You might be right, Ted. I don't have the original Winchester information on the Model 59 barrel, but Gough Thomas--who likes the idea, interestingly for a conservative Englishman--comments as follows: "It is stated to have TWO TO THREE TIMES the strength of conventional steel barrels, and to withstand plugging tests no steel barrel would survive." I've seen plenty of cracked receivers on Model 59's, but never a bulged or blown barrel. Anyone?