Date Posted:15:15:09 07/30/04 Fri
I'm not sure what ammunition you refer to when talking about damascus barrels, plenty of people in England still shoot on a regular basis with them, myself included. The cartridges I use in mine are the same as the ones I use in my Berrata 686, just 2.5inches not 2.75, and no more expensive. Constant use on big driven days present no problem at all.
Date Posted:16:40:24 07/30/04 Fri
William - There are also Americans who use damascus and twist barrel shotguns. The prudent ones have their guns checked out and use 2.5" shells with black-powder equivalent loads. The fools find a gun at a yard sale, shove in a 3" magnum shell and use it once!
You have proof laws in England. No such thing here in the US, and most damascus barrels were made before nitro powder was invented so were intended for a much lower peak pressure than is generated by smokeless.
These old shotguns are often found after hanging in barns or stuck up in the rafters with no care for a couple of generations and there can be internal rust even if the surface looks good after it is scrubbed with steel wool. There's no way to tell if the barrel is still sound without some very expensive tests.
We Americans also have the idea that "bigger is better", so it's easier to find 3.5" shells than 2.5" and they will usually go into the short-chambered guns.
W's Volunteer was a cheap gun when it was made. I'd feel much safer with a damascus LeFever, Colt, or Winchester from the 1880's than with ANY store-brand from the early 1900's, even if it had fluid steel barrels. With a 1910 (patent?) date, I doubt if his really has damascus barrels, but it's possible and he says it does.
I compare using modern ammunition in these old guns to driving an automoble from the early 1900's at freeway speeds - It may work for a while, but sooner or later it will fly apart.
Roy
