backyard sporter

[Seaspriter]

Technically welding on the receiver is a total compromise of the integrity of the gun. I know of one recovered drill rifle that blew up due to a stress crack of the weld on the barrel to receiver area. Its really more an emotional decision than a technical one though to shoot or not is? It could be very dangerous or just fine. One of those it would cost an enormous amount to find out that is not close to worth the costs. Reality is you would have to test it extensively in a remote mount. Cast lead bullets at low powder loads might work but then again you just don't know.

This is really the best advice.

Here's what I would do, FWIW: Cut/Grind off the ugly mounts (by hand, not a cutting torch), smooth the scars on receiver, inspect for any cracks or flaws, apply some cold blue, and follow the instructions above, using a remote firing rig. Then inspect again.

For heavens sake, don't think of this gun as a regular shooter -- it's now a collector's piece. Document what you've done, roll it up into a scroll and stuff the scroll in the butt-plate hole for posterity. An armourer would probably have taken this rifle out of service or at least given it a Drill Practice (DP) designation. Consider putting a small engraved plate on the gun stating "for Emergency Use Only" so that some poor soul in a future generation doesn't blow his hand off (or worse). There are several of stories on this site of people whose old guns blew up from stress fractures on old WWI vintage guns that had been shot too many times or used ammo that was just too powerful. Your life, or someone else's is at stake. Good Luck!