The more critical section of the barrel is the first 10" - 12" from the breech. Forward of that area pressures have dropped off radically and barrel wall thickness, though important, is far less critical. Though I would not shoot a gun with wall thickness of .013" I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a gun with less than the currently "approved" .025" - say, down to as thin as .020" or even .018" or .019" IF the chokes are Mod or less and more importantly, IF they are not pitted and IF they have never been honed and IF they have not been refinished in any way - in other words, IF they left the factory EXACTLY as they are today. (Extremely difficult to determine in a gun that has been heavily used)
Some guns were made as light upland guns and as such, the barrels were struck to what the factory considered to be safe to shoot with factory specified loads.
.... but that's just me - not suggesting anyone else do the same.
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"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
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