doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Minimal barrel thickness and Boss & Co Guns

The British rules of proof make no reference to wall thickness of gun barrels. Barrel diameter and chamber dimensions are the controlling dimensions specified in the rules of proof. The minimum practical wall thickness recomended by the British trade so as to minimise risk of damage [dents] in the field is .020 inches. New guns often start life with minimum wall thickness in the range .025-.030 inches. During the past decade as the interest in shooting with Vintage guns has grown, so has the concern over wall thickness. If your gun is, "In Proof" it will be safe to use provided applicable working pressures are not exceeded. Wall thickness over .020 inches provide increased durability and longer potential barrel life.
A corespondent on this site recently reported that two Damascus barrel guns with .018 inch wall thicknes past Birmingham proof with out problem!

I saw a 20 bore Damascus hammer gun down to 16 thou in one wall pass London nitro proof three months ago.

Better keep that one leanin' against the kitchen door - a twig would put that ol' thing outta business.

The Boss I am looking at has bore dimension of .730 for both barrels.

Ken

.730 only tells part of the story....what was the original proof on the gun 12, 12/1, 13....bore is a critical number, but only if you can refference its original proof. If it was proofed at 12, then it measured between .719 and .729 when it left the factory and .730, while technically out of proof, would not bother me in the slightest....I might use that as a bargining point though.
Steve

Lowell, you gotta make up your mind - do we want dainty barrels that are finely struck or thick barrels that won't get dinged by limbs?

Just for clarification, 12 covers .729 -.740, 13/1 covers .719 - .729

You need both, finely struck and ding proof.
Tough job chasing dents in paper thin barrels.

Well, Glenthorn, I see that you're still at it, blathering your misinformation wherever you take the opportunity.

Many, many Boss and Woodward guns have wall thickness around .020", most as noted are within 8" of the muzzle. These are guns that have .729" and .730" barrel diameters as per the original gunbooks and proof marks, thus indicating no subsequent honing; i.e. these are original barrels.

I have hunted ruffed grouse and woodcock in the upper midwest with a couple of English guns that have .020" thickness barrels and have nary a dent to show for it. Prolly 200 days in the woods total.

If you are such an oaf that you can dent a barrel that thick you should maybe stick to baseball.

There are a those who do - Boss and Woodward no doubt!
One must wonder, if your "couple of English guns that have .020" thickness barrels," are in proof.
Made for export, keepers and the rough used with .020" prolly have met the reamer at time or two.