2 3/4 loads for Damascus barreled gun
 

First let me say thanks to member Steve Hodges for a great gun. Steve sent me his load data using Winchester AA Lite which no longer is available. I may have a small amount but not enough to load any volume. I do have the silver AA Winchester (or clone) wads and a small amount of Winchester 209 primers.

I would like to load some ammo using AA (old and new) 24 gr. and 1 oz at 1200 fps or a bit more if at all possible.

Can anyone give me a current powder suggestion that will keep pressure down in the safe range ?

Thanks in advance.

Bruce,
I use 18 grains of Clay Dot with 7/8 oz. According to Alliant's web site this load is right at 1200FPS and between 8,000 and 9,000 lbs. I use this load in all three of my Parkers. All are 12 GA. one is Laminated Steel and one is Damascus. Been using this load for at least 5 years.

I shoot the reddot load in my 10 and 12 ga with 19 grains of powder and 1 1/8 ounce of lead....they are composite steel barrels.....the load is listed on pete lesterssite here on the parker site....charlie

I have been shooting a 7/8 oz load in my 12 ga twist barreled Parker. I like the load.

Win AA case
Win 209 primer
Claybuster grey wad (I forget the number)
14.7 gr of Alliant Extra Lite powder
pressure is published at 7000 psi
velocity just under 1200 fps

I have about 3 lbs of Win AA Lite left, I use it in my 12 ga 7/8 oz loads, mostly for my WW Greener hammer gun in Rem Gun Club hulls. Dont know what I'll use when I run out of that. Well, I do still have 1 lb of PB and 4 lbs 7625.

Thanks guys... Keep em coming.... With powder availability what it is I need as many recipes as I can get.

Charlie: do you have a link to that site. I did a search here and I could not find it.

Thanks

There are some lite/ low pressure loads in the most recent issue of the DGJ.

I have a 1 oz. load, tested by Tom Armbrust, that uses Solo !000. PM me if you're interested. It's in the 6000 psi range.

Thanks all for posting. Given our current situation with ammo, especially low pressure stuff, I am thinking seriously about getting my 9000 out and loading up some 2 3/4" stuff. Heck, I may even look for a 2 1/2" single stage outfit.

Don't bother. The 9000 with 2 3/4" low pressure loads will be fine.

Bill: I need a 2.5 setup for some other guns as I do not want to ream their chambers.... always an excuse, right. LOL

First find some powder. 700X, RD, GD, Promo, E3, Extra Light, Nitro 100, Clay Dot or American Select will all give you low pressure loads with 3/4 or 7/8oz of shot. 1 oz will have slightly higher pressures. I've used all of the above except CD at one time or another with success.

Claybuster’s website has low pressure loads posted by gauge, if I remember correctly, and load. I have used Claydot exclusively since 7625 went by the wayside, in both 3/4 and 7/8. There are also recipes listed for 700x in 3/4. Both are easy on the gun and shoulder and break clays with authority, as long as I do my part.

I use 14.2 grains of Alliant Extra-lite under 3/4 oz. Around 6500 to 7000 PSI Sweet load and clean burning. If your on it smokes clays.

What number are ya all looking at for pressure. It seems there are several views for "approved" Damascus barrels.

Thanks

Light 12 loads
 

I found this on the inside CB 3/4 ounce label. I'm currently loading Win Lite in AAs. Probably around 5000 psi. I like the 3/4 ounce loads for birds. Using #8, will try some #9 on the next go around.

Chris, AZ

Chris: I thought Win Ex Lite was discontinued ???? Is there a Win Lite... ????

will some one please give bruce pete lesters loading info...charlie

Here you go Bruce

Thanks Chris...

That's what I use, Chris. Still ha e a few pounds of it. Believe it's discontinued also.

Same here Harold, I bought all I could 8 years ago at $25 a pound when powder was hard to find. If you look at the loading data I posted, Im sure there is a load for Red Dot that is close. Same psi and fps.

Chris, AZ

Red Dot was my powder for 7/8 oz loads before the AA lite, stil have a couple pounds of it .

A sound Damascus barreled gun with proper wall thickness can handle just about any moderate load you want to put through it. JMHO, but anything below 9000psi would be safe.
The question should be what approved pressures are you looking for. There is no written rule, but more so what you feel comfortable with. Many guys like 7500psi, others 8 to 9000psi, and some don't care so long as it's not more than 10 to 11,000psi. The higher pressure loads usually mean more recoil and that worries many for fear of cracking the stock, not the barrels bursting.
So, I would say just find a mild to low pressure load you have components for and have at it. Good luck.

A have loaded the 3/4oz 12ga load listed in the Claybusters data for a couple of years, Remy Gun Club 15gr red dot 1200fps @ 5600psi. 209P Remington primer. I have substituted Cheddite primer and figure the PSI may be 1000 psi higher but still in my comfort zone.

And I wouldn't worry about 2 1/2" chambers. Sherman Bell did some test with 2 3/4" shells in 2 1/2" chambers and pressure only went up 500psi, or so. If you loading around 7000psi to start with you won't have a problem. I believe in that article he also used some 3" shells with no ill effects. I normally use 3/4oz of shot in the 12ga and 7/8 is my Magnum load. There are many low pressure loads with a lighter shot charge.

Don't flog me for my ignorance, I'm looking for some data as I'm new on the Damascus scene. Are there any off the shelf target loads that are ok for a Parker D Grade? I've had the gun inspected and worked on and received a clean bill of health for it

Bruce, I recently posted some tested 1 oz. 12 ga. loads with Longshot. I have had really good results with it in several gauges for good velocity and low pressure. It seems to be one of the few powders currently available from several vendors. I have no clue how it will react to different hulls and components but here are the results I got.

Sorry, these were International! My mistake, the recent Longshot testing was 10 and 20 ga.

Really nice loads, thank you for sharing.

These were "cooked" specifically for a 12 ga. Damascus GH gun I recently acquired. Looking for 1200 FPS and sub 6K. Easy on an older gun/stock/shooter!