Backboring and lengthing forcing cone

[Ringer 206]

Are they worth it?

Especially for cowboy.

[Mr w 77]

On what 

[Ringer 206]

Shotgun 

[Mr w 77]

Had mine done on a shotgun that was done by goatneck Clem he said it would reduce recoil some I liked the gun don’t know if it really reduced the recoil 

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 2,692]

Backboring is often done to allow you to tighten the choke, or to clean up bad pits.  I'd not be inclined to do a backbore unless you needed either of those.  Barrel has to be checked with barrel calipers to see if there is sufficient metal for that to be safe, too.   Backboring itself does not reduce recoil noticeably.

 

But I would lengthen the factory forcing cone in a minute!   Even have the reamers and the hones and have done that myself.   It does make a bit of reduction to the recoil, and decreases the fouling you get at the forcing cones.  I've seen numbers of about 10% felt recoil reduction.   There's only a few old guns that I would pre-check before starting, especially those that might need the chamber lengthened  out to 2 3/4" plus the forcing cone tapered.   Then you should be concerned about final chamber thickness at the forcing cone.

 

If barrel is chrome plated, I wouldn't touch it with machining.

 

Good luck, GJ

[Ringer 206]

Thanks GJ

Have had the forcing cones done.

Was wondering about the other.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 2,692]

Sounds like you're done, then.   

[Ringer 206]

Yep

Times 4 or would that be 8? 

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator 707]

I have had Briley backbore numerous SKBs (and, I suspect Briley is probably who did Goatnecks).  I like it but not sure worth it for CAS.  (NOTE:  you will loose most, or all,  of the chrome liner of your barrel.)

[Nasty Newt # 7365 357]

Forcing cones were all the rage when I started about 25 years ago.  I don't hear it much any more.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 2,692]

Lighter loads being made today by reloaders do away with lots of the need to reduce recoil.....

[Colorado Coffinmaker 3,346]

 

A lot depends on the SPECIFIC gun.  If you have an older shotgun with 2 1/2 inch chambers, re-chamber and longer forcing cones are a really good idea, IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH METAL.  Backboring is only applicable to some guns with bore pitting.  If the bores are chrome lined, backboring will remove the lining and potentially turn the barrels to junk.  Longer forcing cones will reduce felt recoil.  Backboring will not.

[Eyesa Horg 1,497]

I had the forcing cones lengthened and polished on my Stoeger. It did reduce recoil a little (I think!), but sure made cleaning a lot easier. That 3/4" unpolished section from the factory was a pain to get the plastic out of. The cost was not really worth the result though on a inexpensive SG. Smith estimated $150 and when he got it back from his "specialist" it was $300! Only $75 less than the gun cost brand new when I bought it in 2005. JMHO

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 2,692]

5 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

got it back from his "specialist" it was $300!

 

It was quite worthwhile to the feller who got paid to do that. 

 

The tools to do a nice job of forcing cone reaming don't cost that much ($300).  And the labor is maybe 2 hours.   Briley's of Houston only charges $95 a barrel to do that job, and they are about the best in the world!

http://www.brileygunsmithing.com/c-879-full-list-of-shotgun-gunsmithing-pricing.aspx

 

Yes, that job was "way above the normal" cost level.

 

Good luck, GJ

[Eyesa Horg 1,497]

It won't happen again, that's for sure. For God knows what reason, sometimes I seem to need to learn by experience! Maybe it's the "ski" on the end of my name!