Measuring Barrel life?

joeranger · April 28, 2012, 12:19 PM

I guy put a air pressure gauge on my shotgun and said it was too worn.
I had never even seen one of these. Does this make sense?
It is not like the rifling is worn. It's a skeet gun.

mete · April 28, 2012, 12:30 PM

Never heard of that . Modern cup wads protect the barrel from the shot so it has to be plastic to steel wear ?? Get a chrome plated bore.

zippy13 · April 28, 2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

I guy put a air pressure gauge on my shotgun and said it was too worn.

Let me guess... was he trying to sell you a new gun?

jaguarxk120 · April 28, 2012, 01:11 PM

He might have used a instrument called a Air Gage. BUT unless he knows the gun his results are no better than looking down the bore.

What if he was measuring a backbored barrel, those barrel diameters are larger than standard .729 12 gauge.

I would also say he wants to sell you a new gun, by the way what make is your shotgun?

B.L.E. · April 28, 2012, 01:21 PM

Can a shotgun barrel actually be worn out, and if there is detectable wear, does it matter?

jaguarxk120 · April 28, 2012, 01:37 PM

Yes you can measure wear on anything, BUT you have to have a starting point, a known value such as .729 bore diameter and then a second point where it is time to replace the barrel.

Note: as said before we use plastic wads in our guns today. There is more wear during cleaning the barrel not the shooting.

The barrel maker Harry Pope had a gun that was shot over 100,000 times (his own rifle) all lead bullets. during that time here was no loss in grouping or any measurable wear.

zippy13 · April 28, 2012, 02:14 PM

In an extreme situation, the barrel could become too thin. I've never head of this happening from normal wear. The closest things, I'm aware of, are: When a screw-in choke is improperly installed and the end separates; someone tries to extend a chamber (or overbore) when there's not enough material (both are the result of poor gunsmithing); or corrosion damage.

Taking barrel measurements won't tell you much unless you know the properties of the specific steel alloy used. Higher strength steels allow thinner barrels. If a gun passes a visual inspection and you're still in doubt, consider proof testing.

Goatwhiskers · April 28, 2012, 02:56 PM

The most dedicated competition shooter will not wear out a barrel in his lifetime. I have seen very old shotguns whose barrels were made of the softer steels available back in the day and the muzzle was worn paper thin, almost sharp enough to cut you. Improvements in metallurgy eliminated that. Methinks the fellow was trying to sell you something or gyp you out of what you have. Goat

joeranger · April 28, 2012, 04:53 PM

It was like this...

"I'll give you $500...Oh wait a minute. let me check the barrel...Uh oh. It seems like my instrument reads that I should pay less for this gun. How about I give you..."
It did seem very scientific...

Jim Watson · April 28, 2012, 05:04 PM

A British proof house had a Boss 12ga that they used to test fire ammunition that would be used to test fire new guns. It fired a documented one million rounds and was still "in proof." Of course that was standard pressure function test stuff, not high pressure proof test.

I think Winchester got a quarter million out of a Model 97.

**JohnKSa** · April 28, 2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

It was like this...

"I'll give you $500...Oh wait a minute. let me check the barrel...Uh oh. It seems like my instrument reads that I should pay less for this gun. How about I give you..."
It did seem very scientific...

Nice...

So, who was it?

jaguarxk120 · April 28, 2012, 05:22 PM

By the way how is the instrument calibrated?

Seems to me that the instrument says there's more money to be made here, or this gun may become part of my collection.

BigJimP · April 28, 2012, 06:12 PM

what a scam.....

walk away from that deal ....quickly ....

zippy13 · April 28, 2012, 06:36 PM

We used to call those guys range lizards. They'd hang around waiting for an enthusiastic new shooter who might be looking to get a used O/U or upgrade from a pump to an auto-loader. The lizard would take advantage of his unsophisticated "new buddy" and rip him off. Thankfully, with forums like TFL, shooters are a lot more informed these days.

