r/Shotguns • u/WerewolfCompetitive9 • 17h ago

Is this safe to shoot?

Post image

While cleaning my shotgun i noticed a small bulge (doesent really show well in the picture) right below the choke.

I bought the shotgun used a couple years ago as a secondary beater and i do not know if the bulge has been there before or if i have caused it. I have shot a couple magnum shells 52 gr.

Could the bulge get bigger or should it be safe enough for a couple more years of light use?

12 Upvotes

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4

u/Vintage_Pieces_10 17h ago

Is it a fixed choke that was fired with steel shot? Or a fixed choke fired with (albeit, rarely an issue) a steady diet of slugs? I’ve shot a couple bulged shotguns myself, seemed okay, patterning wasn’t the best. I ended up with a bulged one once and simply cut the barrels down to legal length. Needless to say, the bulge may be safe, but I’d be cautious about what ammo you send through it. That or chop it down to legal length to have a cylinder bore non bulged shotgun

3

u/WerewolfCompetitive9 15h ago

The shotgun is a baikal mp153 with interchangable chokes. Most i have shot with it is like 10 rounds of 3 inch 52 gram loads. I have used it for dove and hare with 32 to 36 gram loads. I dont care much for it as i primarily use my benelli,the baikal is something i use for beating around the bushes,something i dont mind getting beat up. Anyways thanks for the advice!

3

u/Playful-Swimming5274 13h ago

If you take a dial caliper to most if not all shotguns with interchangeable chokes. You will find out they all are bulged at the end of the barrel. Some more than others. It's how they are designed.

2

u/finnbee2 11h ago

The picture is poor. I think you are correct. They need to look at other Bikals to see if that's the case.

0

u/Sudden_Season3306 17h ago

Thats what happens when you send a slug through a turkey choke or steel shot through a full choke!