doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Question on shooting Damascus barrel SxS

Hi all, I'm new to the board but not new to shooting SxS's. However, I enjoy collecting and hunting with the vintage Damascus barrel shotguns. Hence, I load my shells (paper & Brass) with black powder and lead shot. I'm starting to get a little concerned; actually I'm get a lot concerned, about new laws that are coming into force restricting the use of lead shot on upland game. With these new no lead restrictions what other type of shot alternatives will be available and safe to use with black powder and Damascus barrel SxS's? I would not feel comfortable using steel shot, but what about Bismuth, Tungsten, Hevi-Shot or others, if there are any? If this is a subject that has already been address, I do apologize. I want to be ahead of the curve as I see the "no lead" movement getting stronger and I don't want to hang the old SxS's on the wall. Thanks, Steve

Hi Steve, and yes, this subject has been discussed and certainly will be more in the future. Personally, I would encourage you to do a little research on how much of a non-issue lead shot and bullets really are in terms of environmental impact. Then when you understand that this movement is nothing more than a tactic to limit hunting and shooting by making it unaffordable to the masses, you might hopefully become motivated to fight it rather than react after it happens. If you think Bismuth is expensive now, imagine what will happen to prices when everyone everwhere is required to use it and when demand far outpaces supply. Please call, write, and e-mail your state and national legislators and your state game commission to make your voice heard. If we roll over on this, we will surely lose... especially with the crowd we have in Congress and the White House now.

I will back what Keith says as we face similar restrictions here in the U.K. As to answer your question for black powder damascus barrels; the only alternative really is Bismuth. Steel, Tungsten and Hevi-shot are all too hard and would damage the barrel walls, also their inflexibility would also lead to very high pressure as the wad started to move the shot load. Tungsten Matrix may be an option and I know it is loaded here but only with the use of special fibre cup wads that fully protect the barrel from the shot. Tin is also a consideration for short range stuff but being much less dense than even steel it soon loses energy. I do use tin for certain applications because it is cheaper than the alternatives. Lagopus.....

Thanks Keith & Lagopus, I suspected that Bismuth would be the only logical shot alternative currently available. As for fighting the good fight...I'm up to my neck in it and so is my wife. We're life members of the NRA and California Rifle & Pistol Assoc. Hence, our location is our major obstacle. There are a lot of good people standing up for our rights in California but we are out numbered by the political left and the uninformed followers. However, fight on we do!

BTW, while doing some research on different types of shot I ran across a new product (for me) available from Ballistic Products called ITX Shot. Is anyone familiar with it? Here is a link:

http://gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/Ballistic+Products+Exclusive--ITX+Shot

I'd suggest first a close visual inspection- looking for obvious dents, heavy pitting, bulged muzzles- also look at the receiver face at the firing pin holes for signs of gas erosion and "blowback"- then, as Buck Hamlin advised me, remove extractor or ejector blade(s) and set screws, suspend by lug hook with a bungee cord (over a padded safety area, in case of a "drop" and tap the barrels with a wooden dowell, breech to muzzle to 'ring'- If all that checks out, and you can, have the barrels magnafluxed inspected (same way they check welded pipe joints) and make sure the chambers are sized for your loads. I have a 1896 mfg. LeFever sideplated 12 bore G grade 30" Damascus barrels with 2.75" chambers and Mod/Full chokles that passed all those tests, and I shoot one ounce Lite target loads in it all day long-each gun is different, and there are many variations in Damascus and wear over the years- so your cautious approach is wise indeed.

rwtf....are you on the same page,mate????
Franc

Bismuth is a great option but as I mentioned before, where you gonna buy it? The new BixMaxx company isn't selling loose shot, only loaded shells.

DLH