What kind of steel is a gun barrel made of ?

[gary350]

I want to build another 12 guage pistol with a 4" barrel. I notice the metal thickness of a 12 guage single shot shotgun is about 1/4" thick so if I use the correct metal 1/4" thick should work.

[38_Cal]

If you are in the USA, it would be considered an NFA (National Firearms Act, same class as a full auto or sawed-off shotgun/rifle) weapon, and possession of it without proper license/tax stamp is a felony.

[BigBoy1]

If the barrel was made with rifling, then it would not fall into the NFA categroy. This is how the Taurus "Judge" pistol gets around the "short-barreled shotgun" BATFE rule. It the pistol is made with a smooth bore barrel, then it falls into NFA catagory, but if made with a rifled barrel, it is a pistol.

However, the problem would be conviencing the BATFE that a 12ga. round exists that needs a rifled barrel to be fired. Since the .45 Long Colt and the .410 shotgun shells are the same diameter, then there is no question that ammunition exists that requires a rifled barrel in the Taurus "Judge" pistol.

[Rusty Marlin]

Since nobody else wants too.... I'll answer your question.

Most steel barrels for rifles and shotguns are 4140 at between 28-32 HRc.


If you live in the US though, the legal issues should not be ignored.

[gary350]

Since nobody else wants too.... I'll answer your question.

Most steel barrels for rifles and shotguns are 4140 at between 28-32 HRc.


If you live in the US though, the legal issues should not be ignored.


OK. I pre heat treated 4140 is about 45 rockwell c so I guess that is too hard.

I can build a 45 cal colt muzzle loader with rifling and load it with #6 buck shot. That should work for hiking in the wilderness if I see any snakes they better keep their distance.

[Rusty Marlin]

At the risk of sounding like a pompas a$$...

How old are you?

How much expirance od you have around firearms and gun parts, your post is so full of errors that I'm hesitant to answer any more of your quetions.

1) 4140 prehard is typically 26-30 HRc.

2) Colt never made muzzle loaders, there were a few Itailian reproductions imported but that's obviously not what you're thinking of, so just what is a .45 cal Colt muzzle loader? The .45Colt is a metalic cased center fire catridge.

And while there may be such an animal as #6 buck shot, #4 is typically the smallest available buck shot at approximatly .24 diameter. #9 bird shot or #12 rat shot is best for snakes, not buck shot.

[gary350]

I don't remember how hard pre heat treated 4140 is all I know for sure is it is harder than 4140. I did a web search and it says pre heat treated 4140 is 45 rockwell c. That actually seems a little high I was going to guess 35 to 40 rockwell c.

I don't know anything much about gun laws or pistols. I owned a single shot 12 guage once. I owned a 1917 03A 30-06 military rifle, a M2 full automatic 30 caliber carbine, Winchester 300 magnum once. The 30-06 was fun until I bought the 300 mag. I could shoot anything I could see with the 300. I had the scope sighted in at 200 yards it shot 1" low at 100 and 300 yards and 3" low at 400 yards. The 30 cal carbine would shoot 20 bullets per second I use to load 2000 rounds every week then shoot them on the weekend. Finally sold the gun to a collector. I have not owned a gun since 1985 are really don't care to every own one again there is no place to shoot a gun anymore.

I do remember reading the laws about remanfactured muzzle loaders once it said it was legal only if they were guns made before a certain date. I build a muzzle loader 40 years ago at the time the laws were not so bad so I didn't worry about it. I would like to have a snake gun for hiking and a tiny little 410 size muzzle loader would work just fine. I don't know what it takes to make it legal.

[Rusty Marlin]

OK you just made me a little nervous is all.

Making your oun ML is perfectly legal as they are not considered firearms by the ATF.

Now on that note, don't make a smooth bore pistol, its's just begging for a game of 20 stupid questions with the ATF.

You can get a barrel blank, the lock, trigger group and nipple out of Dixie gun works or get a full kit with the stock too.

