Quote Originally Posted by DesG View Post
Has anyone out there had any experience of using a 14 bore muzzle loader shotgun. I've acquired a rather nice 1790ish (judging from the Birmingham proof marks) section 58 percusion s/b which is too nice not to shoot. Can anyone who has used one tell me what powder and shot load would be nice and comfortable with it without overstressing the Damascus barrel. I'm thinking about 7/8 oz would be good but how much of Henry Kranks med would give a mild load for bunnies?
So let me get this right, so's I don't make a mistook. You intend to shoot a 225-year-old muzzle loader with a 'Damascus' barrel? Or, at least, a twist barrel made of iron, as per the methods of the day.

There isn't anybody here, I hope, who is crazy enough to offer you a load for it - as per the rules of the forum, I believe. Go check and see if I'm right.

At the very least, before you even contemplate firing it with a live load, you should get the barrel checked out for the infamous damascus inter-laminate rust/rot. It is, of course, a converted flintlock if your dating is correct.

tac