New Member From New Hampshire, HELP!

[Derek Iske]

What did I get myself into...

Anyway, name is Derek Iske and was at Cabela's in Scarborough Maine this past weekend and I picked up this 12 gauge. Ever since I picked up an old Savage B-SE SxS I have fallen love with the side by sides. Browsing through the isles at the gun stores of old american made SXS with Damascus steel barrels, I knew I had to get one. Another inspiration was after watching Larry Potterfield's restoration of an antique Parker Bros. shotgun. I have always enjoyed a project. So here I am with an older gun. I have done some research on this shotgun. So far I have concluded that is was made in 1896, Grade GH #2. The barrel lock up is tight I would think. Removing the forward grip off the shotgun and shaking the gun by holding it by the barrels reveals no clinking. Ringing the barrels reveals no odd vibrations, only a monotonic ring

Few questions:

1.) Is it safe to shoot smokeless powder shot shells through this SXS? No intention of heavy loads, only shot sizes of #6-8.

2.) How bad does the rust look on the barrel? No deep pits, sandblasting it and sanding will smooth it out I am sure.

3.) Tell me something I haven't figured out!

Obviously I jumped on this purchase, but I am looking at a beautiful shotgun. Be truthful, give it to me straight, what did I get myself into! A little nervous now.

Needs some work, going to take me a long time. Going to do a lot of research, I will be posting a more because I will need some help to complete this for sure.