doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com How thin it is.

Looking a a few guns in the upcoming Holts Auction. Wall thickness of 15/20+; 17/17, 18/18, 23/17. And these guns are not estimated to be bargains but start about �2;000 and up. All in proof and legal to sell but buyer beware was never more needed. In proof is a poor guide as to true gun suitability for use. To me it is only the lowest hurdle that must be passed. Then wall thickness. Then on face. Then cracks or repaired stocks. The list only grows with the price.

It pays to be cautious at auction on the big dollar guns. The cheap stuff I will gamble on but anything over about 800$ I want mwt and if possible a condition report.

Some credible sources claim those MWTs may be fine for certain very limited applications...I suppose, but why buy those when there are so many fairly priced examples on the market now with good barrels?? Doesn't make sense to me unless you are getting a 10K gun for 2K and are planning on having it sleeved before importing to the US.

I had a proofed as 12 gauge Greener hammer gun that had been hogged out to .783 (not a typo) 10 gauge dimensions and it still had a MWT of 21 thou at the thinnest spot. No need to pretty much ever go below 20 unless buying some thoroughbred ultralight wand made by Purdey, H&H, Boss, etc. with original bores.

Very good topic and advice Gentlemen.
Just remember to be very careful with these English classics with thin walls . Have a look at a twenty thou feeler gauge and make your own mind up if you would be happy pushing through the brush chasing birds with such thin walls? Also your ammunition (apart from RST) is bit 'iffy' with your high pressures
Be careful and enjoy the day .

People seem to pay over the odds at those auctions,especially given questionable wall thickness`.It is much more difficult to get an old set of barrels through reproof nowadays too.Do your maths,balance the facts and keep your money in your pocket and let the fools rush in is my advice

I have an interest in different action types with different locking systems. I have side lever hammer guns, three different types of under lever latching systems in hammer guns. Most have thin barrels but none extremely thin or that expensive. Being a reloaded I can Taylor sane loads to keep pressure within limits I am comfortable shooting. Bursting is not my main concern but denying is a real risk so extra care must be taken. I shoot thin barrels but only if the thin area is well away from my little fingers. Have not dented any barrels yet but do know hunting with them that becomes a real risk.

I have considered buying several thin barreled project guns at auction but in each case a detailed inspection report has also found other problems which with the cost of sleeving and then importing made them prohibited from a cost viewpoint.

I passed on a really nice used but not abused 20 Ga CE Fox this spring that had below .020 walls on both barrels. oh so tempting but my head finally over ruled my heart. someone else obviously ended up with it but too thin for me.

I disagree a bit there, Brian. If a Fox had been "honed" to below .020" it was abused, IMO.

Good call on your part, SRH

I have one gun, a 16ga Manufrance Ideal I bought from another member here which as a .020" barrel and it is still pitted to some extent. I shoot RST shells in it and cringe, but nothing bad has happened (yet)...Geo

The RSTs won't hurt it. Bumping it onto something hard when you're cleaning it, or putting it away, might.

Did you know it was still pitted at .020" when you bought it?

SRH