JDW, thanks for the statement agreeing that measurements of wall thickness are normally step one in diagnosing a blowup. Thank you RMC for the attempt to give pertinent measurements. Unfortunately, many more measurements are neccesary to eliminate "thin walls in the area of the blowup" from the possible causes of the blowup. All past suggestions of primer related blowups have been without testing to prove the primer at fault. Is anyone willing to give this a shot? Is anyone willing to donate shotguns, however cheap or worn, to the testing? I will agree to test with one or more primers in the powder charge, with one or more witnesses, and report the results. Give me some time, but it is the dead of winter, so I can do it. I will accept no more than six working shotguns. They don't have to be fluid steel, but Damascus guns should be fairly intact and show evidence of having been fired in the last thirty or forty years. If you want your shotgun back after testing, all you have to do is pay for shipping. Email me if you want to ship me a gun. Pre 1898 guns would simplify the process, but later guns will be accepted. I will reply with my shipping address. wilmrph@verizon.net Bill Murphy
