Author Topic: barrel tester (Read 15619 times)

Ken G · « **on:** February 01, 2009, 06:26:34 AM »

A while back I posted about proofing a barrel. I still haven't got around to actually firing it off but I have finished my tester. Here's a look. You can barely see the feet which have holes drilled for staking it to the ground. I put a lid on it to deter any shrapnel that may materialize. The trough will allow me to button it up and then light a fuse on the outside of the box.
Cheers,
Ken

volatpluvia · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2009, 07:16:48 AM »

Ken guy,
That's nice. Are ye testing your own hand forged barrels? I can see the worth of it if you are. If that is a barrel made by any of the reputable makers in the USA, Italy or Spain, I just can't see why you would take a perfectly servicable barrel and subject it to that kind of punishment. Just curious, mind ye.
volatpluvia

Steve Bookout · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2009, 12:24:28 AM »

Volie, it ain't so much for subjecting the barrel to pressure, but to check that the breech plug to barrel or drum/vent that YOU installed is going to hold. I have personally seen them blow out with only 100 grains of FFG. Bookie

Brian · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2009, 12:33:01 AM »

Well thought out. I like it. Simple - yet very effective. And I can see where it would be a good idea to "test" a barrel (and any work you might have done to it) before holding it up to your face and pulling the trigger.

JCKelly · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:06:07 AM »

You might want to afford that nice long breech tang some protection, should recoil slide the barrel out of your fixture & run it into something very firm in back.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:14:22 AM »

Quote from: JCKelly on February 05, 2009, 04:06:07 AM

You might want to afford that nice long breech tang some protection, should recoil slide the barrel out of your fixture & run it into something very firm in back.

I see a piece of 1/2 steel "recoil shoulder" behind the breech plug. With the barrel held firmly in its bed. I think that should do it. Ken's going to find out one way or the other.

Ken G · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:29:30 AM »

It worked out near perfect. The design is a modified version of Steve Bookout's Iowa barrel tester. Mine wasn't as heavy as his so I could carry it easier. I drilled holes in the corners and staked it to the ground with 5/16 steel rod to keep it from flipping or sliding on the ground.
The only change I'll make is to mount a tube and clip to hold the fuse. I used some Fireworks fuse tied together. Once lite, it flips around like a runaway water hose.
There's a video at this link. I'm not going to direct link it because my wife and videotographer used a few choice words to describe her thoughts after it went off. Turn the volume off or hold your ears. hehehe
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Packdog1/barrel%20tester/

Hoot Al has a good tutorial on building a Bookie Barrel tester.
http://www.hootalrifleshop.org/barrel_tester.htm

Steve Bookout · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2009, 05:30:42 AM »

Ken, don't go 'round tellin' folks you know me or they'll start avoiding you. TIP: Some tangs will require a SECOND 1/2" bar placed on top of the first to provide adequate clearance. Cheers, Bookie P.S., Delivered that Iowa rifle to the fellow in Kona. Hawai'i was 86 and the tops of my feet are sunburned!

Ken G · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2009, 05:38:44 AM »

13 degrees here. I don't want to hear it altough I did chuckle a the visual of you getting off the plane with that Iowa rifle under your arm. hehehe

P.S. Your forged up barrel did real fine during the testing.

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2009, 05:39:30 AM »

Ken, she wasn't swearing, I think she said 'sun on the beach', maybe she was thinking about Hawaii or someplace far away......

Ken G · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2009, 05:41:21 AM »

Ha Ha Yes, maybe that was it. Sun on the beach. She has been wanting to go to beach.

Joe Stein · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2009, 07:25:44 AM »

Yeah, she knew Bookie was out there getting sunburned while she was shivering taking pictures of Bookie's barrel.
BTW, nice design on that barrel tester.
-Joe

omark · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2009, 07:51:31 AM »

curious as to how many of you guys proof a barrel and adjust sights before selling a gun to someone? and those that do proof, what do you use for charges?

Steve Bookout · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:44:42 PM »

Hi Omark. I know some folk disagree, but I have always proofed a barrel for my own piece of mind and use what I consider double a "maximum" charge for what the gun will normally be used for. The various charges were worked out over the past 35 years. Have had 1 catstrophic barrel failure, 2 breech plugs, 3 drums and 4 vent liners blow out. Even seen nipple tubes separate with 120 grains of FFG. Have some of these components hanging on the shop wall because each tells a story. Cheers, Bookie

Collector · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2009, 08:04:23 PM »

Ken, That's a neat set-up and I'm impressed with the safety measures you've taken. That backhoe is an especially nice thing to have around if you need to 'restore' the test site, so to speak.

You be careful out there!

