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Show By TED RESTING "Damascus! Before the turn of the century that was the magic word where quality shotguns were concerned," says Shooting Editor Grits Gresham of Sports Afield. "But the advent of smokeless powder headed all guns of such barrel construction toward obsolescence." WHEN PROPERLY cared for all such barrels had adequate strength for use with black-powder shells, but they could not handle the greatly increased pressures of smokeless powder. Some owners tried the new shells in Damascus twist or laminated barrels, but the results were often disastrous. Even today some owners of these old guns use modern ammo in them, often with the same results - disastrous. "DO NOT shoot modern smokeless shotshells in guns having Damascus twist or laminated barrels!" warns Shooting Editor Gresham. As black-powder shotshells faded from the shelves of gun stores, the guns which used them were gradually relegated relegat-ed to the closet or to a couple of pegs above the mantel. EITHER for old-times sake, or because they are excellent shotguns, niany owners of the good ones would like to use them for hunting now and then. For years they have written Sports Afield asking, "Where can I buy black-powder shotshells?" And for years, our answer was negative - none commercially commer-cially available. But that has changed. THE NEWS Announcing the change arrived this oast summer: "Navy Arms is now manufacturing 12-gauge black-powder shotshells specifically designed to be shot in any of the fine old-timers. old-timers. At last you can shoot your favorite Damascus twist-steel or soft-iron barrel shotguns. It is time to get these old favorites out of retirement and back into the field." Loaded for Navy Arms in Germany, these shells are available only in 12 gauge, only in field loads and only with 1 ounce of No. 4 or No. 6 shot. THEY ARE 2 dram loads in plastic hulls with shot sleeves. List price is $3.50 for a box of ten, no limiting factor for the man who wants to pop a pheasant, "grouse, rabbit or squirrel now and then with Granddads favorite Betsy. Navy Arms reports that its shells produce a fantastic pattern equal to or in many cases superior to their modem contemporaries. It is a marriage of modern technology tech-nology with old-time propellants. ANOTHER ooint Navy Arms makes is: '"Great fun in any 12-gauge shotgun with 2 inch chambers, and it can provide the shooter with a load of excitement, smoke and thunder, even from the most-modem most-modem present-day models." Caution! Black powder is corrosive and will cause your gun to rust unless it is cleaned immediately and thoroughly after it has been used. |