Guess there was something wrong with my shotshell reloads

[ChestnutBleach]

Whoops. It's more apparent in person. Noticed it when I was trying like hell to get the choke out of the barrel during cleaning. Choke didn't come out. Think the issue was using too thick of a 3D printed shot card cause velocities were at, or little below, published loads. Card must have created a brief, but high, pressure at the choke. Since then, went through all my reloads and removed the cards.

Thoughts?










And yes, I replaced the barrel. Wasn't as easy as I thought finding a near identical barrel for a shotgun that has been discontinued. Only difference is the front site.

 

[AR15barrels]

If that barrel is over 20”, you can cut 2” off and use it with a cylinder bore.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

Were you the guy asking about shotshell recipes a few months back? Regardless, shotshells are a different animal to load and can be weird if you don't follow the recipe exactly. Just because it has a certain velocity really doesn't necessarily mean the pressure is safe. It's pretty annoying but you really have to use the exact brand of hull, exact wad, powder etc. even just using a different thickness of card can in fact increase pressure in weird ways.

 

[ChestnutBleach]

If that barrel is over 20”, you can cut 2” off and use it with a cylinder bore.

Yea, it’s a 24” barrel and I was thinking about doing that.

Just curious, think it can be fixed?

 

[AR15barrels]

Yea, it’s a 24” barrel and I was thinking about doing that.

Just curious, think it can be fixed?

The expanded section has to be cut off.
I wound cut it back to the front of the next anchor point of the rib.
As to whether the barrel is thick enough to do a new choke tube installation, the outside diameter needs to be measured.

 

[ChestnutBleach]

The expanded section has to be cut off.
I wound cut it back to the front of the next anchor point of the rib.
As to whether the barrel is thick enough to do a new choke tube installation, the outside diameter needs to be measured.

Thanks. Was thinking about hacking it here...



But another part of me is thinking to just leave it. I have a Springfield 1898 rifle with...character... and I wish I knew how they came to be. For this shotgun, it's a story for future generations; grandpa experimented and F-ed up.

 

[BigBossman]

Think the issue was using too thick of a 3D printed shot card

Pretty sure that's what caused the bulge. Your plastic shot card caused a temporary blockage at the choke end and bulged the barrel with an over-pressure spike. I'm wondering why you would print 3D shot cards when proper shot cards are readily available and cheap?

 

[ChestnutBleach]

Cause they’re more readily available and cheaper. (When not factoring a replacement barrel. )

 

[AR15barrels]

Cause they’re more readily available and cheaper. (When not factoring a replacement barrel. )

How is that working out for you?

 

[ChestnutBleach]

How is that working out for you?

Overall, very well. Not afraid to experiment. Hear too often people are not willing to take risks. So I really don’t care that I messed up a barrel; small price to pay.

 

[BigBossman]

Reloading shot shells is not the place to be taking risks and straying from established recipes. You are flirting with disaster and a bulged barrel is the least of the possibilities that could happen.....
. Finger and eye loss being on the other end of the spectrum.

 

[NapalmCheese]

I've toyed around with the idea of 3D printing sabots so I can load my own 20G copper rounds, but in the end I just bought a bunch of factory stuff and am calling it good.

 

[Malibu]

Overall, very well. Not afraid to experiment. Hear too often people are not willing to take risks. So I really don’t care that I messed up a barrel; small price to pay.

Thank you for the eye-opening quote. I’ll be sure to use it the next time I introduce someone to reloading, as a perfect example of what not to do.
Seen my share of blown-up guns, nearly all of which were the result of either sloppy reloading habits or that of taking risks.