Roger Fisher · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:57:29 PM »

Quote from: Bookie on February 05, 2009, 04:44:42 PM

Hi Omark. I know some folk disagree, but I have always proofed a barrel for my own piece of mind and use what I consider double a "maximum" charge for what the gun will normally be used for. The various charges were worked out over the past 35 years. Have had 1 catstrophic barrel failure, 2 breech plugs, 3 drums and 4 vent liners blow out. Even seen nipple tubes separate with 120 grains of FFG. Have some of these components hanging on the shop wall because each tells a story. Cheers, Bookie

Well ol man, would you mind describing each 'story'?? Wondering the reason for each failure - inquiring and nosey minds need to know - Improperly tapped/threaded drums plug not faced up to the bore etc etc? If they are 'private' stories just ignore the question! And thanks regardless.!

northwoodsdave · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2009, 05:56:19 AM »

I agree with Bookie. Proofing means, if nothing else, you know the work you did is good. I'd hate to put a freshly assembled breech that close to my face and other body parts to see if everything is going to hold together all right.

Of course, Bookie makes his own barrels: Another excellent reason to take extra care.

I originally got interested in proofing because of some old guns I own. Though antique, the barrels seem in good shape. I don't want to find out the hard way that they only APPEAR safe and solid.

David Lowe

Ken G · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2009, 06:30:46 AM »

I've never tested one before this. I tested this one because it is one of Bookie's hand forged barrels and proofing was his instructions.
I have to say I really like the peace of mind it gives you regarding the installation of ventliner and dovetails that have been cut.
Ken

beleg2 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2009, 04:17:05 PM »

I'm not an expert!!!
Please take note, this is just what I did.
I use a mix of Belgium and British proof loads.
That's double powder charge and 1.3 ball or bullet weight.
BTW: I use shot not ball or bullet as it easier to get the exact weight and it energy ends at 100 yds.(no ricochet, etc.

Hope this helps.
Martin

FlintRock Rob · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2009, 04:32:36 PM »

Martin - Wouldn't you need to use a tightly fitting ball/patch to get those pressures up high enough for the proof load? Even if the weight was only one ball? Or do you have some way of really sealing that load of shot in there?

northwoodsdave · « **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2009, 09:46:34 PM »

I tend to agree with Rob. I don't think shot would build up pressures high enough to really test the breech parts and barrel.

David L

Steve Bookout · « **Reply #21 on:** March 11, 2009, 04:48:03 AM »

Hi Roger! Just found this thread as I was searching for something else. The catastrophic barrel failure was with an original Remington cast barrel. It belonged to a fellow out West who wanted it to take hunting Pronghorns. The breech plug was loose so he sent it to me for fixin'. I put in a new breech plug and there was no problem with any of the operation or assembly. I proofed it with 150 grains. The breech plug has never been seen again and the top eight inches of the breech end of the barrel hasn't either. Upon examination, the barrel was found to have crystallized in the corner of one groove, the entire length of the barrel. I cut a 10" section from the undamaged portion, installed a breech plug and vent and proofed it with only 90 grains of FFg. It blew, too.
The two breech plug failures occurred when I proofed two barrels for two wanna be gunmakers. They were .45 & .50 calibers, respectively. Now some folks on this site are admandant about not having to proof barrels because of the superior modern steels used. They over look the fact that some guns are built by novices who drilled & tapped their breech plug holes and screwed in a breech plug. The boys hand drilled the barrels with a 1/2" drill. After the barrels blew they informed me that the holes MIGHT have been a bit out of round because of wobbling the drill. Upon examination by two Maytag engineers, they were able to confirm that as being the issue.

One drum blew because the wanna be maker cut too many threads off the drum, He didn't want the threads to be in the way of the bore. Sadly, 3 threads on a drum just don't quite cut it. Another home made drum blew on a fellow who was using 90 grains of FFG. When he drilled the passage hole into his money saving drum, he went too far and the wall was mighty thin. It failed after about 6 months use. The drum was recovered and a small hole was found in the end. (rust was also an issue) The threads were stripped, as well. This drum only had 5 threads holding it into a .58 caliber barrel. I could go on, but I believe you see the point. It's not so much the failure of modern steels. It's the failure of common sense. Cheers, Bookie

ottawa · « **Reply #22 on:** March 11, 2009, 05:23:58 AM »

now proof testing a repair or install of a part ya did your self is supthing i never thought of thanks for the insite

Hoot AL · « **Reply #23 on:** March 11, 2009, 08:45:15 AM »

I proof test my barrel with a tester I made.

Here is a link to page I show how to build it. At the bottom of the page is a movie showing me firing the tester.

http://www.hootalrifleshop.org/barrel_tester.htm

Hoot AL

Michael · « **Reply #24 on:** March 11, 2009, 02:01:47 PM »

Bookie,

I'm curious, could you explain how a barrel can crystallize, and what that means?

Michael

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Author Topic: barrel tester (Read 15619 times)

omark

northwoodsdave

beleg2

FlintRock Rob

northwoodsdave

ottawa

Michael