Again hate to point out the obvious but Hatcher's "facts" were gathered long before WW II.
Never heard of any Remington made 30-06 failures in WW II. Perhaps you could cite the committee in question and where I can obtain a transcript of their findings to include actual ammo testing. You may be confused with the soft headed ammo produced before WW I by WCC cartridge company (no relation to winchester or remington)
Some of the blow ups were traced to this defective ammo. Soft headed ammo in any cone breeched rifle is a receipe for disaster. I think Ackley blew up a few M 70s that way.
In England a Damascus barrel is a twist steel barrel. A'int any difference. May I quote ?:
"Damascus Barrels - Barrel tubes built up by twisting alternate strips of iron and steel around a fixed rod (mandrel) and forge-welding them together in varying combinations according to the intended quality and the skill of the maker. The rod was withdrawn, the interior reamed and the exterior draw-filed until the finished tube was achieved. Damascus barrels may be recognized by any of a variety of twist or spiral patterns visible in the surface of the steel. Before the 20th century, barrels were typically built in this manner because gunmakers did not have the technology to drill a deep hole the full length of a bar of steel without coming out the side."
Many of the quality makers produced barrels that passed Nitro proof long after smokeless powder came along.
If you were a subscriber to Double Gun Journal you would know of the extensive testing done with Damascus barrels. May I quote again: ?
"However, on the opposite site of the discussion, there has been an in depth field trial done by a writer in Double Gun Journal over the last 3 or 4 issues.
He has tested a couple of dozen damascus barrelled guns starting at the high end and finishing with some true "trash" guns - Belgium Guilds, no name British, cheap imported American brands.
He shot greater than proof level test loads and had the same result up and down the line.
The stocks, frames, and operating parts gave out on several occassions - but none of the barrels ever split or were damaged more than when they came in the door."
Sure you don't want to talk about Ross Rifles ? They blew up a lot too.
BTW, still can't ID that 03 can you ?
Now here's one Grandpa Robscheit had made for his frequent trips to German Africa. It is a standard grade Sedgley in 9.3x62 that probably killed everything but an Elephant. It was worked hard and the effects of cordite and corrosive primers are noticable. It still never blew up and, as it was a "customer supplied action" Sedgley left the markings intact.
Note the serial number...... it was a rod bayonet gun..... ah that it had not been torn down to build the 9.3. Still waiting for it to come apart. All action parts are original.
The barrel (as most Sedgleys) was made by Winchester.
Relative to the earlier Dunlap comment on 03 quality, he must have been on drugs. The workmanship on the early 03s surpasses any commercial rifle made today until you get into the high 4 figures. They were hand made rifles of the highest quality and the fact that a pre WW II bone stock 03 will outshoot any contemporary mass produced rifle says it all.
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...8/rfs93x62.gif
Another interesting 03'. I own the Mauser Werke original plans....
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...8/ebbd5101.jpg
I sell reproductions (full size) of them so you can build your own 1903 Springfield Mauser.