doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com shooting rst and polywad shells in damascus guns

a few of my customers report shooting rst and polywad smokeless powder loaded shells in damascus and twist barreled guns. so far no one has injured themselves or destroyed their guns. do any of you have similar information to report?

i noticed some of their shells carry small payload and are in 'subsonic' velocity range so avg. gas pressure is bound to be low. the recoil energy is typically 30-50% of what standard game load generates or about equal to winchester featherlite shells. i would be comfortable using them in any ole' damascus barreled gun with RECENT NITRO RE-PROOOF.

Ed,

I have used many polywad low pressure 2 1/2" loads in a damascus I. Hollis for doves with no problems. We each have to take responsibility for making sure our gun is sound for shooting, tho'.

OBTW, the 30" barrelled BSS you shipped me a couple months ago is every bit as nice as you advertised it. I shoot it very well, and have pronounced it a "keeper". Thanks for your help in doing business. Hope you enjoyed your trip down to Fripp Island, too.

Stan

I have used RST's in my 16ga. W.&C. Scott hammer gun and they are very comfortable. I use the 7/ths oz load over the 1 oz. as these are easier on the barrels and not to mention the stock. I would recommend them.

Regards, Gordon

The RSTs and the Polywads are both high quality dependable shells. I use the RST shells in all my old steel barreled sxs and pump guns because they don't kick and they are VERY effective, and the very light Polywad Vintager and Doublewide (spreader) loads in my damascus guns including two Lefevers and a W&CScott&Son, all well over 100years old. Naturally, I would not publicly recommend the use of any damascus gun to anyone with any shells without a thorough vetting by a knowledgeable professional gunsmith...Geo

RST 12 gauge 2.5" paper Lite 1 oz. 5s were effective on prairie grouse in my Meriden hammer double with twist barrels. A month later (and 40 degrees colder) were not as effective on fully feathered rooster pheasants.

I wouldn't worry about the barrels but the torched receivers might crack apart.

Hopefully eightbore will chime in here. I believe he's done some freezer testing of RST and found no difference in performace due to temperature.

I know I ran some of the NiceShot 1 1/4 ounce loads through my Parker hammer gun shooting geese on the Eastern Shore on a morning that it was below freezing and they killed them the same as when it was 60 degrees.

There just isn't a better vintage style shooting cartridge out there guys.


Destry

Say it ain't so.

I and several others use RSTs and the Polywad products year round with good effect and no problems with our ancient (nitro proofed) guns. So far so good after a decade. Will report back in another ten years.