[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Keith Perry

RPKEsq. has brought up that Europeans shoot old shotguns regularly. They have them 'proofed' first. Which I think is measuring wall thickness minutely as well as closely inspecting for any signs of pitting or weakness. He also pointed out that Americans don't proof, they just construct thicker, heavier, originally. Tabs or one of you other guys should add 'proofing' of American guns to European standards to your skill set, along with matching powders and loads to guns. You would get to look over quite a few guns I'll bet, and get paid something every time. BATF isn't interested in these old things, at the moment. Europeans aren't very interested in our old shotguns, either. At the moment.

Old and new. When I was based in Germany we bought weapons through the military rod and gun club. Several of the guys kept them for a year or two then sold them "on the economy" or to the public.

The Germans would take a nearly new Smith or Colt pistol or rifle and sent it to be proofed. They loaded them up with 1.5 the normal powder charge then fired it. If it did not blow up then they took their metal stamps and plastered it with proof marks. Then and only then was it legal to shoot by the German public.