Barrel wall thickness

[Ezra]

Generally speaking, and assuming 12L14 steel, and an octagonal barrel in .50 caliber, what is the accepted minimum barrel thickness for a pistol barrel at the breech?  Is .18" too thin?   Black powder only.  Thanks guys.


Ez

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

No, it's not too thin.  But it is thin.  So no rifle loads!  Most original pistols were thinner than that at the breech, according to one reference I have.

[Don Getz]

Ezra.........should be no problem, you are almost at 7/8" diameter, which is a popular size in a rifle barrel in 50 cal....Don

[coutios]

  Are we assuming this is a smooth bore ?  I'll only solder the rear lug on these .50cal/7/8 barrels...  More is better at the breech in my small mind..

Regards
Dave

[Bob Roller]

Dixie Gun Works lists 7/8x50 straight octagon and 12" long made from 1137. Sounds like a better idea to me and for aroung $70 and threaded for the breech plug.
That 1137 tells me these may be Green Mountain barrels.

Bob Roller

[Don Getz]

Think about this.  Over the years we have made some 13/16" (.812) diameter barrels in 50 cal.  I am not going to tell you
about the ridiculous test loads we did in one.   The biggest problem in using a barrel this small is cutting dovetails into it
If you don't have a vertical mill to do it, I would suggest you solder them onto it.    Personally, I would never build a gun
with a barrel this small.   We have also made some 3/4" barrels in small calibres, but have discontinued that, too much
like a "toy".   Years ago we had a guy here in Pa. who was shooting in a lot of matches and winning more than his share.
He shot a gun with one of the 13/16"  50 cal. barrels, shot 50 grains of powder, and was deadly with it.   As for me, I
would prefer a heavier barrel for target shooting...............Don

[Roger Fisher]

Think about this.  Over the years we have made some 13/16" (.812) diameter barrels in 50 cal.  I am not going to tell you
about the ridiculous test loads we did in one.   The biggest problem in using a barrel this small is cutting dovetails into it
If you don't have a vertical mill to do it, I would suggest you solder them onto it.    Personally, I would never build a gun
with a barrel this small.   We have also made some 3/4" barrels in small calibres, but have discontinued that, too much
like a "toy".   Years ago we had a guy here in Pa. who was shooting in a lot of matches and winning more than his share.
He shot a gun with one of the 13/16"  50 cal. barrels, shot 50 grains of powder, and was deadly with it.   As for me, I
would prefer a heavier barrel for target shooting...............Don

Lemme guess,, Lonnie Seitz  The turkeys wouldn't stick their heads out of the bags for him

[Don Getz]

Roger.............you have a good memory.     Lonnie was deadly with that  little light gun.   Last time I heard of him he was
living in the northern part of the state, raising horses, or maybe it was just horsing around, not sure.......Don