[tarawa]

There is a lot of talk about drilling into the barrel when removing rivets. I am sure that I scored the barrel somewhat when I drilled my AMDs for a screw build. I never really checked though.
How deep can you go into a barrel and still hold the breech pressure? These things are built to withstand pressures much greater than the pressures produced (proof testing).
Is this a real worry or another "home builder theory". After all, we have heat treated, not-heat treated, fully heatreated, spot heat treated, screwed, riveted, toohpicked, hammered, pressed, welded and beat these things together so far and i haven't heard any one say that their gun didn't hold up. I don't want to be the first to say that my AK blew up for something stupid that I overlooked.

 

[hotbarrel]

you say you scored the barrel ,, I would not worry about it at all. even if you put a "dent" into it I would not worry. if you plowed 90 precent of the way through you may have something to worry about.
would the hole be infront of or behind the tapered lip of the case, this may make a differance too.
you anyone would be foolish to say no problem but it is very hard for me to see anything happening if all you did was drilled out a small amount.

 

[Winn R]

George--- I'm pretty quick to say no problem.

Except involving chamber pressures.

There's about 25 tons of pressure in there and it's advantageous not to let it out.

The answer is "damned if I know". The only exploded barrel I've ever heard of in an AK resulted from blocking the barrel and firing the next round .