Bad idea. They used black powder with those barrels and that's what you'll have to use. Do not use smokeless powder, it may blow up in your face. Black powder may as well. Be careful.
Not quite correct. RST loads smokeless powder loads just for Damascus barreled guns. I`ve been shooting them for some time now.
Things change. I was always told to never use smokeless powder in a Damascus barrel. Who knows when they'll come apart. After all, they're beaten together using small rods on a mandrel. Where is the weak point? Perhaps, you know, I sure don't.
Smokintom is correct. There is a pretty significant group of collectors of old double guns who regularly shoot Damascus barrels. I have several old doubles in my collection of shotguns and have shot at the Southern Side by Side one time (a pretty good trek from So. Cal.). https://www.southernsidebyside.com/ They even have an event or few just for Damascus guns at the Southern Side by Side. (It is a sporting clays format.) Contact RST and they will be happy do discuss your gun and whether you can shoot their shells in it. http://www.rstshells.com/ As RST says on its website, "Pressures – These are available by request call 570-553-1651 or email info@rstshells.com -- Black Powder loads- We load with smokeless powder, not black powder. Many of our loads are black powder pressure equivalent or less"
Vern- if you go to Alliant's website, you can see some real good LOW pressure loads using American Select. Like a poster said above, i too have loaded for a Damascus barrelled gun for the Southern SxS competition. It's a dern shame bad info gets thrown around about how "bad" a damascus barrel gun can be, and subsequently, someone will not shoot such a fine piece of craftsmanship as an old double that has one. If you want good shells to buy...go RST. Otherwise, choose something you want to shoot in a pressure at or below about 7500psi. You should be good. Providing the gun is in good shootable shape. Any question as to it's soundness, then have it looked over by a competent gunsmith. Enjoy.
I have hodgon pyrodex RS is it suitable to load it at a 1 oz load,volume to volume.....,i also have a old roll crimper a fellow lent me and 100 12 ga paper primered hulls [new ] never used a roll crimper ,any tricks to using it would be nice...thank you Victor Tomlinson MDG
You experts with x-ray vision know where the weakest point in the barrel is located I'm sure. So shoot away it's your face.
