blasterjudd Posted August 16, 2014 Report Share Posted August 16, 2014 Anyone ever noticed how thick the barrel walls are at the fixed choke ends of your gun? A fella in a gunshop showed me a sxs the other day it had fixed chokes and they looked a bit thin at the muzzle area? Is this the sign of lots of wear on a gun barrel or is it just the way they can come out the factory when they finish off the choke ends. Not noticed this before have any of you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 16, 2014 Report Share Posted August 16, 2014 If it caught your eye my money is on a saw off choke reduction job having been done on it, its a way some re-bodge the alteration at the ends. Check the end bead and the finish on the rib visually normally see a give away here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted August 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2014 Hi Kent no this definately was original barrel lengths as I thought same as you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted August 16, 2014 Report Share Posted August 16, 2014 It will have been opened out, tears ago people didn't go in for choke like we do. Plenty of cylinder improved cylinder guns out there. It depends what the owner used the gun for, fast partridge over hedges little or no choke is a plus. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Many higher grade, especially English, guns have had a lot of attention paid to balance, weight distribution and handling. Thin walls near the muzzles helps concentrate the weight between the hands and keeps it low. Its done at manufacture by filing down the outsides more. This gives very fast handling, which whilst not everyone's 'cup of tea', can work wonderfully for those who can use it to advantage. Since pressures are much lower near the muzzle, this is not usually an issue for passing proof, but thin walls do dent very easily. I believe these days, below about 25 thou(sandths of an inch) is regarded as getting a bit thin. If you look at auction listings you sometimes see the note "barrel walls below recommended thickness". However, many lightweight English guns would have been on the thin side when new. One of the best game shots I have ever seen used a trio of 'featherweight' English guns, 28" barrels. They were thin, and he was very careful to prevent any dents etc - but he knew how to use them and in his hands with 1 oz loads they 'accounted for the high ones' as well or better than any other gun in the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Very true ,the recent trend for artillery pieces to shoot pheasants doesn`t help inept people ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted August 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Well that makes sense Johnfromuk as it was an English copy sxs Thankyou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Many higher grade, especially English, guns have had a lot of attention paid to balance, weight distribution and handling. Thin walls near the muzzles helps concentrate the weight between the hands and keeps it low. Its done at manufacture by filing down the outsides more. This gives very fast handling, which whilst not everyone's 'cup of tea', can work wonderfully for those who can use it to advantage. Since pressures are much lower near the muzzle, this is not usually an issue for passing proof, but thin walls do dent very easily. I believe these days, below about 25 thou(sandths of an inch) is regarded as getting a bit thin. If you look at auction listings you sometimes see the note "barrel walls below recommended thickness". However, many lightweight English guns would have been on the thin side when new. One of the best game shots I have ever seen used a trio of 'featherweight' English guns, 28" barrels. They were thin, and he was very careful to prevent any dents etc - but he knew how to use them and in his hands with 1 oz loads they 'accounted for the high ones' as well or better than any other gun in the field. Auction houses etc work on 20 thou typically as minimum recommended to shoot.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Anyone ever noticed how thick the barrel walls are at the fixed choke ends of your gun? A fella in a gunshop showed me a sxs the other day it had fixed chokes and they looked a bit thin at the muzzle area? Is this the sign of lots of wear on a gun barrel or is it just the way they can come out the factory when they finish off the choke ends. Not noticed this before have any of you? So what was it choked at ?If it was an open choke on a game gun then it will appear quite thin . The .020" mentioned is only a guide as o lot will depend on the steels used for the barrels For example Greener barrels were always reckoned to need .010" more thickness than Webley to give the same strength . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted August 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) Quarter and Half choked Gunman So what was it choked at ?If it was an open choke on a game gun then it will appear quite thin . The .020" mentioned is only a guide as o lot will depend on the steels used for the barrels For example Greener barrels were always reckoned to need .010" more thickness than Webley to give the same strength . Edited August 18, 2014 by blasterjudd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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