No wonder we were afraid of Damascus

[LtCol Henderson Marriott]

These are valuable accounts of actual incidents that have taken place during the transition from black powder to smokeless powder.
One of the inherent potential dangers of reloading
at that time was measuring by volume rather than by weight. Many hunters were not fully aware of the pressure differences between black and nitro smokeless powders. They carried their black powder volume measuring techniques right into the smokeless
20th Century. Possibly adding to the potential confusion-for handloaders- were the various"bulk" powders which were created by powder manufacturers to allow measuring by volume, though they were modern smokeless or semi-smokeless in manufacture as powders for that era. Paul Mathews in
" The Paper Jacket" illustrates this potential confusion, as does the Ideal Handbook which
later became the Lyman Manual on reloading. The Ideal volume actually recommended the Hazard Powder Company of Connecticut during this period. Even today, the shotgun shell reloader must know exactly what he is about as to manuals, powder amount , shot loads and existing pressures.

[Drew Hause]

Why? Because Parker said we could.

Parker Brothers 1893 Catalogue
“Our guns are bored on the latest improved system for shooting Nitros, or Smokeless Powder, and all our guns are tested with some one of the most approved makes, and a tag accompanies each gun, giving the results of such a (pattern) test.”

1902 Sears catalog
"ALL ARE BORED FOR NITRO OR BLACK POWDER"



"RST is still 3X the chamber pressure as a BP load." is incorrect
Please see https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...aAfUOZEFU/edit

Factory reported RST 12g pressures in 2016. Of course components could be different now
Ultra Lite 2 1/2” 3/4 oz. 4400 psi
Falcon Lite 2 1/2” 7/8 oz. 5400 psi
Maxi Lite 2 1/2” 1 oz. 5700 psi
Lite 2 1/2” 1 1/16 oz. Roll Crimp Paper 5900 psi
Lite 2 1/2" 1 1/16 oz. Plastic 6100 psi
Premium Grade Pheasant 2 3/4” 1 1/4 oz. 7800 psi


Please see https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...hIiY62Hx4/edit

[John Davis]

I would not hesitate to shoot those loads in any Damascus barrel gun I own.