doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Damascus small bore upland guns

Do any of you shoot 16 or 20 ga damascus guns for upland duty? The trend seems to be shooting 12b damascus guns for ducks and pheasants, but I don't hear too many small bores being discussed. I saw this gun which got me to pondering shooting something like this as a light duty upland gun, just because I like the looks of it (This gun looks to be fairly rough, and has pitted barrels, but you get the idea): http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=62948987

Looks like a genuine piece of history (I edited out the C word). If you like the Leefouchoe opening lever, the Husquvarna hammer guns that are so common on the market these days are the way to go. There are also top lever Huskies. There are Huskies available in steel or Damascus and are often available in 16 gauge and the prices are sometimes ridiculously low for relatively high condition guns. Check my friend at kebcollc.com . Ken Bush goes to the Scando countries on a regular basis and brings back great stuff. Don't pay any attention to the website inventory. He has twenty times that inventory but doesn't keep up with posting it.

Occasionally I hunt with an Ithaca Flues 20ga grade 1-1/2 damascus double. My load is 2 dram of black powder and 3/4 oz of shot in a plastic case with fiber wads. I only use black powder only as the gun is pretty light in weight and some small frames have been known to crack. The barrels are 28" and choked cylinder-(right) and full-(left)and chambers are 2-3/4". It does have the Nitro powder proved stamped on the bottom of the lug.

Jack K

I have taken out a 16 bore C.G.Bonehill, and plan to do it again!

Craig

I have a Neuman Bros 20 bore hammergun that I shoot low pressure 7/8 oz nitro or black in for grouse and quail and an Army Navy CSL hammergun 28 bore that I shoot 3/4 oz of black in for the same. Both are light fast handling guns and easy to carry all day behind the dogs. Dwight

I have a 28ga Damascus gun, but so far I've only broken clay targets with it. But the next time I go hunting it will be included.

Mark... My brother and I love the small bore damascus. I hunt with a Lefever G, 16ga. damascus and a LC pre-13, 16ga. damascus, in addition to steel barreled smallbores. Brother has a Parker DH, 16 damascus which is his go to upland gun, but has also a Lefever G, 16 damascus, and a Remington 1900, 16ga. damascus. In 20ga. damascus has 2 Ithacas, one Francotte. All get used at clays or game. We load low pressure 16 and 20 for these guns, and on upland game where permitted use nickle or copper plated shot and bismuth when we hit federal ground out west. Damascus gun are usually works of art. Go luck with your search for the damascus upland. Randy

Thanks for the responses guys. Randy, I too shoot a Lefever 16, which is the best gun I've yet to own, but it's a steel barreled one. I traded a Lefever G damascus 12ga to get it, but now find I miss it. I don't need a small bore damascus gun, but as you said, they are often works of art, I am certainly drawn to such guns. The continental guns are often beautifully engraved and reasonably priced too.

My favorite grouse gun is a Parker DH in 16 ga with 28" damascus barrels - just love the look and feel of the gun. Earlier this fall I picked up a 28 ga CG Bonehill which is a great gun and a heck of a killer.

Low pressure ammo is readily available, although probably not at your local sporting goods store. I have been shooting 2-1/2" Active and RST loads in both guns and have had great results.

How about my 36 gauge damascus sxs muzzle loader I use for pen-raised poultry.

Here's a picture I took of it last year with it's first bird. The bird was taken with the first shot I ever fired through the gun, and possibly the first shot fired through it in over 100 years.
Steve