Tinker,
On the 'hot' Ti, I recall some yrs ago we here at, then MDC, had a QC problem with Ti Huck bolts containing inclusions of tunsten. It turned out that some of the Ti was recycled Soviet subs and the tungsten was from the careless/poorly trained welders 'dipping' the TIG electrode in the puddle and letting it solidfy then breaking off the tungsten tip. During the electro-remelt, the mfr stated the bits of tungsten didn't get melted into solution. We never thought to see if any of them were 'hot' from being in a nuc boat.
On the aerodynamic drag of a swinging shotgun, I'm gonna disagree that it's a detectable aspect by a shooter. The average shot swing velocity at the muzzle is very low IMO. If it were high velocity, you could hear the howl of aerodynamic drag and a sxs would be noticably easier to swing than a o/u. I don't ever recall feeling any difference in the swing resistance from one or the other of equivalent static weight distribution. Also, the resistance would highest at the fastest part of the swing, usually the latter part. I just don't ever recall feeling that either.
I just think the velocity of a muzzle is just too slow on any conceivable shot that it would produce any noticable drag. I do believe that it may play a factor when the wind gets up over say 20-25 mph crossing.
