that is the problem with destructive testing...it is potentially destructive...
as the use of lead shot becomes more and more of an issue, maybe an ammo maker such as rst or polywad will do the testing and load development that will make steel shot a viable alernative for use in most old guns...however, not all old guns have the same barrel steel. what might work in older or field grade smiths might not be suitable for newer or graded smiths, which were made with different barrel steels...and the same applies for other brands as well...
reminds me of the problems some have encountered when reharding shotgun receivers. not all receivers were made from the same alloy, even within the same brand. and when you try to reharden a receiver of brand b, by using the technique that worked on brand a, then you are really getting into dangerous waters, where "there may be dragons", so to speak.
