navydoc16 Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 (edited) Hi mates, Have a little question for the ladies and gents, in short I have a beaut Wesley Richards in damascus made at the turn of the century, I'm considering reloading brass shells with smokeless or BP but wondering if I just purchase the cheapest lightest clay busting 24grain 12g will that be close to the original pressures? I just want to get her outdoors where she belongs as I don't think its been run in the past century. Kind regards, George Edited July 22, 2019 by navydoc16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 Picture of the proof marks would be helpful 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navydoc16 Posted July 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Old farrier said: Picture of the proof marks would be helpful 👍 Ill try upload some later, but its not nitro proofed, states "Not For Ball Powder Cartridge's" but considering the Damascus missed being proofed by nitro by under a decade I cant see much issue? The gun has no rust issues or anything that could get into the Damascus either, but on the other hand I like my fingers very much Edited July 22, 2019 by navydoc16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarecrow243 Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 dont use nitro powder in twist steel barrels unless it gets proofed you can reload with pyrodex it like black powder and you dont need a black powder licence or safety storage box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 I saw a chap earlier in the summer using 30g paper cased Eley GP through a beautiful Damascus Westley Richards .. didn't check the proof though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navydoc16 Posted July 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 49 minutes ago, scarecrow243 said: dont use nitro powder in twist steel barrels unless it gets proofed you can reload with pyrodex it like black powder and you dont need a black powder licence or safety storage box Thanks mate, im actually in Australia so ill be in the clear, happy to reload but just looking for an easy way out if there was one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navydoc16 Posted July 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 15 minutes ago, Smokersmith said: I saw a chap earlier in the summer using 30g paper cased Eley GP through a beautiful Damascus Westley Richards .. didn't check the proof though. Yeah this one looks a beaut, because these guns came out to the Australia headquarters many never were given fluid steel barrels so are still all original, just put away when nitro came out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 (edited) Using light loads does not reduce the pressure! I have two black powder guns, both of which were used with nitro for most of the last century. I don’t do it, black powder only despite the fact that my Dickson is like it was made yesterday. Edited July 22, 2019 by London Best Spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navydoc16 Posted July 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 34 minutes ago, London Best said: Using light loads does not reduce the pressure! I have two black powder guns, both of which were used with nitro for most of the last century. I don’t do it, black powder only despite the fact that my Dickson is like it was made yesterday. Thanks mate, theres alot of material out there for reloading, whats your recipe? if you dont mind me asking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 Is it Damascus or is it laminate? Only the most expensive barrels were true Damascus, the rest were laminate. Lots of guns are described as having Damascus steel barrels these days aren't Damascus at all. The difference lies in the potential strength, there is nothing wrong with laminate but its more of an unknown because you don't know what it was laminated from. Anyway, black powder is lots more fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 Sorry pal, I only reload rifle ammo. I buy the black powder shotgun stuff, at vast expense! Although a friend does load some for me sometimes at about half factory prices. I think he uses 60 grains of black and 26 gram shot, but don’t take that as gospel because I really am not sure! (BOOM!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navydoc16 Posted July 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Vince Green said: Is it Damascus or is it laminate? Only the most expensive barrels were true Damascus, the rest were laminate. Lots of guns are described as having Damascus steel barrels these days aren't Damascus at all. The difference lies in the potential strength, there is nothing wrong with laminate but its more of an unknown because you don't know what it was laminated from. Anyway, black powder is lots more fun Its a "London best" Westley so its going to be a Damascus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratlegs Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 Knew a chap who put Eley Maximums through this Alfred Knight convereted pin fire roost shooting never missed I have it now, never dare fire it too nice to scrap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 Proof it yourself, only way to know it's ok. Find out the proof charge and make your own up. Use a clamp to hold the gun and string to fire it from a safe distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan123shooting Posted July 22, 2019 Report Share Posted July 22, 2019 Hi I have a Westley bar in wood hammer Made around 1869 with black powder proof Damascus barrels, I use 2 and a half drams of pyrodex and 28 grams or 1oz of lead with a rolled top 18mm felt wadd 4mm over powder card and 1mm over shot card in a paper case does the job but there is a wealth of black powder loads on the internet But Do Not Use Nitro until it’s proofed for it best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted July 23, 2019 Report Share Posted July 23, 2019 On 22/07/2019 at 13:23, London Best said: Sorry pal, I only reload rifle ammo. I buy the black powder shotgun stuff, at vast expense! Although a friend does load some for me sometimes at about half factory prices. I think he uses 60 grains of black and 26 gram shot, but don’t take that as gospel because I really am not sure! (BOOM!) Yep I am that friend and I load 60grains of black powder and 24 or 26 grams I consider this to be a safe load. Most loading info suggests 70/75 grains to 28 grams. as a hunting load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted July 23, 2019 Report Share Posted July 23, 2019 I had a W.Richards Damascus BLE ( Liverpool ) built in 1907. Proofed to 1-1/8 oz but was advised by Richards 1-3/16 oz was OK. Tight as a drum. Normal diet was Impax and Eley Maximum 4's for Pinks. Sold it at a loss in the late eighties due to the the steel shot scare. 😕 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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