Russ, the rib or ribs need to be relayed. Not inexpensive - usually between $400 - $600. It is probably okay to shoot - heck, some people shoot guns with loose or lifting ribs all the time without a care. A friend has a 16 ga. Ithaca with ribs so loose that you could slide a dollar bill under them that he shoots all the time.
Those barrels have been reblued... but you knew that. The rib probably or possibly lifted during that process. Is there a hole drilled in the bottom rib between the barrel flats and the forend loop?
Dean
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