I have been reading all of Sherman Bell's articles in DGJ that I can find in my 15 year collection of those fine magazines. He did his best to blow damascus guns up and without an obstruction and even with heavy proof loads and more the damascus tubes stood up as well as any others.
He also said that early smokless powder, which according to him started being loaded in 1863, could be loaded with an old BP powder scoop. Then they introduced a Unique like powder which when loaded with an old BP scoop produced a shell that delivered 60,000 psi! Those modern smokless proof loads deliver 18,000 psi. So when using BP reloading equipment the newer smokless powder around 1900 blew any shotgun to smitherienes.
Many people shoot their old damascus guns just as if it was a fluid steel shotgun and they do just fine. Will I? Well, no. But I will shoot light loads with confidence. I will lay off of heavy, high base 1 7/8 ounce loads. While I think they'd shoot just fine...well....I don't want to take a chance with my life and limbs. If I want to shoot a cannon, I'll shoot my Browing Gold which will handle a 3" shell. I think we should treat our antique shotguns like we treat antique ladies; they can't do what they did in their 20's.
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