doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Chrome Plated Barrels?

Is it possible to plate the barrels on an LIG boxlock, supposing I had them polished out? I would like to shoot steel out of the gun, but I fear it will hurt the barrels

I asked this question twice recently and never got a response. I am hoping you get one.

I was also curious about what family of steels were used in old doubles, and what it takes to handle steel. Maybe could make some tubes for sleeving that would allow an old double to handle steel

Some folks did say that they felt OK shooting steel in fairly open choked doubles. It is in the thread about no tox and old doubles

chrome plating will offer no additional strength or protection from steel....your bore surface is already insulated from the steel shot pellets by a very sturdy plastic wad....the (extremely thin) chrome plating will provide corrosion resistance, but so will routine maintenance.....your best protection against steel is being sure that your chokes are not too tight for steel shot.....

Michael,

Is it correct to extrapolate from what you posted about tight chokes to forcing cones? Or, is steel shot moving too slowly going through forcing cone to cause damage (with those thick plastic wads)? How long should forcing cone be to reasonably avoid damage from steel shot loads?

Thanks,
Niklas

Niklas,
The forcing cones are far away from the choke problem many of us have seen since steel came on the seen. They don't equate the same way. Mike will probably come back with the technical explanation but for now I'll add my 2 cents. The bridging of the larger shot thru the tight chokes cause the buldges we see. This is why the limit of mod chokes and #4 steel is often discussed. The forcing cones go from chamber to bore which is less restrictive than from bore thru chokes. The forcing cone length can improve patterns and some say perceived recoil. That usually is good for a debate with many opinions.
Best of the New Year,
Ron

Choke sections also employ a "forcing cone" to move down from the bore diameter to the choke diameter, and they are not all cut the same. I think this is what he is referring to, not the chamber forcing cone.

I am refering to forcing cone extending from front of chamber to internal diameter of bore, in distinction to forcing cone extending from bore diameter to choke diameter. Latter forcing cone is what gets battered and bulged by bridging steel pellets traveling at near full muzzle velocity. At forcing cone in front of chamber, steel pellets are not traveling nearly so fast, but, do steel pellets still bridge and bulge barrel there, even with steel being much thicker? Or, does this just result in more pressure than old guns can tolerate for long?

Niklas

NiklasP,
Since the chamber is the diamiter required to fit the shell exterior it seems the forcing cones restriction would be minimal. It would seem the forcing cones assists with the development of pressure depending on the wad sealing abilities. The cones don't force the shot cup to a smaller diamiter as is done at the choke. I belive this to be true but sure wish Mike Orlen would come back with some technical help. I have only laymans logic. I haven't seen any bulged barrels at the chamber end but that sure doesn't mean it never happens.
Best,
Ron

So if I opened my chokes to skeet and IC, and shot #5 steel shot (2 3/4 12ga) I shouldn't have problems?

Daniel, assuming the pressure developed by the steel load is not too great for the gun in question (a typical issue with vintage guns), you shouldn't have a problem in the scenario you list.

Have never seen nor heard of steel shot bulging barrels in the forcing cone area. "Ring bulges" out at the muzzle were fairly common, especially with the early steel loads shot through tight chokes.