Regulating shotgun barrels

[smylee grouch]

So if your shotgun shoots its pattern off to the side for enstance, how do you change its pattern point of impact? I was thinking of removing a small amount of steel from the muzzle on the side that I wanted the pattern to move to. Does this sound radical or is there some other acepted method?     Gary

[Jerry V Lape]

First question is what does off to the side mean?  Is that off to the side from an offhand position or off to the side from a bench rest sighting it as best possible.  If it is from the bench you are probably going to have to bend the barrel.  If it shooting  to the point of aim from the bench but off to the side from the offhand position then the issue may be correctable with some minor changes in stock dimension. 

[Daryl]

First of all, double or single?? If a single and shooting left or right, if incorrectable by slightly altering the front sight's position on the barrel, the barrel will probably have to be bent for correction.
You are looking straight down the centre of the barrel over the breech - THAT is very important as your eye is the rear sight on a smoothbore?

You could try the steel removal - some US made double rifles were 'regulated' or an attempt was made to regulate them that way- for shooting ball.

[Robby]

Gary, Assuming these are a set you put together. They would typically be soldered at the muzzle and at the breech, with a gap, the length of them, between the solder points. Kind of like someone that is bowlegged, standing at attention. The gap can be either squeezed together, or wedged apart, in order to bring both barrels impact point together at whatever yardage you think suitable. The sight placed to accommodate that point. If it is a difference in elevation then they will have to be taken apart and re-aligned. If they are existing barrels, you would have to remove the ribs and go through the same procedure. That, is a bear of a job! Good luck!
Robby

[smylee grouch]

Daryl: When doing the steel removal method , which direction will the ball or shot go, towards the side that you removed the steel from or away from that side?     Gary

[Daryl]

The ball should travel way from the low or short side.  The powder gasses releasing first from that side, push the ball the other direction.

[Robby]

Oh, never mind.
Robby

[Daryl]

With shot, the powder gases blasting on one side before the other might really disrupt patterns.  How successful this method was, I don't know. As Robby said, the best method is proper regulation of the tubes prior to attaching the ribs.

[doug]

     I tried filing the muzzle of a trade gun on an angle --- theory was that it would shift the point of impact.  Tried a small amount then increased that to a lot.  The only effect if appeared to have was that I had to recrown the barrel :>(

cheers Doug

[beleg2]

Hi,
I plan to do this to regulate a breechloader.
I hop I have better results than doug

Daryl,
I think it works the other way.
As the gases escape earlier from one side, the push the other side.
So IMHO if you file left side of the crown shot must move to the left, but I can be wrong as usual. LOL.
Thanks
Martin