Early Lifter chambers
 

Okay fellers, Dean got me spooked about an upcoming Turkey hunt that I had planned on using Parker Lifter 5392, Damascus 10 Gauge , $125.00 grade gun.

So apparently these guns have a 90 degree "shoulder" defining the end of the chamber. So I guess the peril of a star crimped shell is that the diameter reduction of the shell bridging that shoulder would create abnormal pressure?

What is the groups opinion of instead, using a chamber mate, and firing a 2 1/2 12 instead?

Mark, You could do what I am going to do this Turkey season with my short, short 2 5/8" 10 gauge lifter...brass shells loaded with black powder. It will be the first time for me, but I am really looking forward to it. I have been shooting sporting regularly with black powder shells for the last 3-4 years. Track of the Wolf makes some nice 10 gauge 2 5/8" shells, that even have Parker stamped on them.

I do not reload smokeless for 10 gauge yet, but have shot 2 5/8" RST 10 gauges shells out of my older lifters. I believe they are 1 1/8 oz 1100fps and kick more than they probably should given the chamber issue you described. Still very manageble, but isn't exactly a hunting load. I am going to play around with some 1oz. loads for target shooting when I start reloading, but that is another story...

I like the black powder shells and I am looking forward to doing my first hunt with them this spring. I will either load 3 or 3 1/4 drams of 2f with 1 1/4 or 1 3/8oz. of shot. There are some good videos from MidwayUSA on loading brass shells and Track of the Wolf sells a great reloading manual as well. And the 10 gauge brass shells are just a little too cool on top of everything else.

Here is a video of me shooting a mixture of both with an older lifter I recently sold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaVyEPISyKk

Good luck!

Jay

Thanks Jay. My other option might be to get Gad custom to load some for me. I just don't have the time to "get into" loading for these guns presently! I know my addictive personality, and would dive in headfirst......

I would do it yourself and its not as involved as it might sound. All hand tools with simple components. Not to keep posting videos, but here is a good one on loading 10 gauges brass shells from Midway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI47bl2h0cU&t=73s

The good news is you can buy new cases from track of the wolf and not go through what Larry went through on the video. The rest is straight forward.

Something to consider and it's always fun to shoot the shells these old guns were intended to shoot when new.

What Dean was trying to explain is that the early lifters have a square corner at the junction of the standing breech and the water table. Heavy loads have been known to crack frames at this point.

Actually I spoke to both issues.





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Okay, using three different devices, I get 2 3/4”s every time, maybe a hair? Over that? The transition from chamber to barrel is definitely abrupt!! The 2 7/8’s shells slip in without hindrance.

Mark, I don't want to cause you any undue alarm...

My Grade 3, 10 ga. Lifter No. 5949 also has the 90 degree angle and 2 5/8 chambers with the abrupt ridge at the end of the chamber.

The turkey load I use is a 2 1/2" cheddite shell roll-crimped that ends up 2 3/4" after firing. Frank Cronin loaded these for me and he loads 1 1/2 oz. of #6 but I don't know what his powder charge is.
It is a very effective load as I have killed 4 gobblers, one shot each, between 35 and 40 yards.
I have experienced no mishaps with this load nor has the gun.

Best, Dean





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Correction made to my above post.





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Im getting ready to post in the “want to buy” for some appropriate loads from a member that likes to load. It would be fun to shoot a bird with a bp load! I do not anticipate shooting this gun all that much, so,custom loaded brass bp loads might be the answer! Either way, I have done a little writing in the past, mainly regarding fishing adventures, and it would be fun for me to do a before and after on the early lifter 10.