10 gauge Damascus lifter

[Matt Buckley]

Dean,
I shoot low pressure smokeless loads all the time in my Damascus barreled Parkers as well. The problem at the moment is in regards to 10 Gauge and being able to get the components to do this. That's one reason I do shoot black powder in 10 gauge. The components for black powder shooting have been more available.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Jacob, I shoot BP shotgun loads in BP events and occasionally for hunting. If you are shooting a break-action gun, just remove the bbls from the action, boil some water in a teapot, slowly pour the boiled water down the bores in a slop sink. I use a "Tico Tool" type bore swab and swab the very hot bbls. Then I'll run a few dry patches through followed by lubed patches to coat the bbls with a good oil such as Clenzoil. It's really a quick and easy clean up that takes less than 5 minutes (not including boiling the water). The hotter the water, the easier the clean up as the hot water basically evaporates off the bbls.

As for smokeless shells in Damascus guns, as long as the bores haven't been honed thin and the bores are not badly pitted, you should have no problem shooting 2 3/4 dram 1 oz shells in a 12g and 2 1/2 dram 7/8-3/4 oz in 16 & 20g. Avoid heavy field loads and you and you vintage stocks will be fine.