Last year I purchased a 1/3rd scale, 1 inch bore, 6 pdr. cannon barrel with the high hopes of getting back into black powder cannons (had a antique bronze mountain howitzer in the 70’s).
Of course I bought the barrel before finding Grey Beards and then learn that some folks make barrels with welded liners. Well I went ahead and built a carriage and planed to mount it on my sailboat this year. A fine day appeared last week and I went to the back forty and fired it seven times with 200 grains of ffg foil pack blank loads no wads.
When I got back to the house and finished cleaning I noticed something on the barrel that looked like scratches.
Under a 30X microscope you could see were metal had spalled off and a small crack. Looks like the whole left side could go. I sealed the vent and bore and applied a vacuum test and found the liner does not leak so no liner leak.
Glad I caught it before I hurt myself or someone else. I realize I cannot shoot it again and have an expensive ornament. I removed the copper vent liner I installed and plugged (spiked) the vent. Looks like faulty casting to me. Wish I had found Grey Beards before the purchase. The barrel maker wants to sell me another barrel but why would I want to take a chance for another piece of worthless (to me) metal.
I really like the look/lines of this barrel. Any ideas of a replacement that might fit my carriage? Hate to have to start over and this size is just right for my boat but realize I have to spend more money to satify my itch. Send me a PM if needed.