Time for a test?
 

Recently, there has been a lot of chatter/opinions/declarations about use of steel in old guns.

How about someone doing a Sherman Bell-like test of steel in damascus-barrelled guns? If I were to do it (and I'm NOT volunteering) I would start with small-sized shot in open choked bores, and move progressively towards tighter chokes and larger shot sizes. I would use full length plastic shot cups for all tests.

Results could be published in PP or DJG. What say you? Here's your chance to make some noise and become a published author, all in the name of science.

The biggest issue I see with steel loads is the pressure associated with them. They have been trying to compensate for steels low density [ compared to lead] by increasing speed, so I stay away from steel loads because of pressure more than anything. I think a hand loader with steel wads, heavy duty shot cups, wouldn't have any problems except that steel pellets are like shooting a deer with a target arrow, small wound channel.