Christmas eve. This happened while shooting ducks on the Wabash.
3½" black cloud #2 steel in a .680 extended range tube. We think the wad hung in the tube and then he fired another round.View attachment 880996 View attachment 880997
Fortunately nobody was hurt.

That’s a tad more bulge than my Dads guns there, I’m also glad it didn’t split and sent barrel shrapnel all over!

Stay safe.

 

[Armored farmer]

That’s a tad more bulge than my Dads guns there, I’m also glad it didn’t split and sent barrel shrapnel all over!

Stay safe.

Yeah, that could've been a banana peel.