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Hi All -

Last year I purchased a beautiful vintage Prussian 16 bore SxS from a reputable gun dealer. I noticed a small amount of pitting and had their gunsmith polish the barrels. I was told the right barrel had slightly deeper pits so more metal was lost but wall thickness remained within limits and the gun was safe to use with my favorite low pressure RST 2 1/2 shells. Recently I had the gun stripped, cleaned, and oiled by another gunsmith. I requested barrel wall thickness measurements and was handed this troubling news several days ago;

Left � 9� ahead of breech = .040�
Right � 9� ahead of breech = .018�

I�m alarmed by the right barrel measurements 9� ahead of breech coming in at only .018�. This gunsmith also stated the gun was safe but added it can never be re-blued. Any further loss of metal would leave the walls too thin and dangerous to use. At this writing my gun is in transit from the gunsmith and I planned on using it for sporting clays this weekend. Can anyone offer sound advice to a guy on the horns of a dilemma?

Thanks,

Joey

You mean to say that the first "gunsmith" took .022 off to remove the pits, doesn't sound right. It would almost have to have a depression in that area, or if he blended it, then more than just that area is thin.

He said it was safe, let him shoot it more than once.

I remember that Daly. Sorry to hear the bad news.

I'd shoot it, but that's me, I know it's below min thickness, but that's to sell. Use low pressure loads. 16 bore? I presume you are reloading anyway?

T

Get a dial caliper set it on .018 and you be the judge...sounds to me like you'd do well to hang it in the local Cracker Barrel.

I use shells made by RST - 16 Ga. 2 1/2" Lite 1oz. Vel. 1200/PSI. 6800.

I suppose I could throw [a lot] more money at it and have new barrels made. Do I have options?

Barrels made? Yikes....too much I would think...sleeved maybe..

If you use a 16 to 20 Gaugemate, you will get a significant pressure drop soon as it leaves the chamber with minimal loss of fps. It has been my experience, when using 12 to 20, that the pattern size is about 1-2" larger.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=234173&page=2

I'd give the "reputable dealer" a call and explain your concern. I think his smith should have quit about .010 sooner. I would not shoot the gun.

+1. Way too close to left hand, eyes, and brain. If the bores have to be honed to foil thickness, hanging it on the wall is cheaper and safer.

jack