The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

[Rick Roemer]

Hi. I’ll start with the good. Finally got out turkey hunting with Dad yesterday here in Ohio. Perfect morning with gobblers on all corners sounding off. 20 minutes after sunrise Dad called one in close enough for a shot. Using my Model 21 Heavy Duck gun, one shot and Mr. Tom was lights out- clean.

Packed up and headed home. Pulled the gun out of its case to take some pics with the bird to discover - The Bad! The left barrel is completely split at the muzzle. Needless to say I am thankful no one was injured or worse (more Good)

Obviously I have questions and I’d like to hear members opinions on what went wrong. I use this gun infrequently, maybe once a year on waterfowl - in fact the last goose I shot with it was my dog, Bock’s final retrieve. Good memories.

I also use it for a yearly turkey hunt. Many times no shots taken. And I’ve shot it at clays we throw in the back yard. Being a fairly heavy gun, it’s not used much.

Standard practice for me is bore snake and wipe down before any gun goes back in the safe -always.

Going to the field yesterday I put it in my floating gun case since it has a strap- makes it easier to carry the gun, along with everything else.

So of course the questions are what happened and what can be done?
I know there was no obstruction left in the barrel from the last time I used it. I always use the bore snake and I look down the barrels to make sure they’re clean after I pull it through.
I carried the gun to my spot in a sealed case. I sit on the ground, I really don’t think the muzzles ever were stuck into mud, etc.

I’ve never had barrels do this. Do the pictures indicate anything definite? Am I using too hot of loads for this model 21 magnum shotgun ? I shoot the Kent shells more than these new Winchester turkey loads I picked up for the hunt. In fact, this was the only shell I have shot from the box.

Could this gun be repaired (unlikely) or could the barrels be cut and new chokes fitted? If I found a set of replacement barrels would they likely need to be fitted to the frame like a Parker? Are barrels ever for sale ? What would you do with this gun in my situation ? I wouldn’t call it extremely fine condition but it’s far from abused. 32” barrels, full and full.

Thanks for your input - and as for the Ugly... there’s a reason my profile picture is of my dogs instead of myself !

[Dean Romig]

In your first picture there appears to be a bulge at the beginning of the split.... indicating the likelihood of an obstruction...

IMO those loads are made for pumps and autoloaders, not classic SXS's.



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[winplumber]

Darn ! You didn't notice that till you got home ?

[Rick Roemer]

Yeah I have to think it was an obstruction but just doesn’t make sense all I could think is a leftover wad and like I say I always do the bore snake. If there had been a wad left in there would that cause this problem ?

No I didn’t notice it at all when it happened. shot the bird, unloaded then cased up the gun

[Shane Jennings]

Maybe full choke in those long barrels with the heavy tungsten loads weren't good for it??

[Dean Romig]

A wad would certainly have done that.... or a piece of a twig... or a piece of straw...





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[James L. Martin]

I can't see that happening without something being in the barrel. I really like model 21 , you might find a barrel but a 32" one will be hard.

[Rick Roemer]

Yeah that’s the answer I keep coming back to.
Do you think having them cut and re-choked would be economically worth it? I would probably be looking to sell it if I did that and try to get another one with the long barrels. I just don’t want to get too upside down on a repair, since cutting barrels Would seriously change the value. But it would make it shootable again I guess. Sort of looking for the next step .

[Dean Romig]

I'd spend some time looking for replacement 32" barrels if it were mine.

You could have the damaged barrels cut back and install thin wall screw-ins after you find replacement barrels. Then you'd have a decent SC gun too.





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[James L. Martin]

Dean is right on those shells I would not shoot any of those in any of my s/s. With that said I don't think they were at fault, there was something in that barrel. I would look for a barrel, they do come up, you may have to settle on a shorter length.