doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Damascus small bore upland guns

Miller,
The info you have provided has been extremely helpful and I look forward to everything that you have to say related to the issue.

I think I understand the idea behind hoop stresses and how they are determined. The question I have is how do hoop stresses relate to the topic at hand. I am not trying to be difficult, only trying to put the bigger picture together. How does hoop stress relate to barrel strength? Is there a certain hoop stress that the industry shoots to come under in order to avoid significant problems ie barrel failure? Are there seperate hoop stress values over which damascus barrels and fluid steel barrels will fail. Based on Bells small sample size, if there is a difference it my not be much?? Obviously, if there are indeed values for the hoop stress at barrel failure, we can work backward to get the pressure developed.

Edit: I understand that there are going to be the normal variations in condition of barrels that is going to be a huge X-factor, but lets go on the assumption that barrels are in good condition and no flaws are found that would preclude it from being used.