I own 9 Remington SxSs, 3 of them have steel barrels, the other 6 Damascus. Dates from 1873 to 1894. Also a Lefever and 3 Parkers. Parts ? There are many people who have parts, one of the reasons I buy American made guns. Ithaca and Remington both have very simple, actions with fewer parts -the Anson and Deeley. It's been around since the 1800s and is a proven action. The price of good doubles have gone up. Use to be able to get one for 20 bucks [ in the 60s ] and now those same guns go for hundreds of dollars.
You reload then any of the old guns can be shot, Damascus or steel. I like to keep pressures under 8500psi out of respect for 100+ year old wood. The barrels ain't gonna let go. I've been putting on a SxS Shoot since 2005 and many a Damascus barrel double is shot with nitro loads. Out of the 70 or so guys who show up probably 30 are shooting Damascus. Never been a problem. Sherman Bell had a bunch of articles about the strength of Damascus barrels. A fellow gave him 20 Damascus SxS " wall hangers " with instructions to try and blow them up. Loose barrels, loose on the action, pitted, you name it, they had it. All took Remington proof loads of 18,500psi with no problems. He then took a Parker and started reloading high pressure shells. Tom Armburst had a pressure tester and they got to 30,000 psi before one of the barrels ripped. That's not to say all Damascus barrels guns are safe to shoot but to say they ain't all junk either. Bell did the same test with Remington proof loads latter with another 20 cheap Belgium imports with twist Damascus barrels, not the pattern welded ones. He quit after they held at 18,500psi. So Mn Fats, don't get your shirt in a knot because a gun has Damascus barrels.
You reload then any of the old guns can be shot, Damascus or steel. I like to keep pressures under 8500psi out of respect for 100+ year old wood. The barrels ain't gonna let go. I've been putting on a SxS Shoot since 2005 and many a Damascus barrel double is shot with nitro loads. Out of the 70 or so guys who show up probably 30 are shooting Damascus. Never been a problem. Sherman Bell had a bunch of articles about the strength of Damascus barrels. A fellow gave him 20 Damascus SxS " wall hangers " with instructions to try and blow them up. Loose barrels, loose on the action, pitted, you name it, they had it. All took Remington proof loads of 18,500psi with no problems. He then took a Parker and started reloading high pressure shells. Tom Armburst had a pressure tester and they got to 30,000 psi before one of the barrels ripped. That's not to say all Damascus barrels guns are safe to shoot but to say they ain't all junk either. Bell did the same test with Remington proof loads latter with another 20 cheap Belgium imports with twist Damascus barrels, not the pattern welded ones. He quit after they held at 18,500psi. So Mn Fats, don't get your shirt in a knot because a gun has Damascus barrels.
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