Barrel integrity question

[wvmtnman]

A number of years ago, I had a gas leak on a drum.  I took it to Keith Casteel and he suggested that we braze the drum in place.  We removed the plug and drum, heated the breech, put a drop from the rod in the threads and screwed the drum in place. It cooled slowly but there was a little scaling. 
   After a season of use, I posed the question here and was advised that it was unsafe and could possibly blow up.  I planned on replacing the barrel but haven’t touched the rifle since.
   Anyway, here is my questions; Did heating the breech of the barrel change the properties of of the metal, making it unsafe?  Would the entire breech of the barrel need to be removed or just drill out the drum?
      I shot the rifle after the fix but now, my boys are getting intered in shooting and want to make sure it’s as safe as possible.
       Thanks, Brian

[jerrywh]

 If the barrel was heated red for as for brazing  and cooled slowly At the breach There is nor problem as far as changing the properties of the steel. Brass barrels were not uncommon. So the brass is not a problem. But the question lacks facts. For instance. What caliber, At what load. How many grains of powder , What kind of powder, Who made the barrel. what is the diameter of the drum. How many threads??? There is no way to safely answer you question without all this information.

[wvmtnman]

Sorry for not mentioning that information.  The barrel is a 13/16 Green Mountain barrel.  The drum is a 1/2 drum and I believe it was a 5/16 -18 thread.  It’s a .36 caliber.  I shot a .350 round ball and used 40 gr of ffg Goex. 
       Brian

[Scota4570]

I would not hesitate to use it.  I would lap the scale out with a lead lap from the breech.  While I was at I would would lap the whole thing and add a slight choke.  I would consider it to be stronger than a drum screwed into the barrel with no additional glue.  In the future Loctite shaft sealant, like 680, would do the same job with no scale. It is amazing stuff.

Fast moving thread.  No scale inside, no problem. 

[wvmtnman]

So heating the barrel and drum to a dull red hot did not destroy the barrel?  Or make it weaker in any way?

[wvmtnman]

There was no scale on the inside of the barrel.  It was only on the outside around the drum

[Scota4570]

So heating the barrel and drum to a dull red hot did not destroy the barrel?  Or make it weaker in any way?

The barrel is dead soft leaded alloy.  The is no heat treat to mess up.  IF you heated it super hot, like yellow to white, and crystallize the steel that is different, but you did not do that. 

[rich pierce]

If heating steel to red destroyed it, I guess forging things wouldn’t work.

[wvmtnman]

I just found my original post, all the way back in 2012, under the heading of “honest opinions wanted on repair”.
     Should the drum be cut off and replaced?

[rich pierce]

I just found my original post, all the way back in 2012, under the heading of “honest opinions wanted on repair”.
     Should the drum be cut off and replaced?

If I understand:
You had a loose drum brazed in place.  The braze may or may not have penetrated the threaded portion of the barrel.

If you simply cut it off flush with the barrel you’d be left with:
A) a threaded stem of the drum perfectly locked into the barrel by the brazing, making destruction of the drum a wrong decision (it was good).

B) a threaded stem of the drum that can be removed, but you may still have few or poor threads unsuitable for installing a new drum.

C) a threaded stem of the drum that is partially brazed in place and hard to impossible to remove.  If removable, you’d still have the problem of possibly bad threads.

Am I thinking right, and what are you thinking?

I’m guessing it’s in a gun and you don’t want to shorten the barrel at the breech which is the most certain fix.

[Ky-Flinter]

I just found my original post, all the way back in 2012, under the heading of “honest opinions wanted on repair”.
     Should the drum be cut off and replaced?

Why?  Is it still leaking, or leaking again?

-Ron

[wvmtnman]

No leaks or issues.  I guess I was mislead in to thinking that the fix had been an improper one and that it was potentially dangerous.   
    The easiest would be for me to leave it as is.  However, if there was a chance of someone getting hurt do to how the repair was done, I was going to have it fixed. 
    Thanks, Brian

[Mike Brooks]

I have seen a lot of brazed repairs on antique barrels. I don't think you have a problem, especially in a .36. I'd shoot it. But, as I have said many times, I live close to the edge...….

[KentSmith]

From what you have said and I understand the drum is not loose or leaking, I would shoot it and not worry.  Still it is your kids so if it makes you uneasy... As a kid I abused a number of questionably manufactured percussion guns from Dixie but I think you and they will be just fine as is.

[Daryl]

Seems to me, GM barrels are 1137, not leaded as in 12L14.
GM barrels are certainly harder filing.

[jerrywh]

I don't see a problem as long as you stick to that load.

[wvmtnman]

I appreciate all the replies.  The drum and barrel still had plenty of thread when it was brazed.  The threads were just starting to show a little wear and I was worried about long term problems, if the gas leak would continue. The brazed was used as more of a thread sealant.
     I actually use fffg.   Not 2 f.  I looked back through my notes and it looks like 45 grains of fffg was the biggest load I even used.
    Thanks,, Brian
   

[Dphariss]

I appreciate all the replies.  The drum and barrel still had plenty of thread when it was brazed.  The threads were just starting to show a little wear and I was worried about long term problems, if the gas leak would continue. The brazed was used as more of a thread sealant.
     I actually use fffg.   Not 2 f.  I looked back through my notes and it looks like 45 grains of fffg was the biggest load I even used.
    Thanks,, Brian
   

I would have cut it off to the proper length and put on a patent breech...


Dan

[Daryl]

Dan's suggestion is likely the best. Then you would KNOW it's right.