Gun Metallurgy

THE STEELS USED for barrels, with their incorporated chambers and some of the co nents in the actions, are expected to endure extreme mechanical stress The purity and correct formulation of the alloys and an appropriate heat treatment are crucial in achie g the necessary strength and durability. However, one reads, usually on the internet, of catastrophic failures in guns, of which some may be attributed to faulty steel.

In one instance, an allegedly flawed batch of 10 ML-II stainless steel possibly caused the catastrophic destruction of a firearm, a serious injury to the shooter and a subsequent lawsuit. But most of these reported failures remain unverified by a competent investigation. Fortunately they are rare. To establish the facts, a microscopic analysis of the crystal structure of the metal at and near the fracture has to be done.

Interestingly, most metallurgical failures in guns are a consequence of poor heat treatment. I have seen this in a chipped firing pin; the small damage to the nose was due to brittle metal. On the other hand, bulged barrels and distortions in the action are usually the result