Damascus Barrel Wall Thickness Opinions

Matt Buckley · 12-11-2021, 12:48 PM

I purchased a 1 frame 12 gauge DH from a fellow member that came with two barrels, a 28" that is original to the gun and a 26" that was fitted. The 28" barrels had been set up with Briley inserts for 20 gauge. I was not real interested in the inserts and didn't purchase them hoping I could still shoot these barrels without. I have taken measurements of the BWT and here is what I came up with:

Right Barrel starting from the breech: 2 3/4"=.085, 4"=.074, 6"=.048, 8"=.040, 10"=.037, 12"=.035, and 15"=.030

Left Barrel starting from the breech: 2 3/4"=.080, 4"=.068, 6"=.048, 8"=.028, 10"=.023, 12"=.020, 15"=.020

What are your opinions on shooting these barrels. Is there enough meat on the bones or should I be getting the tubes so this is a functional set of barrels.

Bill Murphy · 12-11-2021, 01:28 PM

Get the tubes. The left barrel is too thin. The tubes sell for about $600, maybe more. Don't let them get away. With the Brileys, you don't have to be careful of your 20 gauge loads. The 20 gauge extractors are a bit fragile, so you should handle them carefully.

Matt Buckley · 12-11-2021, 06:42 PM

The other thought I had was shooting strictly black powder loads in these thinner barrels. Any thoughts on that.

Austin J Hawthorne Jr. · 12-12-2021, 12:49 AM

A wall thickness of .020" at 15" would not concern me much after reading Sherman Bells articles in the Double Gun Journal regarding the loss of pressure at various points down bore. However, the thickness you mention at 10" and 12" would make me very careful in my choice of powder selection...charge weight...and payload.
I, and this is only me, would certainly want to keep the chamber pressure around 5000 psi. and use a slow burning powder to achieve that.
Regarding Black Powder, again referencing Sherman Bells articles, most of the loads he tested with Black Powder were not to different from the results he had with some of the smokeless powders.
All this being said, if I had another 12 gauge gun that would fit the uses that this new gun was to be used for, I would suggest the use of tubes.

Bill Murphy · 12-12-2021, 05:05 AM

If I had a two barrel set with one set having a .020 wall thickness, I would shoot the other set and use the tubes in the .020 set. No, the .020 barrel isn't going to blow up, but why take that chance?

Matt Buckley · 12-12-2021, 03:32 PM

Thanks for the advice.

Craig Larter · 12-13-2021, 06:55 PM

.028 at 8 inches way to thin, should be .040. Dangerous in my opinion.