doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Thin barrels passing London proof

If a set of Damascus barrels very recently passed London proof with less than .025 minimum wall thickness in one of the barrels, would you be comfortable shooting RST or equivalent light loads in it?

Would you be uncomfortable buying the gun, though in proof, because of concern with ever being able to re-sell it with BWT less than .025?

No, I wouldn't be uncomfortable shooting the gun with appropriate loads, especially if the thin spots are well forward. But I would always be nervous about denting it. Be hard to properly repair. And yes, it probably will be more difficult to sell if the buyer is given full disclosure.

If the seller is unable to tell you exactly WHERE that .025" was measured, I would pass Rich.
If it's the distal 1/3, lots of light weight 12s and small bores left the makers' shop that way.

No concerns other than thin barrels do dent easily. They just passed proof so what more "proff" of fitness to shoot could you get. On a personal note I want those thin areas far away from my face and hands. The last ten inches is fine.

As to resale issues you can't sell a Damascus barreled gun to anyone who does not understand them. A educated buyer, who knows where a barrel is thin will make a judgement call if he wants to buy the gun. You just give them the facts, barrels this thick and passed proof at this time. A few won't buy but many would.

I agree with Joe and John. Depends where it is thin, how thin it is and for me, price point.

No, I wouldn't be concerned, I shot RST's out of a damascus 10 guage with 21 thou a few inches back from the muzzle. However, there was something like 135 thou at the forcing cones and plenty of thickness through the 2/3 of the barrels from the breech.

When barrel wall thickness is given, where is it most commonly taken on the barrel? I know that near he breech is most important, but if the thickness is stated, where is the measurement typically taken?
Karl

Karl, my understanding is that minimum barrel thickness is measured at wherever the thickness is least. That is, various measurements until the minimum is located. That would, of course normally be in the forward 9 inches or so closest to the muzzle...Geo

I shoot a Manufrance Ideal with MBT of .021 but its at the end of the left barrel and I don't worry about it.

George,
Thanks for your response. I've often wondered when gun dealers will state the MWT of the barrel, where it is most often or traditionally measured.
I just picked up a pre-war English gun at .036 and was curious.
Karl

If I remember correctly, the minimum wall thickness to pass London proof was 0.020 for many years. A few years ago, (maybe 5?) I started seeing guns coming through the Holt's auction with recent proofs that were under 20 thou. Not sure what changed that, or when. If a damascus gun had 0.025 tubes, I'd be pretty confident in it (with proper loads, of course).