doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Damascus

In my ongoing search for a fine, OLD, English gun some questions have occurred to me.
Would anybody shoot a damascus gun that didn't have nitro proof?
If so, why would you do that? How do you know that damascus barrels are safe to shoot (with low pressure loads) without the nitro proof stamp? What is a safe pressure in
2 1/2" nitro proof barrels? Who sells that ammo?
Does anyone reload 2 1/2"? Can I do that with a MEC Sizemaster?

I shoot damascus without nitro proof. The guns have been inspected by someone that knows what they are doing. I keep presures low. And last by not least I have a great time doing it.

I guess my question would be, why would you NOT do that? Very few damascus guns made in the U.S. were nitro proofed, although most were proofed. Assuming that the gun has been inspected by a qualified gunsmith, many smokless loads can be reloaded or purchased which have lower pressures than the black powder loads for which the guns were originally designed. There have been several articles by Sherman Bell in the Double Gun Journal that deal with smokeless powder loads and their use in damascus barrelled guns. I urge to read them and other information posted on this and other double gun sites such as the Parker and L.C. Smith sites. Bill

My question is, why would you shoot nitro when you can shoot black powder?

John

It stinks, it blinds you and it's more trouble than it's worth.

Precisely! You got to love that. Why else would you lug around a 120 year old hammer gun?

Mike and everyone, who does this forum endorse for looking at a set of Damascus T.Bland Keeper's HammerGun?. I picked one up in 20G on Gunbroker's.com and thinking about having someone who can tell me if it is shootable or a wall hanger. Andy

I'm sure there are quite a few people on this board who shoot low pressure loads in damascus guns without nitro proof, myself included. Many damascus barrels were considered higher quality than fluid steel at the time.

Keith Kearcher: http://members.toast.net/keithkearcher/

Many of the damascus restoration experts listed here could also evaluate the integrity of the barrels
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dfg2hmx7_192fcpp4khn