Damascus Barrel Question...

[5hundo]

I have an old L.C. Smith 10 GA (dated 1880), Damascus barreled shotgun, with hammers. It's currently mounted to a plank and hanging from the wall and I've never shot it. My grandfather gave it to me when I was a kid and he hadn't shot it in years.

I know they shoot low-base shells and should NEVER be fired with modern cartridges, with smokeless powder but I did some reading and I've seen that one solution is to buy some inserts and shoot smaller, modern cartridges like 16 GA, or 20 GA.

Anyone out there do this? Just curious...

[ysr_racer]

I wouldn't do it.

[3GunFunShooter]

I agree, Don't shoot it. It is worth something.

[762cavalier]

Don't do it. Even with an insert the smaller shotgun shells still produce about the same amount of pressure. Not sure if it is worth risking the life of an old shotgun. If you want to shoot it find blackpowder shotshell loads for it. Maybe some of the cowboy action shooters can tell you what they are using.

[AJAX22]

You can get it proofed if you're serious about shooting it.

It may be destroyed in the proofing process, but at least you won't be pulling the trigger on an unknown.

Another option is to get the barrels sleaved to 12 gauge (its expensive but you'd be able to shoot it)

if you can get pistol round sub calibre inserts they should be safe to shoot, but finding them in 10 gauge will be difficult.

[5hundo]

If you want to shoot it find blackpowder shotshell loads for it. Maybe some of the cowboy action shooters can tell you what they are using.

That would be the best solution...

Anyone know where I can get some low-base, 10 Ga shells?

[Two Shots]

This company has them ...Not cheap http://www.republicmetallic.com/SHOTSHELLS.html

For info on BP check this site http://www.tbullock.com/BPSG.html

[5hundo]

This company has them ...Not cheap http://www.republicmetallic.com/SHOTSHELLS.html

For info on BP check this site http://www.tbullock.com/BPSG.html

That's awsome!!! Thanks a lot, man...

I owe you one...

[JDay]

I wouldn't shoot it until I got it appraised, you said its an LC Smith so it may be worth something.

http://www.armchairgunshow.com/gunvalue.htm#damascus shotguns

[TRAP55]

If the barrels don't have any pits, take them to an auto machine shop and have them magnafluxed. There's a whole class of competition shotgun shooting done strictly with black powder shell guns, many damascus. Another route is to have steel tube inserts silver soldered inside. For a less permanent alteration, you can have Briley fit a set of full length removable sub gauge tubes to your barrels too.
BTW.....Elsies with Damascus barrels in good condition are very collectible, bringing as much money as the fluid steel barrel high grades.
The hammer guns were graded from:
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0
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5
A-1
A-2
A-3
Pigeon Grade
Monogramed Grade