Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums - Thinking about going Damascus

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- Damascus Barrels & Steel (https://parkerguns.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=31)

- - Thinking about going Damascus (https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41684)

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigThompson (Post 412723)

I have nothing against a person that doesn’t care to fire guns with Damascus or twist barrels that’s their prerogative , however on the other hand if I’m shooting them and someone doesn’t like it the best thing they can do is not stay around . I was shown an article from
The American Rifleman once that was written back in the late forties or early to mid fifties . If my memory serves P.O. Ackley wrote it . He took four Parker’s all with good bores , tight etc . Two were fluid steel and two were damascus . He started loading below factory standards trying same loads in all four working his way up to factory smokeless pressures . Then he started exceeding pressure velocity etc . He burst the two fluid steel barrels and went on with the two damascus guns until he thought he’d sprung the actions enough to make lock up not safe I think the article said . Anyway those guns I’m sure had far better bore condition barrels than a good many now .

Sherman Bell cheerfully over loaded damascus barrels trying to blow them up. He loaded a Parker GH to 30,000 psi and it kept on shooting. Now most modern loads are around 12,000 psi some more some less. RST I think is around 9,000 psi. 30,000 is WAY over what we normally run into. Bell even honed an LC Smith barrel to what he called "paper thin" and tried to get it to blow. It did not.

As hard to believe as it is, the Damascus mythology was a well orchestrated hoax.

But for the collector/shooter of Damascus Parker's they still bring a discount to steel barreled examples which is a added bonus for those of us that prefer Damascus.

After Sherman Bell blew up Dr Gaddy"s and my Parkers I shoot twist, Damascus, and Fluid Steel Parkers without trepidation. All 12 gauge guns are shot with 1oz or less @ 1200 fps or below. These are off the shelf Winchester and other brands. One of my favorite Parkers is an 1881 (144 years old) 12 gauge Lifter with Twist barrels. I beat Will Curlin left handed with it shooting WW 1oz @ 1180 fps. As far as #1 Frame Parkers, I have three. If I'm shooting a round of Spoeting Clays I like 7/8 os loads as there is less muzzle rise. Fiocchi Exacta Target Line Low Recoil 12 Gauge 2-3/4 #8 Shot 7/8oz Lead 1200fps