Testing a barrel to see if it's safe to shoot?

[Patrick Chadwick]

O dear! What a sad case - was the muzzle end ruined? I hope you at least recovered some usable parts from the wreckage.

Getting back to the proof question: the old method of applying a near-fatal "dose" and then saying "the patient didn't die, so he must be healthy!" seems a bit primitive. Surely modern methods of metallurgical investigation must be able to offer a better, non-destructive way of testing? Does anyone out there have any insider knowledge?