Safe turkey load for a Trojan model.

Tom Black · 10-19-2020, 02:17 PM

Ok guys, I just picked up a Trojan made in 1930, I think someone refinished the receiver long ago but the rest of the gun is original. She’s tight as a drum and the barrels ring like a Christmas bell. This coming weekend is turkey season an I would love to hunt with it. Can I use 2 3/4”, 3 1/4 dram, 1 1/4 oz shot and not beat it to pieces? Thank you.
Tom
These shells were made in 1991 by Western an are paper hulls. I just thought it would be some serious fun to kill a bird with this 90 year old shotgun using paper shells.

Dean Romig · 10-19-2020, 05:04 PM

Back in 1961, '62 and '63 I shot a 12 gauge Trojan with 28" barrels for pheasants and ducks. I used anything I could buy at the Western Auto in my town and always shot #6 and #4 shot. I never paid any attention to the loads I shot and I'm sure a LOT of hunters from the first days of Trojan manufacture until pretty recently were of like mind.

Please keep in mind that the wood is probably 95-100 years old and could crack as a result.
And keep in mind that we have no idea if your bores have been honed or the chambers lengthened. That might make a big difference as well in the advisability of shooting those loads.

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Tom Black · 10-19-2020, 05:25 PM

Dean,
Thanks for the reply. So the chambers on these guns aren’t 2 3/4”? A shell of that length chambers without difficulty if that tells you anything.
Tom

Dean Romig · 10-19-2020, 05:34 PM

The length of the shell is measured as a new empty shell or after it is fired.... NOT a live unfired shell.

Th length of the chambers was likely to have been 2 9/16" or 2 1/2"
I think Parker began chambering their 12 gauge guns around the time yours was made at 2 5/8" to accept the 2 3/4" shell.
The belief was that the shell should actually open as much as 1/8" into the cone for a better gas seal to provide better patterns and a harder hitting load.

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charlie cleveland · 10-21-2020, 11:46 AM

those trogans were made to be a stout gun...lots of these old guns have handled 2 3/4 inch shells for years with out any problems....if your gun has good chokes go get that turkey....charlie