Blunderbuss Barrel

[rickdog999]

I am planning a blunderbuss build and want to do as much of my own work as is possible. I am a blacksmith of late and I want to flare a barrel rather than mill a piece of round stock.

I have considered several possibilities, and I think my best starting material would be a hydraulic cylinder. It is meant to withstand high internal pressures, and that is what a black powder gun has. I plan to reinforce the first six inches or so of an 18" barrel with bands and possibly some flat stock wrapped and welded around the breech area. I will have another band about three to four inches from the muzzle to make sure I don't take the bell too far back.

What steels do you typically use to build barrels? I know seamed pipe would be a bad idea, but do you ever use heavy walled pipe or do you shop for good alloys for the purpose? What are the criteria? What wall thicknesses are considered safe?

I'm wanting to do something cool and fun, but want to do something that does not kill me.

As for the other work, I can forge butt plates, trigger guards and some of the other parts other than the working parts.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Commodore Swab]

I would recommend only using a seamless mech tubing with an adequate wall thickness or machining from a piece of solid stock. Without proper equipment this can be difficult and expensive, the next best solution for you may be to buy a barrel and try to flare the end.