"To shoot, or not to shoot, that is the question"

[Mark Daiute]

Send it to me and I'll fire it!

[madsenshooter]

I would too, in Hatcher's notebook the General tells of turning down an 03 barrel until it was only 1/16" thick over the chamber area, actually about where the neck/shoulder junction would be, and that held with three service rounds. A 75,000psi proof round blew it out though. This Krag barrel, though deeply pitted has a lot more thickness than 1/16" left. Having said that, I believe however that the Krag barrel is a softer steel than other rifle barrels. I see a lot of reports of ringed chambers or barrels on the web, one of them mine, caused by using too much of compressible filler.

[Mark Daiute]

I had an 1892 with a barrel about like that one that I shot a fair amount. Unfortunately the bore in mine was marginal at best. It had been sporterized and I wish I still had it with what I know now. Funny thing is, I never thought to question the safety of firing it.

God looks after drunkards and fools.

[Irish Rob]

This question comes up in the British Militaria Forum a lot with old Martinis and Sniders. Are the pits deeper than a sight dovetail? Would you shoot a barrel with a dovetail cut in it?

[Beachbumbob]

This question comes up in the British Militaria Forum a lot with old Martinis and Sniders. Are the pits deeper than a sight dovetail? Would you shoot a barrel with a dovetail cut in it?

Well said and straight to the point!

[Rick the Librarian]

I'll start out with those light loads I mentioned earlier and go from there.

[gnoahhh]

This question comes up in the British Militaria Forum a lot with old Martinis and Sniders. Are the pits deeper than a sight dovetail? Would you shoot a barrel with a dovetail cut in it?

Not to mention a barrel with drilled and tapped sight holes.

[BradW]

As mentioned, I've seen more than a few sporter krags with dovetail cuts for sporting sights deeper than pitting, I wouldn't give it a thought.

[Rick the Librarian]

I wondered, if perhaps the corrosion and pitting might have weakened the barrel. Always best to be careful in situations like these.

[Johnny P]

If you have Hatcher's Notebook, he tells of turning a 1903 Springfield barrel down to 1/8" wall thickness and firing it with both regular and high pressure cartridges with no ill effects. He turned the barrel down to 1/16"over the chamber and fired it with regular service loads with no ill effects. He then fired a 75,000 pound proof load in it, and it blew a chunk out of the chamber area. A pretty good indication of the strength of military barrels.