The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Dave McCracken Memorial Shotgun Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 17, 2010, 07:11 AM   #1
corvairkid64
Member
 
Join Date: March 12, 2010
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 42
Shotgun barrel doesn't "ring"?

This may be a dumb question. I just read a description of a used double barrel for sale with 2 barrel sets. In the description it states that one barrel set doesn't ring.
What does this mean?
corvairkid64 is offline  
Old June 17, 2010, 07:19 AM   #2
oneounceload
Junior member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2008
Location: N. Central Florida
Posts: 8,518
With chopper-lump-type barrels, if you were to hold one by a fingertip near the breech and "flick" the barrel with your finger, it would ring like a bell. As to why one does and one does not, I don't know. (The folks at doublegunshop.com might have that answer)
oneounceload is offline  
Old June 17, 2010, 07:35 AM   #3
johnbt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 6, 1999
Location: Richmond, Virginia USA
Posts: 6,004
I believe it is a method of testing the solder joints between the barrels. If they're loose they'll buzz more than ring.
johnbt is offline  
Old June 17, 2010, 09:59 AM   #4
zippy13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,442
Barrel ring can be of two types: a ring like the noise from a bell, or a ring that you put on your finger.

Tapping a shotgun and listening for it to ring is an old school method of evaluation. I recall a story where a blacksmith was out of business because lightning had hit his anvil and it had lost its ring (rendering it useless). Some shotgun barrels actually have an ring to them when fired similar to an anvil being struck.

Then there's the ring gauge, or dimensional reference. Anyone familiar with a machine shop knows about ring gauges. They can be used to make direct measurements or for the calibration of other instruments. So, say you're a gun maker and you send a batch of new guns to the proof house. One of them is rejected because its bore diameter isn't with in the government specification -- as verified by the proof house's reference ring gauges. It could be said that the rejected barrel didn't ring. The same concept applies to over-sized bowling balls, you can DQ a tournament if your ball doesn't ring.
zippy13 is offline  
Old June 17, 2010, 10:55 AM   #5
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
Amazing .... "when I grow up, I want to be as well read as Zippy" ...

well said, and enlightening, my friend ....

but bowling balls ?? ......
BigJimP is offline  
Old June 17, 2010, 12:54 PM   #6
zippy13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,442
I understand the PBA is pretty hard and fast about their 27-inch max circumference and 16-pound rule. If there's a question about ball size they used a ring in the old days, now it's probably some laser scanner. Any active bowlers out there?
zippy13 is offline  
Old June 17, 2010, 02:11 PM   #7
PetahW
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 19, 2008
Posts: 4,678
The seller's describing something afoul with the ribs, either loose, or cracked solder that's allowed water between the barrel and rust to start.

When a good set of barrels are properly struck (rung), they will "ring" to the ear, indicating tight joints throughout.

Double gun barrels are thus tested via removing them from the action and suspending them from their hinge pin pivot notch while the side of each barrel is rung with a finger flick/knuckle or a small rubber hammer (in a shop).

In any event, a rib resoldering job is indicated at the minumum, or even a full re-ribbing job - a MUCH more expensive proposition, for non-DIY persons.

.
PetahW is offline  
Old June 17, 2010, 02:12 PM   #8
deepvalley
Member
 
Join Date: June 17, 2010
Location: I live in a small community where God and family come first followed quickly by farming and hunting. It is located in the heart of the western NC Blue Ridge Mountains. May God bless Barnardsville, NC.
Posts: 57
ring of truth

I have a cousin that is a professional blacksmith and according to him the higher the quality of the steel the greater the chance of it ringing on impact with another hard object.I trust his professional opinion and I took that to mean that barrels that don't ring are of lesser quality material that ones that do ring, not to say that they will fail... but I no longer buy guns that wont make a little noise when struck. Everyone can make whatever they will of it but all my 16 guns "Ring True" and I have not yet had a problem with any of them.
deepvalley is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:22 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.04616 seconds with 10 queries