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L. C. Smith Damascus 16 ga. Hammer Gun
Ambrose
Member Posts: 3,225 ✭✭✭✭
It appears I've fallen heir to this double gun. It had belonged to my old hunting partner and, before that, to his father who was the local doctor when I ws a kid. I am curious as to DOM. Serial #162461 is on water table, barrels, and fore-end iron. Also, the letter "F" is on the water table. The side plates are marked "L C Smith". No other markings are evident. The butt plate has the dog with quail in mouth. Barrels are 28" and measure at muzzle .625" (both barrels) which I believe corresponds to full choke. The gun locks up as tight as a new one and there is no play in the stock. Other than the damascus barrels and the (no doubt) short chambers, this gun seems shootable.
I would like to carry this gun on a rabbit hunt or two for old times sake. I wonder if I could load some shells with a black powder substitute, plastic hulls and wads, and 7/8 or 1 oz. of shot. The chambers are almost certainly 2 9/16", so I would have to cut down the hulls. Has anyone tried this? This old gun will not get a lot of use but it almost begs to go hunting!
I would like to carry this gun on a rabbit hunt or two for old times sake. I wonder if I could load some shells with a black powder substitute, plastic hulls and wads, and 7/8 or 1 oz. of shot. The chambers are almost certainly 2 9/16", so I would have to cut down the hulls. Has anyone tried this? This old gun will not get a lot of use but it almost begs to go hunting!
Comments
Assuming it checks out all right, you can fabricate suitable loads using black powder. (or some substitutes) Personally, I'd stay away from the plastic wads if at all possible. Besides, there will not be enough room in the case for the powder charge and a plastic wad. (Avoid plastic cases too if at all possible) Plastic components will melt and make a hell of a mess in the bore. Hard card wads and felt fillers are the only way to go. (Ballistic Products?) If you're only going to shoot it sparingly, don't worry about things like leading the bore.
Ballistic Products may also suggest some recipes. I purchase nearly all of the components for my 2 1/2" 16's from them and have gotten some really good load recipes from them. They also have low pressure load recipes such as the ones I use in my Husqvarna Model 20.
http://lcsmith.org/ and ask about your gun..
There is an active thread right now about the rarity of 16ga hammer guns, you could jump right in....
BTW......DOM 1909[:D]
Thank you for the web site and the DOM!
Ambrose