First proof firing

[11Bravo]

After working on this approx. 170 year old SxS for months I proofed it at my skeet range. It's a Belgian barreled French 14 bore and I thought to post this picture that was taken by a buddy with a smart phone. I still use a flip phone. I gave each barrel two shots with 78 gr. 3F and 1-1/8 shot. After my test loads and inspection I loaded a square load of 3F and 7/8 oz of 8s and tried to break some clays.

 

[Dude]

Cool!

How'd you pull the trigger?

 

[Master Blaster]

You can see the string passing over the tire. Great balls of fire!

 

[Crow-Feather]

It do belch a little flame.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Very nice
Did it start an impromptu race?

 

[PathfinderNC]

Cool! Did you hit any boats?

 

[11Bravo]

The boats were safe, we only shoot there Oct-April because of the boat traffic in the summer. Most boats know to stay 60 yards off the range, but every once in a while Kayaks come by, those we lead by 2'. Only kidding we wait for them. I get a lot of joy bringing the old ones back to life and all the ones I have ever built or brought back I used the tire for the tests. The tire was on top of our trap house. Next up will be another 14 bore Westley Richards, that one I have my doubts about?

 

[PathfinderNC]

The boats were safe, we only shoot there Oct-April because of the boat traffic in the summer. Most boats know to stay 60 yards off the range, but every once in a while Kayaks come by, those we lead by 2'. Only kidding we wait for them. I get a lot of joy bringing the old ones back to life and all the ones I have ever built or brought back I used the tire for the tests. The tire was on top of our trap house. Next up will be another 14 bore Westley Richards, that one I have my doubts about?

Well, if Greenpeace were ever to float on by...

 

[Dude]

Ok - I see the string now. Cool way to proof a gun.

What do you do for pistols?

 

[11Bravo]

Pistols--welding gloves, welding jacket, face shield and just do it. Pistols are not a major worry, it's the Damascus barrels I'm a bit more careful with. From what I have gathered BP shotguns develop around 8,000 psi and tests were done back in the 1910s that is took 30,000 psi to split and rupture a forged twist barrel. I'm still careful as I carry a chunk of brass in my gut from a M2 that cooked off and know there is dangers in most things we do.

 

[Doc]

11Bravo, A far easier way to tell if there’s separation in your Damascus barrels is to “ring” them. If you hang the barrels from a finger and lightly tap the barrels up and down with a piece of steel. Your hoping for a ringing sound then they are shootable, if you get a thud anywhere that means there’s separation, This can be fixed by a qualified gun smith but expensive. Out west at our Rhondys we pride ourselves on shooting clays with our older guns. Good Luck on yours.
Doc,

 

[11Bravo]

Doc,
I did check for the ring before I started as I didn't want to waste effort on a non shooter.
I also lucked out as after I finally got the second cone out I was scratching my head about it's size 6.5 mm but the thread pitch was our standard 28. TOTW had .260-28 nipples (oversized for 1/4-28) and they screwed right in.
Have fun with yours
Wayne

 

[Mad L]

NICE photo!
When I proofed mine from Loyalist Arms I was warned: "Remove barrel when proofing as the Barrel comes with warranty, the Stock however does not". Also checking for any bulging while fully assembled is rather difficult.
But NICE PHOTO!

 

[sawyer04]

Great, that ole dude is ready to go

 

[11Bravo]

Please understand that test shot was not a crazy load, just more than I used from my shoulder. The good thing about using the tire method is the tire recoils with the shot, it jumped back more than a foot. The stock takes less of a pounding than if it was held firm.

 

[SDSmlf]

Turner would be proud.

 

[CyrusP]

That’s an amazing picture! And resurrecting those old beauties is great! Seeing some old percussion doubles at the Forks Of The Delaware show in Allentown this past Saturday has me wanting to do the same.

 

[Joemolf]

Pistols--welding gloves, welding jacket, face shield and just do it. Pistols are not a major worry, it's the Damascus barrels I'm a bit more careful with. From what I have gathered BP shotguns develop around 8,000 psi and tests were done back in the 1910s that is took 30,000 psi to split and rupture a forged twist barrel. I'm still careful as I carry a chunk of brass in my gut from a M2 that cooked off and know there is dangers in most things we do.

 

[Joemolf]

Oops all cool stuff I meant to say and that chunk of brass from an M2 care to elaborate on that being you mentioned it? I assume the 50 cal got a little hot and you obviously live in a Free State where you can play with items like that? Not where I live; when someone shows up to the range with a single shot 50 I wonder what all the fuss is about but now an M2 would be something to fuss about! Good for you and you are correct you can only be so safe glad you’re okay.

 

[William Lincoln]

Older damascus barrels are safe if not damaged. I had one that was from Spain.
I kept it to field-loads.