does using barrel inserts in an older gun help eleminate the possibility of barrel failure. lets say a 16 guage with a 20 or a 4-10 insert? i have often thought about this especially in a lightly pitted damascus barrel.
I have wondered about this, and how much difference it makes. I do use a set of chamber-mates in a 10 gauge damascus Baker to shoot my own low-pressure #7625 12ga. reloads. (I don't have 10 gauge reloading tools). It is clear these same 12 ga. reloads recoil less in the 10 gauge, than they do in a 12 bore. I now load the shells intended for the 10 gauge with a bit more powder, but stay under 7,000 psi (I think/hope).
In my case, the UNKNOWN is whether factory 12 gauge ammo would be of safe pressure in the 10 gauge damascus barrel. I'm not inclined to experiment/test. Perhaps some engineer could calculate the ratio of bore volume change resulting from firing 12 gauge shells in a 10 bore.
JERRY