Lee Lapin · April 28, 2012, 06:49 PM

SCAM - run away, run away!

AND DON'T GO BACK THERE.

April 28, 2012, 12:19 PM	#1
joeranger Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 423	Measuring Barrel life? I guy put a air pressure gauge on my shotgun and said it was too worn. I had never even seen one of these. Does this make sense? It is not like the rifling is worn. It's a skeet gun.

April 28, 2012, 12:30 PM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Never heard of that . Modern cup wads protect the barrel from the shot so it has to be plastic to steel wear ?? Get a chrome plated bore. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

April 28, 2012, 06:49 PM	#15
Lee Lapin Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: SE NC Posts: 1,239	SCAM - run away, run away! AND DON'T GO BACK THERE. __________________ Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order! Attitude and skill will get you through times of no gear, better than gear will get you through times of no attitude and no skill.

April 28, 2012, 01:11 PM	#4
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	He might have used a instrument called a Air Gage. BUT unless he knows the gun his results are no better than looking down the bore. What if he was measuring a backbored barrel, those barrel diameters are larger than standard .729 12 gauge. I would also say he wants to sell you a new gun, by the way what make is your shotgun?

April 28, 2012, 01:21 PM	#5
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	Can a shotgun barrel actually be worn out, and if there is detectable wear, does it matter?

April 28, 2012, 01:37 PM	#6
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Yes you can measure wear on anything, BUT you have to have a starting point, a known value such as .729 bore diameter and then a second point where it is time to replace the barrel. Note: as said before we use plastic wads in our guns today. There is more wear during cleaning the barrel not the shooting. The barrel maker Harry Pope had a gun that was shot over 100,000 times (his own rifle) all lead bullets. during that time here was no loss in grouping or any measurable wear.

April 28, 2012, 02:14 PM	#7
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	In an extreme situation, the barrel could become too thin. I've never head of this happening from normal wear. The closest things, I'm aware of, are: When a screw-in choke is improperly installed and the end separates; someone tries to extend a chamber (or overbore) when there's not enough material (both are the result of poor gunsmithing); or corrosion damage. Taking barrel measurements won't tell you much unless you know the properties of the specific steel alloy used. Higher strength steels allow thinner barrels. If a gun passes a visual inspection and you're still in doubt, consider proof testing.

April 28, 2012, 02:56 PM	#8
Goatwhiskers Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2009 Location: Batchelor, La. Posts: 579	The most dedicated competition shooter will not wear out a barrel in his lifetime. I have seen very old shotguns whose barrels were made of the softer steels available back in the day and the muzzle was worn paper thin, almost sharp enough to cut you. Improvements in metallurgy eliminated that. Methinks the fellow was trying to sell you something or gyp you out of what you have. Goat

April 28, 2012, 04:53 PM	#9
joeranger Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 423	It was like this... "I'll give you $500...Oh wait a minute. let me check the barrel...Uh oh. It seems like my instrument reads that I should pay less for this gun. How about I give you..." It did seem very scientific...

April 28, 2012, 05:04 PM	#10
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	A British proof house had a Boss 12ga that they used to test fire ammunition that would be used to test fire new guns. It fired a documented one million rounds and was still "in proof." Of course that was standard pressure function test stuff, not high pressure proof test. I think Winchester got a quarter million out of a Model 97.

April 28, 2012, 05:22 PM	#12
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	By the way how is the instrument calibrated? Seems to me that the instrument says there's more money to be made here, or this gun may become part of my collection.

April 28, 2012, 06:12 PM	#13
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	what a scam..... walk away from that deal ....quickly ....

April 28, 2012, 06:36 PM	#14
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	We used to call those guys range lizards. They'd hang around waiting for an enthusiastic new shooter who might be looking to get a used O/U or upgrade from a pump to an auto-loader. The lizard would take advantage of his unsophisticated "new buddy" and rip him off. Thankfully, with forums like TFL, shooters are a lot more informed these days.