Hammer guns have taken an interest in the last few years, and more sporting events are hosting shoots using them.
I shoot early L.C. Smith's from around 1898 to 1908 hammer guns. I have earlier ones, but some are 10 gauge and very heavy. Most have Damascus barrels, that meaning Stub Twist and Good Damascus, some have Royal Steel which is a fluid steel barrel. At the time, Royal Steel was the cheapest barrels offered, then Best English Stub Twist and then Good Damascus.
I reload my own and use light charges staying under 7,000 psi and around 1200 fps.
Both of the companies mentioned carry light loads, RST carries a good line of shells for vintage guns in both 2 ", 2 1/2" and 2 3/4".
I am not sure what Ithaca's chambers were then, but L.C. Smith's were 23/4".
It is best in no matter what make you get to have the barrels wall thickness measured. Many of these bores have/had pits in them from not being cleaned after shooting due to the corrosive primers back then, and some people have to hone them out, causing the wall thickness to become dangerous to shoot. You should have a minimum of .025 wall thickness where your hand will be on the for-end.
