Damascus. I agree.
I don't understand why a gun that's proofed for high-performance steel shot can't have lively, dynamic bbls.
Can someone explain?
OWD
As the engineers say, “There is no free lunch”.
Steel shot, particularly in the larger sizes, brings its own unique complications to any given loading. It is not lead, and under the forces of higher velocity loadings, is more apt to “bridge”, or, act as a solid than lead shot will. The forces involved dictate heavier barrels and choke tubes to resist damage from these loads. There needs to be a margin of extra resistance to the forces high performance steel would bring, which is simply a bridge too far for dynamic handling characteristics. More barrel steel, results in less lively feel.
Lead, and bismuth loadings, at lower velocity, do not stress the barrels to the extent that high performance steel loads do.
To ask conventional, dynamic handling barrels to do the work that would be required of barrels that would be resistant to the forces of high performance steel loads would be asking for a free lunch.
Best,
Ted
