Opinion on dovetail minimum remaining thickness on barrel

[Jerry V Lape]

Working on a  skinny swamped Rice barrel .40 Cal.  One of the dovetails for barrel lug will leave remaining wall thickness of .116" if I just cut in .040".  Haven't worked on smaller barrels before so I hope someone has some experience with this situation.  The cut is 3.25" from muzzle for the forward lug. 

[flinchrocket]

I understand that .100 is recommended by barrel makers. I have a 50 cal 38 in with a wall that is .075 at the middle lug. I have shot it a lot without any problems, but I think that is a little thin. I built it back in the early 80's and didn't think anything about it until a few years ago when I was measuring a barrel to
install the lugs. If you consider a 38 in 54cal C weight barrel with round bottom rifling the waist is .772
with a wall thickness of .100.

[L. Akers]

I have always used .100 " as a minimum wall thickness as a general rule.  A .040 deep dovetail is plenty for a key.  Also since your key in question is just back of the muzzle, consider that is where pressure is least.  You have plenty of wall thickness.

[coutios]

   I've cut dovetails at .025... no problems.. Anymore on these small waist barrels... Just solder the lugs on and be done with it... JMO...

regards
Dave

[Bill in Md]

Solder works great, and there is no anxiety

[Mike Brooks]

Not much pressure way out there by the muzzle.

[Boompa]

I ask the same question a few months back and was told .100" is the standard minimum barrel thickness under the dovetails.  On one of my guns the dovetails are cut too deep resulting in .070-.085" thickness. It's been shot plenty w/o consequence, none the less I'd feel better with a little more barrel wall under those dovetails.

[oldtravler61]

Had a similar question a few month's ago. When I pulled a custom rifle a part I bought an found out . The maker had drilled through the barrel to install the barrel pins. Was very concerned until the guys in the know said don't sweat it.  Still don't like it but the gun shoots very well.

[Acer Saccharum]

Had a similar question a few month's ago. When I pulled a custom rifle a part I bought an found out . The maker had drilled through the barrel to install the barrel pins. Was very concerned until the guys in the know said don't sweat it.  Still don't like it but the gun shoots very well.

As long as the holes are not drilled INTO the bore, just near the bore, you're OK as long as it's not right at the breech..

[Acer Saccharum]

Since the lugs are used to hold the thin fore end to the barrel, there is very little dovetail needed. I have made them as shallow as .03 and they hold just fine.

[tlallijr]

Related question to minimum barrel thickness. For a dovetail it seems the recommended is .100, would the same be needed for blind holes to attach an under rib or staple ? On Track of the Wolfs sight they say .050 for a minimum barrel thickness for staples or blind holes.

[L. Akers]

Also, fellas, all these slots and holes we are making in the barrel are being filled.  This support will increase the strength of the barrel at the slot/hole over the slot/hole being left empty.

[Acer Saccharum]

On Track of the Wolfs sight they say .050 for a minimum barrel thickness for staples or blind holes.

I'm not comfortable putting staples in a barrel wall that thin.

I have no problem dovetailing lugs into a barrel of .100 wall.  For an .05 wall, I'd solder the lugs on.