I have a Browning Citori, 12 ga, 26" barrels. Bottom is choked improved modified[u][/u]from factory and top has been reamed from full to modified with an extended steel choke. I bought this gun in 1995 and have used it as my waterfowl gun for the past 27 years. It only shoots 3" steel in either BB or #2. I've used Federal and Winchester shells primarily but fed it a diet of Kent a year a go and this year the Challenger brand made in Quebec, CA. Late this season I noticed a bulge in the bottom barrel right at the choke but on only one side. It could not have happened earlier in the season because I clean the gun after every outing and would have noticed. It did not bulge in an entire circumference as I have seen other barrels do. I am perplexed about the cause. Could it have been the new shells, but I had already put a flat of those shells through it before the bulge? We were hunting in snow in lay down blinds and I'm wondering if I inadvertently stuffed it with snow, but wouldn't the pressure have blown out the snow because even though it may have been stuffed with snow at the end it would not have been packed in hard? Or perhaps after 27 years the metal fatigued? Maybe something I've yet to consider? And then why only bulge on one side and not completely around the barrel? I don't think I could take good pics to properly show the bulge and have not done so.
I have taken it out on 2 occasions since put 100 rounds though it and the bulge seems static. I'm still hitting the target even at good distance but have yet the chance to pattern it and see if there has been a change.
Last edited by Tamid; 12/25/22 07:00 PM.
