I was reading another forum concerning Handi-Rifle accuracy and the issue of barrel stress relief was included. One contributor indicated that H&R CS said (7 years ago) that no H&R barrels were stress relieved. The simple test involved removing the barrel (and any scope and bases), and tapping the barrel with a plastic screwdriver handle to see if the barrel would ring: ring - stress relieved, no ring - not stress relieved. I did the test by suspending my barrels by a finger tip under the hinge lug. My JUL 13 LR barrel rings like a chime, for at lest 10 seconds and even after I can hear it any longer. My un-shot, JAN 14 WMR barrel produces a single metallic tink! They were made only three months apart, so I doubt if steel specifications or processes changed. The only difference between the two barrels that I can detect is the chamber. Any thoughts?
And is stress relief an accuracy issue? Barrel resonance - is a lively barrel better or worse than a dead one?
BULL
