That is why the welding rod is rated at about 10% higher that the UTS of the base metal(s) being joined by the welding process- SMAW- MIG (Metallic Inert gas) wire welding- most of the .030- .050 range filler wires used (with copper flash coating for greater current conductivity) at at a 70,000 UTS range- I don't know John Mazza from Adam's offside ox, but I'll bet he is a student of Hooke's Law--

Austin- I suggest you contact PGCA lad Jon Bosford in Ann Arbor, MI- he was at both Da Yooper shoot and the recent Lapeer side-by-event- if he is coming out to Pin the Tail on Da Point in Sept- he'd be your "go to guy" on barrel wall thickness gauging-