All,

Here's the website for SAAMI Publications. Click on the one for Shotshells...

http://www.saami.org/specifications_...ns/index.cfm#1

Mark

The SAAMI specs for 10ga max loads are 11,000psi. So again, the 3 1/2" shells are not the causal factor the way I see it. 3" ( 2 7/8") or 3 1/2" are the same pressures for PArker working pressures and proof. The cause was either improper sleeving or improper barrel sleeve steel.

Lengthing the chambers to 3.5" could cause the barrel at that point to be too thin to hold maximum pressure. This would be ever more likely if the gun originally had 2 & 5/8" chambers.

British Proof rules DO NOT allow even lengthing forcing cones!

Original 10ga chamber length would have been 2 7/8" . One would assume that a competant gunsmith would have checked wall thickness at chamber end when sleeving barrels, but its possible he did not. I'm aware that when asked about wall thickness, I've seen some gunsmiths pull out a bore gauge and suggest that a person can measure wall thickness with that and a ruler/OD caliper.

Correction

This was an early hammerless, 1890's gun. I don't what the chamber length for such an early gun would be. All the more important to carefully mic the barrel wall thickness. Wall thickness is life, or at least your hand. Did I tell you about the newly made AYA 12 that ruptured into a personal injury plaintiff's lawyer's leading hand and caused significant bone, tissue and nerve damage? Wall thickness new was .020, but the barrels were light.

Barrel Failure
 

The break is 3 1/4 inches ahead of the breech. There were no 2 7/8 inch 10 ga shells made by US manufacturers in 1992, so that part is obvious. I think the peculiar tear of the barrels is probably due to overheating the barrels during sleeving or failing to heat treat them properly.

Best, Austin

I wonder how many Parker 10 gauges have been proofed with 3.5" steel shot loads and held up any better than this one. Perhaps you should get the facts on the load the gent with the missing digit was using. It may shed some additional sun on the failure.

I can't imagine Albright's Gun Shop would like their name associated with this gun :eek: (the screws aren't even indexed :))

Ouch

quite possible there was a obstruction in the barrels.. in any case its a sad story i know the owner of the gun had many great duck hunts planed for it.... i would have had torebuilt it again if it had been my gun...charlie

Well, there are eleven days left in the auction. There is no reserve and it's up to only $305 so now's your chance.