[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Austin,
I've been studying this subject but for a while. I don't know enough to teach but for what it's worth:
- During the period when the British proofed in Tons (Long Tons) it was by the Lead Crusher Method. That was by a Government approved proof house. One would imagine that if for the British Gov't it would err on the side of caution.
- SAAMI uses the piezo-electric method which can be measured and recorded in micro-seconds if one has the equipment.

So... Shooting a higher pressure load than 8000 PSI in Parker Damascus (or LC Smith) is a personal choice. My daily shooting is with 6000 PSI in 12 and 10 ga which break targets just fine. I know the barrels will however withstand modern loads but I still reserve those for when I can't load a low pressure to do the job.

A good friend and member of this board made the classic mistake of loading shells with PB instead of the black powder which he thought was in the MEC powder bottle. PB looks like black powder. His barrel blew on the 4th shot. He later had the remainder of those shells tested. They were all far above 20,000 PSI and one was somewhere around 34,000 PSI. After that my friend now keeps all black powder loading equipment in a seperate room from his smokeless loaders and supplies. In life things happen... Then the rumors start which are always much, much worse than the actual event. Oh, my friend's blown gun is pictured in "Shooting Flying" by Murdelack (SP?).

I believe in moderation to preserve and only push to the limit when necessary!