Washington State Hunters Ed Practice Exam

What is the status of Damascus barrels or antique shotguns when firing?

1. Are safe to fire with modern smokeless powder

2. Are unsafe to fire with modern smokeless powder

3. Have very strong barrels

4. Can only fire black powder

The correct answer is: Are unsafe to fire with modern smokeless powder

The status of Damascus barrels or antique shotguns when firing is that they are unsafe to fire with modern smokeless powder. Damascus barrels, which were popular in the 19th century, are made by twisting and welding strips of iron or steel to create a distinctive pattern. While these barrels may have been suitable for black powder, the materials and construction methods used in Damascus barrels are not designed to withstand the higher pressures produced by modern smokeless powder ammunition. Modern smokeless powder generates much greater pressure, which can lead to catastrophic failure when fired in a Damascus barrel. Shooting with smokeless powder can result in the barrel bursting, posing a serious safety risk to the shooter and bystanders. Therefore, it is essential to treat these antique firearms with caution and only use the ammunition they were originally intended for, which is typically black powder.