Putting a little cap lock snake charmer together will be fun and keep you out of the bars for a week or two. :)

[madokie]

the reason judge w rifled barrel is legal and 12ga pistol w rifled barrel is NFA,several reasons,judge was manufactured as pistol not shotgun it just happens to be able to chamber & fire shotgun ammo,12ga is made as shotgun and cannot chamber & fire pistol ammo.18 inch barrel min f shotguns.rifled shotguns do now exhist,they were illegal,(over 50 cal).20 yrs ago ATF changed its mind& regulations and allowed aftermarket sale of rifled shotgun barrles,shotgun manufactures soon followed.

[jb-mck]

I don't know if they are still made, but there used to be a 410 single shot that was called a snake charmer. I think that was also the name of the company. I have had one for years, and it is great for that purpose. If I wasn't spending all of my money on machine tooling, I would also purchase the judge. It's gotta be a step above the snake charmer!

[Al Messer]

Well, I do not know what is the size shot in the .38 Special Shot Shells, but they are certain death on snakes. Why don't you buy a piece of a .38 barrel from Numerich Arms/Gun Parts Intl. and build around it? A pistol the size of a 12 ga. shell would kick like a mule and would probably dis-locate your shoulder. I had a late friend that built a .45-70 revolver and it had a fearsome recoil when fired. Even a .45 ML would be PLENTY of medicine for a snake. A 6 inch barrel with 40 gr. fffg behind a teaspoon of No. 7 shot with adequate wadding would be all I'd want. Good luck and post some photos of your progress. BTW: Numerich used to have some unfiniished/as cast one piece cast Steel Trigger guards and Backstraps for sale for a Colt SA clone.

[recoilless]

. " The 30 cal carbine would shoot 20 bullets per second I use to load 2000 rounds every week then shoot them on the weekend. Finally sold the gun to a collector. "

1200 rpm? Both of mine run 750-800 max...you must have changed out extractors with your magazines. Even my M-10/9 doesn't reach that high.

[loose nut]

You should rephrase that into "what's the BEST material for a gun barrel", over the years gun makers have used any number of grades of steel for barrels depending on the cartridge and rate of fire.

.22 barrels can be made out of just about anything and the Afghans prefer rebar

[Hollowbuilt]

Well, 4140 or stainless aside, I guess this begs the question: if you are out hiking, and feel you need a gun to protect yourself from snakes...maybe you shouldn't be out hiking in the first place?:rolleyes:

We just have crotalus horridus, crotalus oregonensis, crotalus whateverelsis out here. Usually they make noise with their tails. Then try to get out of the way. Move em out of the way with your wading staff, or kill em with your wading staff. They don't fly, they crawl.

A "snake gun" is really something you might use to go out and hunt and kill snakes. Making it out to be some sort of self protection is perhaps misplaced.

Shooting rats at the dump, middle of the night, full moon?...NOW you're talkin'!:D

[huntinguy]

Well, 4140 or stainless aside, I guess this begs the question: if you are out hiking, and feel you need a gun to protect yourself from snakes...maybe you shouldn't be out hiking in the first place?:rolleyes:

We just have crotalus horridus, crotalus oregonensis, crotalus whateverelsis out here. Usually they make noise with their tails. Then try to get out of the way. Move em out of the way with your wading staff, or kill em with your wading staff. They don't fly, they crawl.

A "snake gun" is really something you might use to go out and hunt and kill snakes. Making it out to be some sort of self protection is perhaps misplaced.

Shooting rats at the dump, middle of the night, full moon?...NOW you're talkin'!:D

I don't know about that. I have shot two snakes that were chasing my dog. After about 10 or 15 yards of that, I solved the problem with a load of #6.

For the most part, they (snakes) will try to get away, but ya never know when you will get one with an attitude.

I think American Derringer makes a 45 .410.

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0058399.shtml or this one.

I saw one in .410 at a gun show a few months back but I don't recall the details. Sorry

[motorcyclemac]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQzv-JAhBYg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNKT1B4zrnw

There ya go... A couple youtube videos will tell you all about the Cobray .410 side by side derringer. I actually have one here that I am storing for a friend. I have NEVER shot it...and don't want to. The fit and finish is a bit cobby..and by the looks of it..it would be accurate till the shot left the barrel.

Cheers
Mac.