Have been told that the barrels on a SxS shotugn should ring like a bell if suspended and tapped? What is the significance of this feature? Is it to indicate the barrels are independent of one another?? All feedback appreciated.

Well, on most double-barreled guns the barrels are soldered together, so it would be contradictory for them to be "independent" of one another.

The harder steel is, the more resonant. Soft steel doesnt' "ring" the way harder steel does. That's the only quality that the "ringing" a barrel (or set of barrels) might indicate that I know of.

This "saying" may arise from the fact that single-barrel shotguns can have somewhat thicker barrels than doubles, so can get by with using a bit softer steel. A thin-walled double has to have pretty hard, high-tensile steel to achieve the strength it needs without thickness.

OK, see your point about being soldered together and not being independent of each other. Only recently acquired SxS and the "bell ringing" came to mind and tried it and sure enough does indeed ring like a bell when tapped.
Thanks for the feedback.

The idea is to check try and check the quality of the jointing of the barrels.

If rust has gotten under the rib and corroded the join to any significant degree, the tone will be dull and fade very quickly. you won't be able to see such corrosion, but you might be able to "hear" it with this method.

If it rings clearly the barrel/rib/lumps are likely to be ok in terms of jointing.

OK, that makes perfect sense and appreciate the additional information. Recently purchased a CZ Classic Hammergun, always wanted a hammergun for some reason, and those barrels definitely ring like a bell. Have not shot it yet, probably will get to do so this weekend, and if it busts those clay pigeons I will dub it a "real bell ringer." Thanks for the feedback.

Ringing is supposed to give an indication of lose ribs, barrels, etc. Not really sure it tells much. I have a Parker with damascus barrels that just go klunk when tapped and they are quite sound. I expect a good visual inspection is probably more worthwhile.
C.G.B.

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
The idea is to check try and check the quality of the jointing of the barrels.

If rust has gotten under the rib and corroded the join to any significant degree, the tone will be dull and fade very quickly. you won't be able to see such corrosion, but you might be able to "hear" it with this method.

If it rings clearly the barrel/rib/lumps are likely to be ok in terms of jointing.

Ghubert got it !

If everything is tight the barrels will "ring" but if a rib is loose for any reason they will sound dull.

If the barrels have a sling swivel on them they may not ring until you tape down the swivel - the loose swivel will damp the ring.

It's just one more test to do on a used gun.

Gents, the rib need not be loose in terms of being capable of displacement, just that there be will be a some degree of corrosion or other lack of contact in the metal to metal fit somewhere.

As Oxon says it's just another test one should perform on a used gun; I don't think anyone suggested ringing the barrels in lieu of an otherwise thorough visual inspection.....