panda action question

[Borisserge]

This is a question on behalf of a friend -

Here in the UK, when we have a new barrel spun up, chambered and fitted, it gets checked by our proof house.
They check it by firing a cartridge with a 25% over maximum charge. If it passed, it is good to go, if it fails, it's catastrophic as you can imagine!
Back on track, my friend has a panda action that had one barrel on it for 1000 yard bench rest, and upon the new barrel getting tested, the bolt had to get opened with a bit of effort to the point it was considered a "fail".
Next submission, and it was considered a "fail" yet again...
It still has to be submitted to pass until it gets released back to my buddy, at always 25% over charge.

The main question (at last....bear with me guys), is would you consider the lugs on the action to start to be set back with these heavy charges, or any other unexpected problems?

Thanks for bearing with me...!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

[280man]

I would call Kelbly’s shop during regular business hours and talk to them about it.

Is your friend 100% sure the new barrel was installed correctly?

 

[Borisserge]

It has been installed professionally by one of our top renowned gunsmith who knows what he is doing.

Our main testing body who approves the work, checks head space before a shot is fired.
The test shots are 25% over maximum, so you can imagine, "sticky" bolt lift is a given!

 

[joshb]

It seems your “testing agency” is trying to ruin guns! Where are you located?

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

What about wildcats?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

This is the most rediculous thing ive ever heard. Theyre ruining actions doing this. That isnt a krag or old mauser thats measured with field reject gages. Im sure with a deliberate 25% overpressure an action is stressed into a hunting gun at that point.

 

[geo.ulrich]

Question is how do they figure "top pressure" barrels give different pressures. one gun will shoot xxx gr.s of powder fine when another will be tight seems kind of weird...

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Thats what im talking about. They need to stick to proofing surplus krags and spanish mausers and the double rifles that may get a hold of some cordite loads

 

[1shot]

Are you in a communist bloc country?
I have four Pandas that are the other side of the equation of being safe queens. With that said, there is no way in God's green earth I would submit my actions to that kind of abuse.

Lloyd

 

[Borisserge]

Every firearm in the UK is subjected to this as a point of legality, be it Remington, tikka, sako etc or any one off build you do, irrespective of cartridge size.
So if the cartridge recommended pressure is 65k psi, they will throw a charge in the region of 82k psi. Also, AFAIK (though I may be wrong), they lube the case to exert the effort to the bolt.
As you can imagine, a few bolts or rifles have been damaged in the many years of the process.
The thing is though, it's better to have this done in a safe controlled environment, than it hurt someone in the field, hence the test.

It's just not ideal for alloy actions to have such exertions subjected on it, hence the post.

 

[Borisserge]

What about wildcats?

Wildcats can be tested in the same manner.
You submit the information, including the expect maximum working pressure, and it's taken from there.

 

[coldboreshot]

Sounds more political than performance safety.

 

[Borisserge]

Sounds more political than performance safety.

The proof house testing facility has been on the go for over 300 years, ensuring the integrity of firearms.

 

[Borisserge]

In say a 6.5-284w for example, it is a stout firing exerted on the action.

Politics aside on what UK firearms are subject to, I'm more interested in the thoughts of the panda action and it's longevity capacity of being subject to the over pressure loads.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Id call kelblys and see what they think about it. Im sure its been done

 

[Borisserge]

I will pass on the the thought to call kelblys, though it is also good to pick on the knowledge base of this forum in terms of first hand working experience.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

If it is only "rebarreling" checked in this manner, on it's face it appears to be a method to reduce the available firearms. Damage the action, no barrel can pass. Action no longer of use.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I will pass on the the thought to call kelblys, though it is also good to pick on the knowledge base of this forum in terms of first hand working experience.

I doubt youll find any on here that would advocate proofing anything short of a damascus blunderbuss 300 years ago.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Measure for lug setback and inspect for galling.

 

[Borisserge]

If it is only "rebarreling" checked in this manner, on it's face it appears to be a method to reduce the available firearms. Damage the action, no barrel can pass. Action no longer of use.

This is from new this proofing process happens. Every firearm is subjected to this , and if you alter the action (be it make a single shot in to a dual port for example), it is retested.
When you fit a new barrel to the action, the process is repeated.

A firearm or shotgun cannot be sold without these tests in the UK.