welding process

[JB2]

I need to weld up a couple places in a standing breech (SxS shotgun).  It's in a Pedersoli kit, and it's an area that sees stress during firing.  I feel I should anneal it after.  Have the ability to do both, just want to make sure I'm not creating more problems than I'm trying to fix.  My plan was to go for 500F for 2 hours, and let cool as slowly as possible (probably about 8 hours).  Anything else I need to watch out for, or what you guys think are best practices for this? 

Thanks
J

[Hungry Horse]

 If you don't know what metal you are working with, you can create a dangerous situation. i once welded up a tang on a patent breech, and found it was so hard after just air cooling, that a drill wouldn't drill it. I decided to anneal it, and when I removed it, from the ashes, after it had gotten cold, it had visible fractures in it. I still don't know what it was made of.

                Hungry Horse

[Acer Saccharum]

This makes me extremely nervous. I don't know what area is stressed, but welding on a breech that has already seen stress?

Photos would help so much toward understanding what the problem is. Are you able to post some?

[JB2]

HH, yeah, I'm a little concerned about that too. 

Acer, I'll try to post a couple pics later today, and ya'll might tell me I'm picking fly specks outta pepper.  The area that looks stressed seems to be from the manuf. process (I hope).  I know th barrels have been proofed, but don't believe that the whole gun has ever been fired.  I got it as an unfinished kit, supposedly unfired.  Nipples and locks were all as new and looked unfired, but bores we still a little dirty.

Thanks guys

[J Henry]

Reads like it would make a good wall hanger to me...or send the barrel back and ask for it to be replaced.

[jerrywh]

Pictures will help a lot. Also -is the problem structural or cosmetic ?