Quote:

---

What was describded to me was NOT that the actual total amount of rifling shifts to the outside of the barrel, but more like that a visible pattern appeared on the barrel surface which followed the shape and position of the internal rifling.
The suggestion was that the monolithic and some other solid bullet types were creating a swaging effect where over time and many firings with monolithic type solids, a small shifting of the barrel metal takes place.
The barrel does not end up with all the rifling on the outside and a smooth bore.
The barrel still looks the same internally but shows a spiral pattern on its outside surface which matches the internal rifling.

---

That's a very good description. When I got my first double a few years back I read about this condition and didn't really believe it could happen. After all, copper or brass is softer than steel, right???

I was smart enough to recognize I didn't know everything and decided to shoot only Woodleighs or other conventional lead core bullets like Hornadys, etc in my doubles.

Now a few years later.....If anyone wants to see what overstressed rifleing looks like you have my permission to go see my 450/400 in Enid OK but you better hurry. I wonder if Ray's $200 is still available?

I picked the gun up for a song. The bores were in great condition but the stock was a mess and it had overstressed rifling that was clear to see, once you know what you are looking for. When I had it shipped to JJ he pointed the overstressed rifleing out to me and commented "another one shot with mono bullets". It looks just as described above. I imagine most guys that have handled many doubles have handled guns that have it but don't know what to look for. Paul Hodgins re-stocked it and JJ is re-regulating it and picking up the engraving. When finished it will be beautiful. According to JJ, as long as the gun is shot with correct diameter non-mono bullets it will be fine.

I've handled four guns with overstressed rifleing. The one described above, another one I had shipped in for inspection and passed on. This particular gun had been to JJ's shop 4-5 years earlier for some work and had no overstressed rifleing then but it does now. As well as two others that I've handled and shot that are beautiful guns but clearly display overstressed rifleing. These two have been shot quite a bit with Barnes and Swifts and didn't have the overstressed rifleing when they were bought by the current owner.

In the end do what you want with your guns, they belong to you. But remember when the keyboard experts or the bullet manufacturers tell you there are no problems with mono bullets or that steel is harder than copper there are a least 4 guns out there that show something different and that something is enough to keep me away from the monos.

Post Extras