Need a good barrel guy...
 

Who would be the best barrel guy to send my ca. 1886 Parker twist barrels for inspection ? There's something in the left barrel that looks like it COULD be a crack, but I'm not sure. I had the barrels lightly honed (barrels had pitting), but the "defect" is still there. (Approx. 5" from the breech) The person who did the honing "didn't see a crack." They commented that the barrels didn't "ring," but they could see no reason why (ribs looked tight). I asked if it was safe to shoot, but they wouldn't answer - they would only say "If it were my gun, I'd shoot it with proper ammo."

Well, I sure as heck see something in there, but my opinion is that of a layman...

After a while of not wanting to shoot it (or deal with it), I may be ready to get a second opinion from someone. Who would you all recommend ?

Thank you in advance !

John

John:
The best barrel man in the USA us Kirk Merrington in Kerrville TX. If you send him your barrels you can bank on his assessment. But you may not like it.

contact Kirk at MerringtonGun.com

John, I would have to agree with Mr. Campbell. Kirk has done me good every time I have gone out there. Good, honest and fair.

I have listen to old barrels ring even with a hole in the side of one. a rib must be loose. you can find the spot by tapping up and down the barrel and finding the dead spot. I would like to see min. thickness no less than .025 thou., if you do feel safe don't shoot them

that should read... if you don't feel safe don't shoot them

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

I just don't understand how I can see something that looks VERY MUCH like a crack, but this other person couldn't see it ! Heck, what else could it be ?

Go to the post about barrel inclusion and see the steps there. Very helpful.

My fears follow those of Drew. It could be a "weld seam" that might be failing. It does follow the "grain" of the twist, and is right where my left hand holds the gun.

My dilemma is that Kirk was the one who did the honing & inspection. When I spoke to him, he truly acted like he couldn't even see what I was talking about. Had he said "I see what you mean, but it's not a crack." then I would feel better. ...but it was as of he didn't even see the "defect."

Figures, it's the only gun that really "fits" me...

Follow Mike Franzen's posts about his barrels. That will help you greatly.

There is an MQS facility in nearly every major metropolitan area. They can do some simple nondestructive testing that will put your mind at rest. In addition to MQS, there are plenty of ASNT certified testing facilities about.

Thanks Edgar.

I've seen dye-penetrant testing done, and have heard of mag particle, x-ray, etc. I wonder aloud if any of these be done to verify a defect on the INSIDE surface of a shotgun barrel ? Then, would a deep scratch & a small crack look alike to some of these methods ? Would localized, linear pits/corrosion look like a crack ? I did have a friend with a scope video the bores (both of them, before the honing), and although it's not a perfectly sharp video, you can definitely see this "defect." It's obvious (as were the many pits in these bores, a lot of which are gone now, due to the honing).

There are many such testing companies in the area - I should look into it.

Thanks !

PT (Penetrant Testing) will detect and clearly show a crack which is thru-wall, but if it doesn't extend to the outside, may not be the most suitable.
Shear wave UT(Ultrasonic Testing) will show the crack whether thru wall or not but operator experience is more critical.
RT (Radiographic Testing) is more expensive, but whether single wall (film on one side of barrel wall, source on the other, is practical is up to the individual lab. Double wall will still show the defect, and two shots at oblique angles will give it definition.
Trust me when I tell you, the Navy wouldn't send sailors down in submarines if NDT wasn't a proven discipline.

I believe you.

Thanks again !

Edgar, are you a recovering Bubblehead?

Casey