Thinking about going Damascus

[Keith Doty]

Jeff, I shoot a 1901 "G" Damascus 12 on a regular basis, at the Adam's Cup last weekend as a mater of fact. I shoot 1 oz. loads tested at Precision, mild and pleasant to shoot. Will whack a pigeon or Helice, powders clays when I hit'em, great with bismuth for ducks. If the barrels are in good condition my big worry is the wood and the aged shooter! I clean with a brass brush and Hoppes, light oil patch last.
Reloading 2 1/2" Cheditte hulls with 16.8 gr. International, BP's CS12 wad with a 1/8" 20 ga. cork for filler, 1 oz. of 7 1/2 shot. Tested @ 1193 FPS and 5970 PSI. A pussycat to shoot and it WORKS!

[6pt-Sika]

I shoot probably more Damascus/twist barrels than I do fluid steel ! Damascus 8 , Damascus and twist 10’s , fluid steel 12’s and fluid steel 16’s . I’ve liquidated the 20’s and 28 .

[Stan Hoover]

Originally Posted by Harry Gietler

Years ago I saw a 50 gallon steel drum that was full of ''Blown Damascus''
Steel barrels. I read the warnings on the shot shell boxes, ''Don't use in Twist
Steel or Damascus Barrels, I VALUE MY HANDS AND FINGERS, so I would Never
Shoot Twist or Damascus Steel Barreled Guns. In my neck of the woods if you are at a club with one and they know it, they won't allow you to shoot .

Harry

90% of my shooting is with Damascus, twist or Laminate barrels, it just has to be respected, as any gun should be.
And they’re beautiful, what’s not to like.

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Stan Hoover

90% of my shooting is with Damascus, twist or Laminate barrels, it just has to be respected, as any gun should be.
And they’re beautiful, what’s not to like.

For 20+ years I read the articles in Double Gun Mag written by Sherman Bell wherein he described over loading damascus barrels, trying to get them to blow up. He was very detailed in his studies. He over loaded damascus shotgun barrels of many makers and they did not blow up. He even honed some L.C. Smith barrels to paper thin and even then they would not let go. Therefore I shoot damascus/twist shotguns confidently. I also think they look neat.

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Stan Hoover

90% of my shooting is with Damascus, twist or Laminate barrels, it just has to be respected, as any gun should be.
And they’re beautiful, what’s not to like.

I'm an old man. I have been warned all of my life to avoid damascus or twist barrels to the point that I never saw anyone shooting one. No one would go near any of those old tubes. Then I read Sherman Bell's DGJ writings and I began to change my mind. I bought a Parker GH (a decade ago). Nice engraving, but not too much of it, wonderful wood. I shot it with RST first and then switched to standard target loads. Today I own a damascus LC Smith, a Parker and a W.C. Scott is supposed to be in the mail. Truthfully I prefer damascus. I like the way it looks and old guns sing to me. Moreover I have never heard of a single damascus or twist barrel letting go. I know that some did years ago, but today? If it is happening, I have not heard about it.