Ringed barrel for Cimarron 1866

[Flinch Morningwood]

My 38-40 20" barrel on my 1866 Cimarron Yellow boy has developed a ring inside the barrel...only thing I can think that caused it was a squib round last time out.  Found it when I was cleaning as the patch skipped ahead a couple inches while cleaning.

First question: Is it dangerous to continue shooting in this condition while I source and install another?

It seems I Found a replacement on VTI but not sure if it's in stock...out of stock every place else.

Second question: Can anyone recommend a gunsmith for a job like this?

Thanks in advance!

[Abilene]

I have a .357 '73 carbine that has two bulges near the middle of the bore.  You can feel them with a patch and also on the outside.  Not sure how they got there but I did loan it out a few times.  That was years ago and it has had thousands more rounds through it, with good accuracy as well!  I doubt I'd have tried it with a higher powered cartridge like a hunting rifle, etc.

[Professor Marvel]

As long as the barrel is still intact a "ring" is not dangerous. As abilene has noted, accuracy may not be harmed at all at "normal" range. Try it out and see how it groups froma sandbagged bench...

Yhs
Prf mumbles

[Niederlander]

I've shot a few rifles with ringed barrels.  The only way you'll know if it affects accuracy is to shoot it.  Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't.

[DeaconKC]

Boomstick Jay in Texas put a new barrel on a 66 for me last year. Beautiful job and reasonable.
https://www.facebook.com/BoomStickGunWorks/