It's not supposed to look like this!

[PhilFedUp]

My first shotgun was as 12 bore Silver Pigeon, bought new about 20 years ago. It's seen plenty of clays, and even hit some of them. Imagine my horror when I looked at it last Sunday to see that where the barrel tubes meet the monoblock there was a gap appearing about the thickness of a credit card. The barrel tubes are parting from the monoblock. I decided it was probably best to stop using it at that point.

I consulted GMK and was informed that it's fixable, chargeable and needs to go back to Italy, taking 6-9 months, and the cost to me would be likely to be in the order of £700-£800.

I was wondering if anyone else had seen this happen, and what happened next.

[chippy]

I would have thought a good gunsmith could repair that. They are either brazed or silver soldered in. £700 sounds a crazy price. 

[Will Hewland]

5 minutes ago, chippy said:

I would have thought a good gunsmith could repair that. They are either brazed or silver soldered in. £700 sounds a crazy price. 

Especially when they sell new barrels as part of a new gun for about £400 I estimate. But yes, a UK gunsmith job for a fraction of £700 I would think. 

[Jonny English]

My dad had that happen to an old 686 in the early 90's. Not sure if it was still under warranty but gmk supplied him with a new set of barrels for his foc.

[Freddypip]

Is there a matching gap at the breach end ??

I am sure they will be brazed which now involves heating the barrels and mono-block beyond and that might therefore affect the rib etc. They will be re-proofed.

Its not the money bit that would bother me but the time - why should it take 6 to 9 months.

There seem little point as you might in getting them fixed as you may as well buy a second hand gun or barrel set and have the barrels fitted particularly as your originals may not be HP Steelproof.