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Ringed barrel?
- Thread starter Swamp Rat
- Start date
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Hi,
I have seen many ringed barrels.
There are several causes.
Mostly obstructions in the barrel.
ie: snow/mud, a barrel with an improper charge ( patch & ball not fully seated) that can be two inches to 1/2" from the end of the barrel.
You can ring a barrel with a minimal charge to a maximum charge, all projectiles "MUST" be seated on the powder.
Modern guns suffer the same problems. A light charge or just a primer to send the bullet down the barrel, but not out, then following with a new cartridge. That can and will destroy many barrels.
Muzzleloading shotguns are prone to improper seating, especially with double barrel guns, where recoil has dislodged the load next to the fired barrel.
Also a wad in a shotgun that bounces back with air pressure at loading. Care must be taken to verify that the load is fully seated.
It sounds complicated, but it is not, it is only common sense and care what you are doing.
Smooth bore muskets were somewhat prone to bulged barrels if the round ball was not secure in the barrel, or even minie ball bullets in civil war type guns could slide in the barrel, and not be seated on the powder charge, resulting in a ringed barrel.
I do hope this helps.
Fred
I have seen many ringed barrels.
There are several causes.
Mostly obstructions in the barrel.
ie: snow/mud, a barrel with an improper charge ( patch & ball not fully seated) that can be two inches to 1/2" from the end of the barrel.
You can ring a barrel with a minimal charge to a maximum charge, all projectiles "MUST" be seated on the powder.
Modern guns suffer the same problems. A light charge or just a primer to send the bullet down the barrel, but not out, then following with a new cartridge. That can and will destroy many barrels.
Muzzleloading shotguns are prone to improper seating, especially with double barrel guns, where recoil has dislodged the load next to the fired barrel.
Also a wad in a shotgun that bounces back with air pressure at loading. Care must be taken to verify that the load is fully seated.
It sounds complicated, but it is not, it is only common sense and care what you are doing.
Smooth bore muskets were somewhat prone to bulged barrels if the round ball was not secure in the barrel, or even minie ball bullets in civil war type guns could slide in the barrel, and not be seated on the powder charge, resulting in a ringed barrel.
I do hope this helps.
Fred
I know of two reason a barrel may be "ringed". One is due to over pressure from a projectile not being seated on the powder charge. How much air gap depends on the strength of the steel, the mount of powder, and the amount of gap. It is a bulge where the barrel expanded but didn't burst...luckily. Obstructions farther down in the barrel I have seen only burst the barrel.
The second is from a bullet moving through a barrel with water or more commonly, with oil in the bore. If a bullet developes a ring of water or oil as it moves forward at velocity, and the bullet overcomes that ring, it has a hydrolic effect, as the oil/water can only be compressed so far before it exerts pressure on the steel of the barrel, and causes a bulge.
This is not unheard of in modern firearms for it's easy to load a breech loader and not remember the bore needs wiping to remove rust preventive oil. The problem with a muzzleloader would be the person who wanted to leave the ML loaded, and then swabbed the bore with gun grease or something to keep the bore from rusting, while awaiting to return to the hunt... and forgot to swab out the bore and fired. I don't think I'd add grease or oil to an already loaded rifle..., but some out there inexperienced in ML's might.
LD
The second is from a bullet moving through a barrel with water or more commonly, with oil in the bore. If a bullet developes a ring of water or oil as it moves forward at velocity, and the bullet overcomes that ring, it has a hydrolic effect, as the oil/water can only be compressed so far before it exerts pressure on the steel of the barrel, and causes a bulge.
This is not unheard of in modern firearms for it's easy to load a breech loader and not remember the bore needs wiping to remove rust preventive oil. The problem with a muzzleloader would be the person who wanted to leave the ML loaded, and then swabbed the bore with gun grease or something to keep the bore from rusting, while awaiting to return to the hunt... and forgot to swab out the bore and fired. I don't think I'd add grease or oil to an already loaded rifle..., but some out there inexperienced in ML's might.
LD
Depends on the barrel and the bullets position.
LR MLs with slugs tend to ring barrels if the owner points them down as he walks to the firing line. These likely have wads over the powder and this can add to the problem.
A couple of inches is probably not going to matter 3-4"? 12-24" sure thing.
The other thing is powder strung out in the bore can apparently increase the burn rate and this can result in a faster pressure rise and more velocity imparted to the gases before they strike the "obstruction".
Dan
LR MLs with slugs tend to ring barrels if the owner points them down as he walks to the firing line. These likely have wads over the powder and this can add to the problem.
A couple of inches is probably not going to matter 3-4"? 12-24" sure thing.
The other thing is powder strung out in the bore can apparently increase the burn rate and this can result in a faster pressure rise and more velocity imparted to the gases before they strike the "obstruction".
Dan
It doesn't take much of a gap to set up the conditions to cause a ringed or bulged barrel. It could be a small separation between the powder and ball from a too small ball and patch separating during carry or not ramming a ball down the barrel after starting it. It could be a plug of mud in a dropped gun or anything that would close the bore.
The explosion of the powder creates a wave of pressure that expands in all directions. If the metal of the barrel moves before the ball, the result can be a bulged, ringed or burst barrel. That's why we always instruct people clearing a dry load to be sure the ball is seated prior to firing the gun.
The explosion of the powder creates a wave of pressure that expands in all directions. If the metal of the barrel moves before the ball, the result can be a bulged, ringed or burst barrel. That's why we always instruct people clearing a dry load to be sure the ball is seated prior to firing the gun.
From what I have read the Springfield rifle musket barrels were proved with 200 gr of Musket Powder and a Minie ball spaced 2" from the powder.
These were welded iron barrels.
Apparently the "bullets slide off the powder" thing has been known for some time.
Dan
These were welded iron barrels.
Apparently the "bullets slide off the powder" thing has been known for some time.
Dan
Thanks guys I was not sure of the Term Ringed barrel. have seen a couple twelve gauges with walnut size bulges at the end of the barrel from getting mud in the end. Dog hunting has it hazzareds even for some experiance guys. bend over to grab a dog with the gun in the crook of your arm and dont notice it until after you shoot that you stuck the muzzle in the ground. Boy that's been years ago.
pa woods roamer
40 Cal.
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One reason why a lot of shooters don`t use short starters. The Patch and Ball are started, using the short starter and due to a distraction the load is not pushed down with a Ramrod!! If the Patch and Ball are short started over the sight Dovetail it can possibly burst the Barrel at the Dovetail. This would be where the Barrel is weakest.....
Once upon a time I bought a T.C. Hawken in .45 from a person on this board for an unbelievable price of $195. The barrel was ringed at the underlug dovetail It looked like T.C cut the underlug really deep for a 15/16 inch barrel.
Bob
Bob
Or while hunting. :shocked2:
I gave up trying to use any kind of elongated projectile very early on in this game. First: no reason to not use round balls only. Second: what you mentioned. In many parts of the country, like mine, during hunting season it can be very cool in the morning but the days can warm up quite a bit. Warmer weather makes lube more slickery and the projectile can (will often) slide forward as one carryies the rifle on a hunt. Bad news. :td: Dangerous and can ruin a barrel.
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Leatherbark said:
Yeah, same purchasing experience here for me too. It was a ringed .36 flinter. Now it's a spiffy rebored .46 flinter that I like much better.
