Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles How thin is too thin to shoot

I have a Marlin 39A that I got from a seller here, it has been an interesting experience.
Rear sight was installed backwards, when I pulled it off to install a complete one, I saw two holes, not factory, there is a third just in front of the action. Two gunsmiths at big box stores, Bass Pro and Gander, both told me it was unsafe to shoot based on how much metal was between the bottom of the hole and the bore.
From outside of bore to outside of barrel is .225".
From muzzle to breech, holes are
1. .135" deep, leaving .90" of steel between bore and bottom of hole

2. Hole drilled into the dovetail is .2 deep, leaving .025 or 25 thousandths of steel between bore and bottom of hole

3. Hole closest to action is .120 deep, leaving .125 of steel between bore and bottom of hole.
Holes 1 and 3 have screws in them, hole 2 is part way in the dovetail.

What are people's thoughts on having a smith install screws, weld them in, grind over them, then cold blue on top.
I know it will not be original, but just want a safe gun to shoot.
How much pressure does a .22 rifle develop. I am not sure if a screw will fit in the hole in the dovetail, it looks rather boogered, I will try shortly to see if one of the other screws will go in that hole.
Pictures are below



Thanks for any advice or letting me know if there is a better place to post this thread.

You're safe now.

Enjoy..............

I think what you propose would work out fine. I would guess putting in screws with red loc-tite would also work out, if the threads are ok. And if you only shoot standard velocity ammo you are not stressing anything. They are nice rifles, it is a good thing to fix them and keep them shooting.

As long as no holes are through it will be fine.

Gettin' a kick here,outta "High Velocity" fodder changing your guess!

PRICELESS!!!..........................

no kidding......

the pressure differences between a sv and hv 22 generated, are positively, ginormously, dangerousitively, well,.....big.......

Many are more interested than "fluff"...than stuff.

Fluff on..................

When and Where Lil Fish??

On a .22, by the time the bullet is as far up the barrel as that rear sight dove tail, the isn't much pressure. Although it might not look all that great, there is nothing dangerous here. The holes could easily be plugged for appearance' sake but there is no problem, from a safety standpoint. GD