Bent barrels

[Peter Laidler]

The pinned and fabricated barrel did go into production albeit for a limited period. Another Accles and Pollock rolling method designed by non other that Reginald Shepherd . The S of Sten gun. But was declared obsolete in January '54. Before my time, due to the shortage of skilled barrel viewers as Armourers, there was a GAUGE, testing, straightness of bore .302" (or was it .303"?) dia, 6". These were used for many years BUT the problem was that while the last 6" was straight, it must have been bent somewhere in the first place. So it was all down to exactly WHERE the last 6" was directed. It can still be accurate but not within the bounds of ability to be zeroed - if that makes sense! Common sense prevailed and the old pre-war standards took over again. .301" must run freely and all that