Bismuth would be great if a case of shells didn't cost more than the gun. I do load for my Boss 10 but I only shoot lead through that, or 20 ga loads with gauge mates. What I need here is a no-hassle duck killing machine, as we are expecting good things this season on OR. I used to have a Centaure but that one sold, so it seems the conclusion is to find a AYA or similar per the useful suggestions above.
I have yet to see any published PSI figures for steel shot. I very much doubt it's much higher than the typical 12000 psi lead load. The steel shot mfgs would not create that liability for themselves, there are plenty of guys out there shooting steel in modern and not-so-modern guns. In any case, standard min chamber wall is 80 thou and this gun is 400 thou. Even if damascus is half as strong as fluid steel, there is plenty of meat to compensate.
I do know that steel shot does not compress going through the chokes causing bulging and stretching at the start of the choke constriction, esp if tightly choked. However, 15 thou in a 10 ga is hardly any choke at all.
What I don't buy is that modern steel shells have tremendous recoil and will break a stock. They are actually quite mild due to the low shot mass and the plastic wad column. I don't think the powder charge is any heavier, although both shot and gases are going faster when they exit the muzzle.
The shot is fully encased in a thick plastic wad so there is no contact with the bores. Thus no scoring (another theory I have heard).
In any case, I think this Elsie will also be going back whence it came. It's not worth restoring, just a barrel pretty job (polish and rebrown) and a dash with the checkering tools will cost more than the gun will sell for even in today's market (seems 10s are still languishing in the market of the 80s).
Last edited by doublegunhq; 11/07/06 06:55 PM.
