Crack in VH barrel?

[Dean Romig]

Today Damascus or Twist barrels with cracks are pretty rare. A radial crack or seperation is usually the result of imperfect joining of the iron and steel rods and most guns with barrels with this occurance have long since been rebarreled or destroyed in some manner. I would think most guns that would have blown a barrel because of imperfections would have done so by now if they were shot regularly.

[Double Trouble]

I wonder of it's possible that it isn't a crack then ?????

Of course, what else could it be ?

I had the barrels inspected by "one of the best" - and he didn't really seem to see it (????). He never really gave me a good answer to "what IS it that I see ?" He lightly honed the bores, and that really cleaned up a lot of the minor pitting, but it didn't make the "crack" go away. "Off the record", he basically told me that "...if it was his gun, he'd just shoot it with light/appropriate loads."

As a layman, who am I to challenge his statement, but as an educated person - I know what I see, and I am uneasy...

I just wish it could be readily fixed by welding, without the weld looking real obvious.

[edgarspencer]

For piece of mind, you can use any of several NDT (Non Destructive Testing) methods to determine if what you're seeing is a real crack.
These methods include Radiographic inspection, Liquid penetrant inspection, Magnetic particle inspection or shear wave ultasonic inspection.
All of these can be performed by any of several nationwide testing companies, such as MQS, who have labs in all major manufacturing areas.
All, except Liquid penetrant, require expensive testing equipment, and are done by trained NDT, level II or Level III inspectors. You can buy a relatively inexpensive Liquid Penetrant test kit at most welding supply houses, and the basic test is not difficult, though level of severity in a detected result is only gotten from training and experience.
A less definitive test, but more a go-no go test is to use kerosene, which has a very low surface tension. Pour some kerosene down the barrel, making every effort to keep it from coming in contact with the outside. Allow it to sit a few minutes, drain it off, and dust the outside with baby powder. The kerosene will come through all but the tightest knit crack, and the baby powder will immediately absorb any that came through, showing a crack.

[Pauly B.]

Kerosene, that is interesting. I will try that with the VH barrels. Somebody else told me to use gasoline. Fortunately this crack (if it is a crack) is located about 25" out on the barrel, and is on the bottom. My gunsmith suggested just shooting it, and when (or if) it fails cutting the barrels.

I think I will try the kerosene first. If that doesn't show anything, maybe I'll try the magnaflux thing. I think once I get the gun back from the gunsmith I'll measure the wall thickness too. It doesn't look like the barrels have been honed, so I may be in pretty good shape to have them welded. I am having them fitted to one of GH guns that had its barrels cut down (ironic ain't it!).

Thanks to all who contributed to this topic! I love being a PGCA member! You guys rock!!!

[edgarspencer]

Get a new gunsmith.

[Chuck Heald]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Get a new gunsmith.

I second that.