ORIGINAL: yeoman
With all the text on this site and elsewhere on the web devoted to concerns over barrel failure, I wonder this:
Why are barrels not tapped for a "blow out" plug, perhaps on the under side of the barrel, built to fail at pressures just below the barrels designed tolerance, thereby at least directing the danger ina less harmful direction? Seems such effort by a manufacturer could go a long way in mitigating injury awards. Cost issue I guess, given the infrequency with which failures occur.
If that blow out plug were say just below the charge it would have to go intot he stock and/or forearm. How is it going to get thru there, another blow out plug? And if the shooter had his hand/arm right below there seems to me that it is no better a solution than the current solution of letting it blow at the weakest point behind the obstruction. just my opinion, I am not a barrel engineer.
Chap