Making an old shotgun useable again?

[Maplicito]

I tried asking this question on another site, but no one has weighed in on it yet, so I thought I would try my luck here.

I have an old side by side Alger Arms 12 gauge. I have been advised not to run shells through it without taking it to a gunsmith because of its age. I didn't want to spend the money, so I had resigned myself to keeping it as a display piece.

However, I started thinking - I have some GaugeMate inserts, for 16, 20, and 28 gauge. I'm thinking that the inserts would act somewhat like a barrel, and perhaps take a lot of the pressure off the Alger's barrels.

So - the question is - even with the Alger Arms shotgun being old, and possibly having Damascus barrels, would it be safe to run 28 or 20 gauge shells through it with the inserts? I've even thought of getting .410 inserts - I don't need the shotgun for anything, it'd just be kind of fun to take it out once in awhile.

 

[Hornet 6]

You say it may possibly have damascus barrels.
They are pretty obvious to look at, can you post a pic for us.
If they are, I would not use it, even with inserts without at least having the barrels and action checked by a good gunsmith, including measuring the barrels wall thickness, and preferably having it re-proofed.
Maybe I'm over cautious, but I have seen a barrel on a 20 bore let go, and the mess it makes of ones left hand

Neil.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I wouldn't, even with the inserts, without the blessing of a smith I'd trust my life to, because I would be.

This probably has been cursed by the Short Chambers Demon.

The $50 or so a smith will charge for checking this out is money well spent.

 

[Hornet 6]

Originaly posted by Dave McCracken
I wouldn't, even with the inserts, without the blessing of a smith I'd trust my life to, because I would be.

This probably has been cursed by the Short Chambers Demon.

I forgot that, if it has 2 inch or even 2 1/2 inch chambers your inserts are unlikely to even fit.

Neil.

 

[Maplicito]

No pics of the shotgun... I need a digital camera :banghead:

I did try the inserts in the shotgun... it closes cleanly with them in, but takes a little extra oomph to open it back up if they're in there. I don't know what's up with that.

So... based on what you guys are saying, I guess I'm probably to the point where it stays a display piece, or I break out the money for the smith. Thanks for the advice.