Sherman Bell tests in which DGJs

[Bill Holcombe]

I am wanting to read his tests relating to safety of shooting Damascus. Can anyone tell me the DGJ volumes to buy to read these articles?

Thanks, I have tried to find it on here and Google, but was unsuccessful.

[Harry Collins]

King,

I'll try to look them up for you. In summery he took a 1900 GH #2 Frame with Damascus barrels and fed it increasing pressure loads until the barrels released/exploded. They became unwrapped at the breach along a line from the extractor pin hole and the doll head extension hole at about 30,000+ psi. The other barrel held together at that pressure but let go at about 31,400 psi. I sent Sherman Bell a 1900 VH #2 frame and the results were the same.

I started shooting Damascus with smokeless after an article in Guns and Ammo by Ross Seigfried some time in the late 1980's. After much trepidation and caution I now shoot any modern load at reasonable velocity and shot load. Let's say a 12 gauge load of 1oz at 1200 psi or 1 1/8 oz at 1180 fps. I shoot an 1881 lifter Parker with Twist barrels with off the shelf 1 oz loads at sporting clays weekly and have for some years without incident. The short and long of it in my humble opinion is that if a Parker has not been messed with it is safe to shoot any shell of reasonable velocity and weight.

[charlie cleveland]

harry i agree completely with you..i wish i could have put it in words like you did..thanks....charlie

[Harry Collins]

After following the wisdom of those more knowledgable than me and in perticular, Bruce Day, who calmed my nerves by shooting these beautiful old Parker's. If I could find powder I would load for Damascus and Twist at under 8000 Psi. If I could a afford RST shells I would shoot nothing else

[Bill Holcombe]

Thanks, I have the basics of what he did, but I haven't found a good synopsis of which issues did what. But I did here:
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=259371&start=40

[Bruce Day]

So you get dressed up like ralphie in a Christmas story. Motorcycle face mask gloves heavy coat Waddle out to the back yard , hold the gun at arms length turn your head and pull the trigger. Tell us what happens or better yet post a photo of you all dressed up, preferably when the temp is at least 90.

That's what I did.

[Russ Lindsay]

Bruce, it looks like temps should be right for more testing this afternoon.

[Bill Holcombe]

Lol I'm not worried, I am just interested in reading it.

[edgarspencer]

Volume 16, Issue 2, Summer, 2005

[Paul Harm]

The winter of 1999 was one of them- I think.

[Bill Holcombe]

Thanks, the link I posted above has a breakdown of which issues he tested what in.

[Paul Harm]

The winter of 1999 is when the Parker was destroyed with 29,000 and 31,000 PSI loads.

[Leighton Stallones]

Harry, that Siefried article in Guns and Ammo of about May 1990 was my inspiration to start shooting damascus. And Sherman Bells articles confirmed it i still have Siefrieds Article

[Mills Morrison]

The first shot is the hardest. Nothing to it after that

[todd allen]

I think Damascus is safer and stronger than fluid steel of the same era.

[Bill Holcombe]

Guys, I am just wanting to read it for my own personal education. Thx for the assurances, but I am fairly calm with regards to shooting it.

[Carvel Whaley]

At the Southern this spring I shot 400 shells in my 10ga hammer gun and another 300 in a 12ga lifter without incident. All were less than 7500 psi. Carvel