Yes, definitely practice on that stuffed barrel first. A bit of heat & gentle persuasion.
If only small peices are broken out I just build them up with weld rather then try to weld in small pieces.
The clean up takes the time but if your careful & have enough tools to reach the hard to get places (files, sanding discs, grinding discs, die grinder etc) then it should hardly be noticeable, especially if you bead blast after clean up so the whole barrel has the same texture.