doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Poll-Damascus and modern ammo?

I shoot low pressure 2 9/16" hand loads in my 16 Lefever twist gun. 105 yrs. old, no cracks in the original wood, and still going strong (shown below in silver prior to refinish next year). I shoot it near-weekly at skeet, but always do get comments from the Benelli crowd about it being a damascus gun, as though I didn't know.

Respective of Researcher's post, it is hard to imagine 100+ yr. old guns such as mine and many others here (and many with original short chambers) not having had many(tens of?)thousands of normal 2 3/4" high pressure store bought rounds shot in them during that time. Better safe than sorry however.

I dont shoot damascus only because I dont own a gun with damascus barrels.
I do have a funny memory of me giving Eightbore a lecture on what an idiot he was for shooting such a suicide machine back at the old and now unfortunately gone National Capital Skeet & Trap Club.
I was new to shotguns at the time and was dumb enough to believe everything I had read. He does still talk to me though, so curmudgeon is not accurate, pretty patient with a fool actually.

Holy Crap....is that an American Water Spaniel I see?? Those old waterfowlers sure knew their business didnt they?? The Parker and the vintage pic is cool, but that AWS takes the cake!

Dustin

Only in piece with RECENT REPROOF for nitro baby!

Because of government regulation it is now a complex, time consuming and costly process send damascus guns to the U.K for nitro proof testing. In the past I have resorted to the following proceedure to satisfy my self that the gun I wish to shoot is safe to use with low pressure loads;
1/ I inspect and measure the barrels, and chamber length to ensure that they are, "in proof", relative to the Black powder marks.I also check to ensure that the barrel wall thickness is at least .020 inch.
2/ I check to ensure the action is tight and not, "off the face" and that the barrels are free from dents, loose ribs and serious pitting.
3/My improvised method of testing is to wedge the gun in an old tire with the butt inside the tire walls with the barrels resting on the outer,opposite tire wall. I load the gun with field shells having 1 1/4 ozs, shot. I fire the barrels individually using a long string so that I am out of harms way. If the gun is sound after this test, I repeat the proceedure but for the second test I try to discharge both barrels simultaneously.If the gun is not damaged in any way by this test I am comfortable using it with low pressure loads.
I would hasten to add, that testing in this manner is strictly at the owners own risk. It dose not confir the kind of guarantee that a formal proof house test provides.

I've always been told that Curly was a rat-tailed Irish Water Spaniel.

He looks too small to be a Irish water spaniel and his nose doesn't seem pointy enough either He very well could be though, "Curly" looks alot like my "Bear"


Anyway, back on subject here, I would not shoot high pressure loads thru any of my Damascus guns. That doesnt mean I wouldn't shoot "modern" loads thru them. I've shot polywad, rst's, noble sports, Federal golds, B&P's thru all of my Damascus guns. This bird season I've been shooting my Lefever FE with chain damascus barrels with B&P "high pheasant" loads, it handles them with ease. When I load my own, mostly for target shooting, I use IMR 800X and stay in the 5000 psi range, plenty cupcake enough for these old guns to digest with no problems what so ever.

LP for me...reloads, 2 3/4"

I have 3 damascus guns. The thinnest way out around mid length is in the mid .02's and the thickest in the mid .03's.

Holy Crap....is that an American Water Spaniel I see?? Those old waterfowlers sure knew their business didnt they?? The Parker and the vintage pic is cool, but that AWS takes the cake!

Dustin [/quote]

Took the words right out of my mouth! That is a great photograph. No way that is an Irish water spaniel, that is an AWS and it looks a bit like my Lady. Sorry limited water photos.

I don't shoot Damascus or twist steel barrels, just some early (1890) fluid steel barrels. However, according to some old British tests (sometimes referenced, even posted here), those early fluid steel barrels were weaker than good or better quality Damascus barrels. Like lots of your "weak-barreled old doubles", mine has seen lots of use and repairs, even had the ribs resoldered by a local do-it-yourselfer. It is my deadleast old hammer double.

Can I get a membership card in the "Dangerous Barrels Club?"

Thanks,
Niklas