steel for black powder barrels

[homebrew .357]

Hi Guys, whats the best typ of steel for B/Powder barrels, I have some aisi 1045 , just down from 4140, it`s hard to cut. Bill Webb talks about 1140 as beening ease to cut but no good for high power rifles,would it be ok for B/Powder. Green Mountain barrels use 1137 I think.
I like the 1140, ease to cut, even thouth I`m going to use T/C tip drill . thanks.

[Al_Messer]

Well, I'm no expert, but given the lower pressures of Black Powder, I would feel safe in using ordinary Hot Rolled or Cold Rolled Steel for the barrel project. I cannot remember where, but I have seen octagon stock for sale on the 'Net. Good luck and keep us posted.

Al

[homebrew .357]

Hi Al, I think I will stick to the 1140,or 1137 stuff if I can get it here in NZ, but will try the 1045 as I have a length of it. In USA you guys can get anything but down here theres no octagoal steel I have found yet, so will keep on hunting.

[Al_Messer]

There was a noted barrelmaker in East Tennessee at the first quarter of the last century that made his own barrels from scrap. He rough forged them round, and his Daughter drawfiled them into an Octagon shape each afternoon after school. It was said that she was the champion arm wrestler in her high school.....!

Al

[homebrew .357]

I just don`t beleve it, that`s realy doing it the hard way. By the way I have made from scratch a left handed hammer and action for this hawkins rifle with double set triggers, well I`m a south paw shooter. So all I have to do now is to hire a Oxy/Ace gas set and braze on the T/C tips for the gundrill and give it a go. Have been trying to send some pics buy no go.

[Al_Messer]

His name was Hecker Martin, and I read about him in Ned Robert's book: "The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle". Sadly, I am afraid it is out of print now, unless it has been reprinted.

[alphawolf45]

I am reading along hoping to see some pictures and hear a good story or two..

[RickBarb]

Al, His name was Hacker Martin. There is a nice little write up about him and other old time gunsmith's in volume 5 of the Foxfire series which was published back in the 70's.

Rick

[Al_Messer]

Rick, have you picked out a good dry place of safety for Sunday??

Al

[RickBarb]

Al, We decided to ride it out. It was really pretty much of a bust on our part of the Cape (East Harwich). We did lose power Sun AM and just got it back early Mon PM. We had virtually no rain, and the winds were gusty, but no damage to either the house or any of our trees. I was surprised at the amount of sunshine. The sun was out much of the time while the storm was at it's peak (Mid Afternoon}. Lots of power outages because of wind, but not much property damage. All in all, a pretty mild storm for us.
Rick