Pressure and vintage guns...

[Alfred Houde]

Hello:

I am very fortunate to have acquired a vintage Purdey. This gun was originally completed in 1901, and now I am the second owner. It is solid, tight, with no dents or pitting. It was proofed for 1 1/8 ounce loads, with 2.5" chambers. It retains excellent wall thickness. It is unaltered from the Purdey stock-book dimensions.

Realizing it is 115 years old, and I have no clue what the previous owner may have fired in it, which low pressure RST loads should I use? I purchased some 2.5" Bismuth loads from RST with 1 ounce of shot at 1200. Or, should I look for something lighter? I also have some of the original English loaded run of 2.5" Bismuth No-Tox 1 oz loads.

Thanks in advance for any advice/input.