[fredj]

I have an old BP percussion (Muzzle loader)10 ga. double with damascus steel barrels
I love the way it handles and shoots, but it's about 120 yr's old and
kind of scary as if the Damascus fragged I'd be a hurtin chicken is it possible to re-line the bbl's and make it a 12 ga. or .20 ga. and if so
what kind of money would this cost ?
fredj

 

[gunnut69]

I have never seen this done on a muzzle loader but it is commonly done with breech loaders. There are 2 techkniques.. in the first the barrels are bored to a straight cylinder and the new liners are inserted. Most ofter they are soft soldered in. Most often there is a drop of 1 guage, from 10 to 12. In the 2nd pattern the barrels are bored out until the exterior is breeched on both tubes. this leaves the chamber re-enforce area still joined. The ends of the tubes are squared and new barrel tubes are pressed and soldered into this piece. This in effect turns the barrel stubs into a mono block. In both instances there is every likelyhood that the barrels will have to be re-regulated and the ribs (top and bottom) redone. I should thing the first method could be used on a muzzle loader with good results. The bad news is that in all likelyhood the cost would surpass that of a modern built sxs muzzle loader. I have never attempted this process and if it were me I would seek out a smith who specialized in restoration and/or shotgun work.... A top of the line smith in restoration is Doug Turnbull at http://www.gunshop.com/dougt.htm

There are others I'm sure. A search of the web should help locate some others...

 

[fredj]

Gunnut69-Thanks for the excellent info, that's what I needed to know
I guess my best bet would be to keep my eye out for a Pedersoli or
other modern percussion shotgun for shooting, I've had several very
knowledgeable BP folks tell me no problem shooting her, but my smith who isn't particularly knowledgeable on BP but I have great respect for told me he wouldn't shoot it, and I have heard that Damascus steel
failures are pretty nasty, I suppose I'll never really have much peace of mind shooting it as God knows what lurks inside those twist steel
barrels after over a century, particularly as when I got her the bores
were full of rust, no pitting however. Regards fredj

 

[gunnut69]

Strut is absolutely right but they are only made for cartridge firearms. I've never heard of anything such as that being made for muzzel loaders. I would quess that a Pedersoli would be cheaper than the modifications I spoke of and you would also not have to deal with a 12 or 16 on a 10 guage frame!! Good shooting from the gunnut69