Author Topic: Old barrel material  (Read 1318 times)

Offline Dan Herda

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Old barrel material
« on: July 12, 2020, 09:21:11 PM »
Could anyone tell me what grade of steel GRDouglas used for their barrels?

Offline Roger B

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Re: Old barrel material
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2020, 09:43:39 PM »
12L14. Douglas drew their barrels octagon which can cause stress/micro cracks leading to failure in a very few.
Search the archives on 12L14 &Douglas; plenty of discussions there.
Roger B.
Never underestimate the sheer destructive power of a minimally skilled, but highly motivated man with tools.

Offline Dan Herda

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Re: Old barrel material
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2020, 09:59:20 PM »
Thank you Roger

Offline shortbarrel

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Re: Old barrel material
« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2020, 01:22:14 AM »
Have made many barrels out of 12L14. Starting from bar stock,boring,reaming and rifling.The flats were milled on or filed on. It's not the steel thats bad. It's the way this leaded steel was used in making these barrels. A few years back, I made a barrel for a match lock with 12L14.It had a deep swamp.It was put on the proof sled with 3 times the powder charge and two balls,shot 6 times.

Offline Bob Roller

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Re: Old barrel material
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2020, 11:52:42 PM »
12L14. Douglas drew their barrels octagon which can cause stress/micro cracks leading to failure in a very few.
Search the archives on 12L14 &Douglas; plenty of discussions there.
Roger B.

ANY failure AT ALL is one too many.I just got off the phone with Jim McLemore
who is again making barrels and still using material certified for use in the 50BMG.
I think it's 4350 or 4150.He has spent a lot of money on the material and equipment
to make these premium barrels available.
His phone # is 1-219-552-4050 and he is in Hebron,Indiana.
Bob Roller