DAMASCUS-MINIMUM BARREL WALL THICKNESS

[Bill Murphy]

Although I have not done it, I think the best way to determine whether a gun is acceptable is to measure the wall thickness of a known original gun of the same gauge, weight, and frame size as the one being considered. The dimensions of the gun being considered shouldn't vary from the known original gun by very much at all. We haven't really discussed what the various wall thicknesses are for Parker composite barrelled guns as they come from the factory. Only when we know what Parker Brothers thought was safe for lightweight composite barrelled gun can we establish a base figure to post on our site.

[Bob Jurewicz]

The gun in question is a very nice one except the barrels have been honed and reblacked.
Right barrel MWT is .027". Left MWT is .022" for about 10 inches rear of choking.
I don't think this is a shooter!!
Bob Jurewicz

[Opening Day]

Bob how nice is nice..... And what gauge is it? If it was a 12 well maybe if it was a 20 I would probably pass or put tubes in it.

[Dean Romig]

Ray, speaking in generalities, as the gauge goes up the internal pressures exerted on the barrel walls go down - the smaller the gauge, the higher the pressures and vice-versa.

This theory is based on the load used.

[Ray Masciarella]

Thanks, Dean. I have a 10 ga with pitted bores. They are about .032 and.042. (I think, tho one guy measured them at .043 and.045) Have thought about cleaning them up but have hesitated. A couple of pits are pretty deep. Do you think this could cause a rupture? Ray

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Ray Masciarella

Thanks, Dean. I have a 10 ga with pitted bores. They are about .032 and.042. (I think, tho one guy measured them at .043 and.045) Have thought about cleaning them up but have hesitated. A couple of pits are pretty deep. Do you think this could cause a rupture? Ray

Ray, simple pits, even pits we might think of as "deep" don't generally contribute to ruptures unless combined with other serious barrel issues such as being below accepted safe minimum wall thickness or improperly repaired dents, etc. I have Damascus guns with considerable pitting in the bores which I shoot without trepidation because I know the barrel walls, from one end of the barrels to the other, are quite sufficiently thick and sound.

[Dean Romig]

Bill, on a 6-frame 10 bore I would have guessed thicker.

[Ray Masciarella]

Thanks again, Dean. I'm gonna shoot it this weekend for the frist time. If you don't hear from me again, you know what happened!