16ga.com ~ View topic

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2350 Location: West MI

Curious to the process of how to go about getting a gun tested/inspected to be safe to shoot? I'm considering purchasing a boxlock SxS gun built around the turn of the last century that looks as though it has Damascus barrels but only in a few small ares that haven't turned patina brown. I think the lower priced guns (in this case an NR Davis & Sons) of that era had printed or etched Damascus patterns on the barrels but the seller can't be certain one way or the other and an internet search of NRD&S era (~1875-1920) guns have little documentation or historical record to reference.

So, since this is new terrain for me, asking; can someone here share the process of declaring an old gun safe to shoot. Any info appreciated.

Joined: 12 Mar 2012 Posts: 685 Location: Ontario

Find a smith who specializes in vintage SxS. Have him inspect the barrels. Included in that is checking for pitting of the bores and measuring the barrel wall thicknesses with specialized tools. Then, once declared safe, only shoot low pressure ammo.

Unless otherwise labeled all modern ammo creates max pressure of around 11,000 psi. You will want to acquire specialized ammo labeled low pressure that has a max pressure in the 7000-8000 psi range. Roughly what the barrels were originally designed for.

Joined: 12 Mar 2012 Posts: 685 Location: Ontario

Oops.

Here you go
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZIo0y746UsSRZIgRuuxwAbZjSBHitO_EanvwLYc-kGA/edit

and
https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads/is-my-gun-safe-what-load-was-my-gun-designed-to-shoot.366087/

"Should be safe with low brass" is NOT a professional opinion, and if the smith can't give you the wall thicknesses from breech to muzzle, you need another opinion.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

revdocdrew,

Great information....as usual!!

Thanks.

There are testing labs in the U.S. that can proof test barrels (links are in the DamascusKnowledge doc), but I know of no one who has used one of the services.
If someone here chooses to do so, please let us know the process and cost.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2350 Location: West MI

Wow, great info, perfect for what I was considering. Thank you!