It depends on the distance from the breech.
I have a rule of thumb for Damascus - minimum wall thickness of .025" (25 thousandths). But that would be too thin at the muzzle end of the forcing cones. But perfectly acceptable in the last 12 inches of the muzzle end. I have been told by barrelsmiths that 25 thousandths is the minimum they need to work with to repair a dent. So the .025" minimum in the forward end of the barrel is not about barrel bursts but about dent repairability.
Best,
Mike
|