Talk:Double-barreled shotgun
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i've heard that using the older double barrel shotguns (two hammers) with newer shells is dangerous since newer shells are higher grain than the old paper shells, does anyone know more about this? --AlexOvShaolin 05:51, 21 November 2006 (UTC)
- The issues here are not the exposed hammers, but the barrels and chambers. Many older shotguns used damascus steel barrels, which are made by wrapping square wire around a mandrel, then welding and forging the wire into a barrel. These barrrels are relativley weak compared to solid, or "fluid steel" barrels, and they are prone to rusting through at the welds, which can be nearly impossible to detect. Also, many older shotguns are chambered for shorter shells, such as 2 1/2", rather than the modern 2 3/4" and 3" shells. These shorter shells do produce lower pressures, so a shotgun marked "2 1/2" shells" should only be fired with 2 1/2" shells, even if a longer shell will fit in the chamber. Some gunsmiths will re-chamber a 2 1/2" gun for 2 3/4" shells, but only if it's a high quality gun in good shape. You would probably be better off cutting down some 2 3/4" shells and reloading them as 2 1/2" shells.
- If you do want to fire an old Damascus barreled gun, have it inspected by a gunsmith who specializes in old shotguns, and then proof test it with a higher pressure load than you plan to use to verify the barrels are still sound. Keep in mind that the proof test may well blow a barrel open, so you're generally better off just hanging the Damascus gun on the wall, and buying a cheap used pump shotugn. scot 15:55, 21 November 2006 (UTC)
