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gunlaker
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Darr barrel questions
Dec 10th, 2023 at 10:31am
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Hi,

I have a couple of questions regarding Barry Darr's barrels based on things I've seen randomly on the internet.

Are they made of 12L14 steel?

Do they all use a Schoyen style rifling?

thanks,

Chris.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #1 - Dec 10th, 2023 at 10:46am
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Not sure about the metallurgy, but a conversation I had with Barry many years back he told me he used Schoyen rifling style. My .35-40 Darr is Schoyen rifled.
  

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frnkeore
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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #2 - Dec 10th, 2023 at 12:30pm
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I can't say what steel he used, for sure or, whether he continued to use leaded steel, in all his barrels but, I thought it was 11L37, still a leaded steel.

I personally saw a double charged Ballard blow up, in about 1993. Also, witnessed by at least one other member, on this forum.
  

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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #3 - Dec 10th, 2023 at 1:03pm
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frnkeore wrote on Dec 10th, 2023 at 12:30pm:
I can't say what steel he used, for sure or, whether he continued to use leaded steel, in all his barrels but, I thought it was 11L37, still a leaded steel.

I personally saw a double charged Ballard blow up, in about 1993. Also, witnessed by at least one other member, on this forum.

Curious, did the barrel or the action blow apart or both.
  
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frnkeore
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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #4 - Dec 10th, 2023 at 5:02pm
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It blew the top off the frame and split both sides of the barrel, almost, front to back. The barrel fell on the ground, in front of the bench.

Splintered the forearm and Terry Savage got those in his hand and forearm.
  

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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #5 - Dec 10th, 2023 at 6:04pm
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I have double-charged a Winchester, but never a Ballard, however....I have a friend who has double-charged his Barry Darr Ballard several times. It hasn't blown up, but I think it has proof tested the action, the action is a No. 5 Pacific and it's a forged one. It's incumbent upon all of us to be careful and NOT double charge our rifles, and when we're shooting always think of SAFETY FIRST!  Tongue
« Last Edit: Dec 10th, 2023 at 6:18pm by Schutzenbob »  
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frnkeore
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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #6 - Dec 10th, 2023 at 7:02pm
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Bob,
This one was cast Ballard but, the frame can't fail, until the barrel does. The extractor cut, is where they start to open up, usually. 

Probably, the most common reason that a double charge happens, is when you get to talking while loading at the bench Sad Especially with us old guys Smiley 

Good thing we don't use B'eye powder!!!
  

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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #7 - Dec 10th, 2023 at 8:04pm
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Thanks for the information everyone.  I don't have a rifle with a Darr barrel, but am considering one.  With the Schoyen style rifling it ought to be a good choice for black powder. 

Chris.
  
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JLouis
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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #8 - Dec 11th, 2023 at 1:09pm
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Barry Darr's barrels had 7 grooves up to 32 caliber and 9 grooves beyond that.
During our conversations as he lived with myself and my family for a couple of years. He never had any of his barrels blow up but he did say there was a false rumor going around that one of his did. 
He also tried to blow up one of his barrels on purpose and he had to go way beyond a double charge as he kept going up and it was the action that finally failed and it was a HiWall. 
« Last Edit: Dec 11th, 2023 at 1:20pm by JLouis »  

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marlinguy
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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #9 - Dec 11th, 2023 at 3:12pm
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frnkeore wrote on Dec 10th, 2023 at 12:30pm:
I can't say what steel he used, for sure or, whether he continued to use leaded steel, in all his barrels but, I thought it was 11L37, still a leaded steel.

I personally saw a double charged Ballard blow up, in about 1993. Also, witnessed by at least one other member, on this forum.


Did this double charged Ballard have a Darr barrel on it? And was this a forged action, or cast action?
True that an action wont blow apart until the barrel does, but if the action gives it can result in a barrel blowing sooner. A strong action wont stop a barrel from blowing up, but I've seen actions hold and barrels blow ahead of the action when the action didn't give.
I can't imagine a barrel Barry made ever blowing up without some very good reason causing it.
  

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frnkeore
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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #10 - Dec 11th, 2023 at 4:14pm
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Vall,
Yes, it was a Darr barrel and a engraved 3 line action, engraved at a later date, possibly. (Westerner might remember if that was the case).

I came to SS from muzzle loading and there was a long history of barrel failures, using leaded steel, before 1985.

I also, after getting on this forum, I verified, with Barry, that the barrel, was indeed one of his. He remembered selling it to Terry. He offered to replace it but, Terry had pasted, years before.
  

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Re: Darr barrel questions
Reply #11 - Dec 11th, 2023 at 5:11pm
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frnkeore wrote on Dec 11th, 2023 at 4:14pm:
Vall,
Yes, it was a Darr barrel and a engraved 3 line action, engraved at a later date, possibly. (Westerner might remember if that was the case).

I came to SS from muzzle loading and there was a long history of barrel failures, using leaded steel, before 1985.

I also, after getting on this forum, I verified, with Barry, that the barrel, was indeed one of his. He remembered selling it to Terry. He offered to replace it but, Terry had pasted, years before.


Double charge in a cast Ballard receiver. I sure wouldn't blame that on the Darr barrel.
  

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