doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com stress rings in barrels

I've seen barrels that were over stressed and looking down the bore the rings were easily recognized.
I've seen "stress" rings when it was nothing more them bad lighting.
Then there are times that I don't know what the heck I'm looking at.
Does looking down the bore using a 12guage shell with the primer cap removed at the breech end and a 20 gauge with primer removed at the muzzle end give an accurate indication of stress rings?

My shooting student Joe Wood taught me to look at a paned window (or something similar) and hold the barrel where the line from one of the mullions (sp) goes from muzzle to breech (on the outside of the barrel). Then roll the barrel (looking at the outside). Any ring bulges show up as a bump in that otherwise straight line and can be followed around the barrel.

I know I explained that badly but give it a try. I have confidence in my ability to spot a ring bulge.

Best,

Mike

I'm not sure I'm familiar with the term "stress ring." I do know what a ring bulge looks like, and they are easy to spot. If you are referring to rings or marks in the bore what you're probably seeing is evidence of a poorly applied hone.

eeb I have seen ring bulges that are very subtle. Had I failed to go through the process I described and I would have missed them.

Best,

Mike

eeb I have seen ring bulges that are very subtle. Had I failed to go through the process I described and I would have missed them.

But you are right, I assumed Pooch meant ring bulges when he said stress rings.

Best,

Mike

Pretend you're looking down a pool cue.

The stress rings I'm referring to is when the metal of the barrel has been "stressed" or deformed, the light will cause a series of rings will appear on the inside of the barrel. I believe it is caused by the light undergoing a slight shift when it hits the metal that has a different molecular structure then the metal beside it. The rings are a signal to look for anomalies in the barrel, or a better lighting source. The rings can be an indication of a slight bulge that one would ordinarily miss or an indication of the metal of the barrel being worked by either age, fatigue or over pressures.

Sun light is the best light source as florescent lighting often can give a false ringing.

Pooch, You might be referring to 'rivelling'. There is a thread on this from about a year ago. A rivelled barrel is pretty much a shipwrecked barrel....very few can be remedied, but I guess a few can. A rivelled barrel will not pass proof in the UK unless remedied, which I understand is very hard to do. Cause of rivelling is unknown, but a possibility includes shooting 'boomers' in guns with thin barrel walls. There are other theories as well.

Rivelling thanks, boomers in thin barrels is a definite suspect. Severe riveling is readily apparent, but most often one sees a light "ringing" not the series one sees in a rivelled barrel ie few cases of refracted lighting. In the case of few rings, I believe there is damage, but not fatal damage to the barrel. I see it like having a mild heart attack, you can have a life but your racing days are over. It does mean using low pressures and light loads in the gun.

How can I find that thread as I would like more information, it is a difficult subject. Thanks

The thread is from 6-8-11. Sorry, I don't know how to pull it up for you. There is an excellent chapter in "Shotgun Technicana", By David Trevallion, on rivelling, if you have access to that book. BTW, there is a wealth of knowledge in that book.