ranger gun

[Snowking]

i bought a 12 gauge ranger and when you look down the barrel it looks like it has metal fragment down where the bullet gos. I was thinking maybe someone shot steel threw it? Is this normal for an old gun to have this? is it safe to shoot? thanks snowking

[Chev_trucks501]

Hey Snow,

Define metal Fragment? Is the inside of the barrel pitted? Is there something stuck in there? Need to be more specific.

Chev

[Snowking]

maybe more like grooves then fragments they come up the barrel for about 6 inches

[mpete54]

Why would it matter if steel was shot through it? I have the same gun and I have shot steel through it many times and I haven't had this problem. You can't shoot lead at ducks.

[icehousebob]

I saw a 12 ga. years ago that a guy tried to make his own steel shot shells for. He reloaded some shells using small ball bearings instead of steel shot. One shot was all it took to ruin the barrel. You might want to have a good gun smith look at it before you shoot it.

[Snowking]

this gun is old and i was thinking the barrel is softer than the ones now a days. did they have steel shot in the 70's?

[mpete54]

Snowking-

That is a good point, I didn't think about that. I bought mine when I was a kid probably sometime in early 80's. I have shot steel through it for many years without problems, though. I guess I would agree with having a gun smith looking at it though.