Randy Wakefield's recommendation to have damascus barrels x-rayed or other NDI ( non destructive testing) procedure to find cracks was particularly strange. These are composite barrels, not homogenous, and all an x-ray shows is thousands of little lines from the iron and steel ribands that will look like cracks. So I suspect he is recommending something that he has never done or read the reports of being done on damascus barrels.
In response to Paul's comment, I don't know who everyone is, but I use the Parker shot and dram loads for the gauge, gun weight and period of manufacture as my guideline for shooting factory hunting loads in fluid or composite barrels and then back off at least in shot load for clays shooting. When I reload for clays shooting, I use moderate burn rate powders because I don't want the gun or my shoulder to get whacked. I don't specifically pursue low pressure loads, nor do many other people I know.
I suppose its also best for preservation of my vintage sports car to never drive it above 60 mph, but I like to know that I can, and every once in a while, I like to drive it to its capabilities, which in truth are greater than my personal comfort zone.
Last edited by Bruce Day; 09-16-2010 at 11:03 AM..
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