8x57
Distinguished Member
Its my understanding that a gun out of proof may be gifted to someone but to offer it for sale or trade out of proof would be committing an offence.
re-proofing a shotgun
- Thread starter bobjs
- Start date
Its my understanding that a gun out of proof may be gifted to someone but to offer it for sale or trade out of proof would be committing an offence.
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
As 8x57 says. Proof Act doesn't apply if given.
And a transfer can be by gift. The relevant table on an FAC or SGC did state if "sold, given, let on hire".
From the Birmingham Proof House's own website:
http://www.gunproof.com/Proofing/proofing.html
And a transfer can be by gift. The relevant table on an FAC or SGC did state if "sold, given, let on hire".
From the Birmingham Proof House's own website:
http://www.gunproof.com/Proofing/proofing.html
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enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
Well it's a load of old tosh here in UK as far as shotguns are concerned.
In UK when the gun is new (or first proofed if an import) the internal bore diameter 9" ahead of the breech is measured.
This diameter (and if it is a 65mm, 70mm, 76mm chamber) is then stamped on the barrels. Now if subsequently the barrel wears or is re-bored more than ten thou of an inch from that stamped diameter it's out of proof.
Now it's a nonsense for the reason that it takes no account of barrel wall thickness.
So:
1) A gun might be out of proof yet the barrels (as on a Greener GP) still be massively thick and safe. Yet in the UK that gun is out of proof.
2) A gun might have perfect original bore diameter internally yet have been struck off (sanded down outside for want of a better description) and re-blacked so often the barrel walls are paper thin. Yet in the UK that gun is in proof.
So it's total tosh. In France where they do it "better" the barrels are also weighed when first made or first proofed.
That weight as well as the bore diameter are then marked on the barrels. So a measure internally will show internal wear and if none present a weight check will show external barrel wear from being struck off repeatedly.
Last lengthening a chamber...this is good sense...puts a gun out of proof. As a 70mm cartridge was historically a higher shot weight and higher pressure load than a 65mm cartridge.
In UK when the gun is new (or first proofed if an import) the internal bore diameter 9" ahead of the breech is measured.
This diameter (and if it is a 65mm, 70mm, 76mm chamber) is then stamped on the barrels. Now if subsequently the barrel wears or is re-bored more than ten thou of an inch from that stamped diameter it's out of proof.
Now it's a nonsense for the reason that it takes no account of barrel wall thickness.
So:
1) A gun might be out of proof yet the barrels (as on a Greener GP) still be massively thick and safe. Yet in the UK that gun is out of proof.
2) A gun might have perfect original bore diameter internally yet have been struck off (sanded down outside for want of a better description) and re-blacked so often the barrel walls are paper thin. Yet in the UK that gun is in proof.
So it's total tosh. In France where they do it "better" the barrels are also weighed when first made or first proofed.
That weight as well as the bore diameter are then marked on the barrels. So a measure internally will show internal wear and if none present a weight check will show external barrel wear from being struck off repeatedly.
Last lengthening a chamber...this is good sense...puts a gun out of proof. As a 70mm cartridge was historically a higher shot weight and higher pressure load than a 65mm cartridge.
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enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
Nowadays there are tools to check wall thickness. But in past times they were not available.
Only simple plug gauges.
But, apparently, only the French had weighing sets and balance scales or simple but accurate scales to check barrel weight against.
Only simple plug gauges.
But, apparently, only the French had weighing sets and balance scales or simple but accurate scales to check barrel weight against.
ileso
Well-Known Member
thanks for that information, I had no idea how it worked.
So in theory everytime a shotgun changes hands it needs to be proofed, yet an owner can have one for ever without said proofing to the point it becomes dangerous it the walls wear thin...
I have two SxS from spain and both have their barrel weight stamped. they also have internal bore dia. But I thought that the proofing was something that was only done once in a guns life to check that they withstood correct pressure.
So in theory everytime a shotgun changes hands it needs to be proofed, yet an owner can have one for ever without said proofing to the point it becomes dangerous it the walls wear thin...
I have two SxS from spain and both have their barrel weight stamped. they also have internal bore dia. But I thought that the proofing was something that was only done once in a guns life to check that they withstood correct pressure.
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
No, no, no. No need at all to proof test a gun "every time it is sold".
All that is needed is just to check that it is in proof.
If it is in proof then nothing needs to be done in terms of it being subject to any further proof test.
All that is needed is just to check that it is in proof.
If it is in proof then nothing needs to be done in terms of it being subject to any further proof test.
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