If a large caliber barrel, let's say .50 muzzleloader, went from room temperature to -20 below zero, what affects would there be to the OD and ID of the barrel, theoretically? Would the barrel OD get smaller and the bore get larger due to the molecules packing close together or what? Thanks.
Question for the experts
- Thread starter tpcollins
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Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
Every dimension of a barrel will get larger with heating and smaller with cooling. The difference over such a small range as you mention is irrelevant.
I agree with Brian. Even if you kept dropping the temperature, the steel would become fragile before you saw any relevant diameter changes. At the opposite end of the spectrum, you would see erosion issues due to the steel becoming softer at high temperatures long before you would see relevant diameter changes. That's my opinion anyway. In the temperature ranges you cite, I doubt you would see more than one or two ten thousandths inch change (0.0001 or 0.0002 inch), and perhaps less.
