10 Gauge, A View from the Past

[Joe Graziano]

In researching a piece for submission to the Parker Pages, I purchased through EBay a copy of the September, 1957 Pennsylvania Game News. It is fun to read a time capsule. I thought I would share a somewhat amusing passage from an article on new shotguns for that year.

“The ten gauge shotgun is largely a thing of the past. No domestic firearms company is making them and you must import them. There are two ‘super tens’ being imported today that are the counterpart of the long departed Ithaca and Parker super-tens of the 1930’s. These shot a 3 1/2 inch shell developed by Western cartridge company. It used two full ounces of shot at high velocity.”

Ouch

[charlie cleveland]

joe i too love reading the old magazines from the past....i like shooting sportsman the best...my favorite gun is the 10 ga...i m gladits made in america again.....the big ten i 3 1/2 inch chambers is a small 8 gauge in disguise...it can be loaded up to 3 ounces if a person wants that much of shot.....charlie

[Researcher]

In "correct" terms the Super-Ten was the 2 7/8 inch, progressive burning powder, high velocity, 1 5/8 ounce load 10-gauge introduced circa 1925/6 --

10-gauge Super-X Shells.JPG

Western Super-X -- Winchester Super-Speed Super-Tens.jpg

Super-Ten Ad, American Rifleman September 1929.jpg

and the Magnum-Ten was/is the 3 1/2 inch shell loaded with progressive burning powder pushing two ounces of shot (originally) introduced in 1932 --

Magnum-Ten Top.jpg

Magnum-Ten Announcement 1.jpg

Magnum-Ten Announcement 2.jpeg

[Joe Graziano]

Charlie, Dave great info and pics of the Super 10. I can only imagine the effectiveness on geese of 2 oz-3 oz. of lead shot. Those days are long past, but it is fun to read the old magazines.

[6pt-Sika]

I bought one of the Remington SP-10’s with a 26” barrel in 1990 . It was one of the first year guns as it had the 89 LE in the serial number . I bought that thing for turkey mainly and Federal was making a 2 1/4 ounce #4 or #6 load for it . I had both and wanted to pattern them at 25 and 40 yards from a sitting position with my back against something like I’d be sitting in the woods . Back then I crawled the stock way more then I do now . Anyway the first shot from that thing with those shells opened up a whole new world . Now while I’d still like to have a Parker or Ithaca NID for 10 gauge 3 1/2” I don’t think I care to shoot the 2 1/4 ounce turkey loads in them any longer .

[Bill Murphy]

I would not feel uncomfortable to shoot 2 1/4 ounce 3 1/2" tens in a fluid steel #6 frame ten gauge Parker. In fact, I may do that.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

I would not feel uncomfortable to shoot 2 1/4 ounce 3 1/2" tens in a fluid steel #6 frame ten gauge Parker. In fact, I may do that.

Sit down with your back against a tree as if you were about to shoot a turkey . Standing and rolling with the punch is one thing sitting an unable to roll back is a skoosh different .

[charlie cleveland]

i have fired the 3 1/2 inch 2 1/4 ounce load out of a parker that i have with 3 1/2 inch chambers it kicks but is manageable...killed a turkey with this same load and gun....fired a 3 ounce load out of my ithaca 10 ga magnum automatic itkickeds about like the double barrel 10 parker but would not want to fire the 3 ounce load in a double gun... as i looked at the first shell pictured which is a super x shell the thing i noticed was the short brass on it as compared to the other 2 shells...i have never seen the short brass before any idea s about this....charlie

[Jeff Christie]

Where’s Elmer Keith when we need him? Bigger is ALWAYS better with Elmer. Just for the fun of it.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Jeff Christie

Where’s Elmer Keith when we need him? Bigger is ALWAYS better with Elmer. Just for the fun of it.

I was not of the Elmer Keith school ! I was more of the Jack O’Conner school on rifles .