I know Guntech has continually mentioned about the forcing cones when omeone posts in about shooting steel threw older guns
Cat
Neither have I, all the ones I have done have been older drawn steel pumps and singles.
The topic is black powder Damascus barreled CARTRIDGE guns, not muzzle loaders
I stopped reading after this post as this explains a LOT. I read a lot of solid advice and things to consider (that you CLEARLY had not considered but due to your age and thus inexperience is expected), all of which is being ignored even though it was asked for. Personally, I don't like to see things get destroyed ESPECIALLY something that is, in reality irreplaceable but I am a believer that if you own it you are free to do as you please with it. The REAL danger here, IMO, is that should the gun hold up to these "tests", there is no telling what the stresses actually did to said gun and while YOU may get away with it today, some unsuspecting innocent 10-20-30 years from now that buys that gun at a gun show thinking it to be just a "normal" Damascus shotgun might have it bow up in THEIR face even with proper loads due to the stresses put on it through these "tests". It is pretty clear that, A-you are NOT really looking for advice and B- you are going to do this regardless of what anyone says (which begs the question as to why you even started this thread). Best case scenario that I can see is that the gun blows apart on the first attempt. There really IS no "successful" outcome, regardless what your youthful inexperience is telling you. Good luck and for your sake and the sake of anyone else that may come into ownership of that gun in the future, I hope you never get the chance to shoulder than thing after the first "test".
That that I put in bold is the "crux of the biscuit". AS has been stated several times by knowledgeable members that have been researching, handling and shooting these guns longer than the OP has been alive (and have been ignored), there are LOTS of different qualities and manufacture processes in the rather vast variety of what gets lumped under the "Damascus" umbrella. Not only do I fear for the life and limb of anyone that shoulders that gun after this abuse assuming it does NOT come apart right away, the OP says he is planning to pursue a career in gunsmithing and should this ONE PARTICULAR gun not blow apart during these "test", he will in all likelihood throughout his Gunsmithing career spread the false claim that shooting steel through a "Damascus" barrelled gun (as long as it is cylinder bored) is safe because "I tested it myself and proved it so". As pinfire stated (regardless of the outcome) "NOTHING will be proven" (except that the OP should not be allowed to own guns. Harsh but every word he has posted in this thread brings me to that conclusion). For the record, I don't think that the thought was bad and, was a legitimate question from someone will so limited experience (and kudos for asking) It makes for a good topic of discussion. After all, I was young and dumb once also and may have pondered something similar (or something just as dangerous before being educated by those more knowledgable than myself which was most people when I was in my 20's). The problem lies in the fact that several knowledgeable people, have pointed out the flaws in his thinking and not only have been ignored but chastised for it. THAT is what concerns me to the point of making the harsh statements in this post. The one bright spot to all this is that others may have been contemplating the same question and, if those that did heed the advice of those that offered it now know that the whole endeavour is foolhardy at best and could be downright dangerous/deadly at worst. If the gun stays together, it will be like the dangerous driver that has never been in a accident.....but how many did he CAUSE that he was just not aware of
