Low pressure 16 gauge loads

[Jim Partlow]

I'm looking for low pressure 16g loads. Componets I have on hand:
Fed game load cases, BP multi hull- Rem SP16 wads,BP Z16 wad-
Clays, Red Dot, and Herco powder- CCI 209 & W 209 primers.
2.5" shells with roll crimp, 3/4,7/8,or 1 oz lead shot. I would love to
Use Fed hulls and Clays powder, have lots of both. Any input would be
Greatly apreciated. To be used in Parker and Baker Damascus barreled
Shotguns. Thanks Jim P.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Jim,
I am certainly not the best informed reloader, but I dontbelieve you would want to use Red Dot For a low pressure load-esp. in damascus. I have a hard time finding any loads with your components. Here are a few published loads that I use in My GH 16 damascus;

Federal 16 hull',7/8 oz, w209 primer,19 gr IMR7625, SG 16 wad--1050 fps @ 5900 psi.

RGL 16 hull, 7/8oz, w209,15.5 gr 20/28, DR 16 wad-1105 fps @5900psi

Cheddite hull, 7/8oz, w209, 15.8grIntrnational, DR16--1150 fps @6200psi

Go to the 16 guage society forum to their ammunition and reloading forum and you will find great info.

Harold

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Jim, I have several pages of low pressure 16 ga loads but dont know how to attach and email them to you( maybe my wife will know how)--if you pm me your adress ,I will copy and mail them to you.
Harold

[Marc Retallack]

Jim

In addition to the info Harold has provided you with, you might consider joining the 16 GA low pressure reloaders group through the 16 Gauge Society http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=921 . Plenty of tested low pressure 16ga loads to choose from. I believe the cost is still $20 to join. The only caveat is that you do not share the information unless it is with other members.

Cheers,
Marcus

[Harold Lee Pickens]

The lw pressure loads that I have came from published loads I found on the internet. I have not yet sent in membership to the low pressure group of the 16 ga society but do intend on doing so. I have been pretty happy with the loads I put earlier in this thread, but always willing to try more. Another 16 ga Damascus gun may be in my gunsafe by the end of this weekend--I cant help it, it is a disease. Now, if I can only find a hammer 16.

[Jim Partlow]

Harold.... Thank You for the info. I realize it's always tough to create a
Shotshell load from components on hand. I'm currently up in northern
Wis. With limited cell phone and Internet coverage I'll pm my e-mail address
When I get back home. I'd like to get those loads you spoke about. Thanks
Again.....Jim P

[Jim Partlow]

Marcus..... I may have to join 16 gauge society. It's always nice to
Have as many options as possible when looking for info on shooting
Our beloved vintage doubles. Thanks Much.....Jim P.

[Buddy Harrison]

Jim, I have several pages of low pressure 16 ga loads but dont know how to attach and email them to you( maybe my wife will know how)--if you pm me your adress ,I will copy and mail them to you.
Harold


Harold,
I have several Parkers and LCS's that I would like to shoot but know the perils of "too hot" loads. Do you have any 16 gauge loads in the 6,500 to 7500 PSI range you could share? Looking to shoot 7/8 and 1 oz. loads for dove/quail. I have Cheddite and Fiocchi hulls and Claybuster and Winchester 16 gauge wads. Downrange wads on order. Thanks in advance. Buddy, email rcrfan43@yahoo.com

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Buddy--check your pm's.
What should be the max pressure we should shoot in these danascus guns? Is under 8800 ok, or should we go lower?

[mike covington]

If you gents are loading 2 1/2" hulls the DR-16 wad is too tall for a fold crimp but will work for a roll crimped 7/8 oz load. For a 2 1/2" 7/8 oz load I suggest Gualandi wads from Precision Reloading.

[John Farrell]

When you get onto the 16 gauge website forum you'll see a zillion 16 gauge loads posted in tables by powder, hull, wads etc. by a member who's signon is spr 310. He has a wealth of data available for the time it takes to download. Good luck.

[Bruce Day]

Buddy--check your pm's.
What should be the max pressure we should shoot in these danascus guns? Is under 8800 ok, or should we go lower?


TPS, p.515: 10,100 psi are the Parker figures for the barrels as made. Remember that Parker treated and proof tested fluid steel and composite ( including Damascus ) barrels the same.

"Pressure" refers to barrel loading, and with the stoutness of Parker barrels, experience and testing have demonstrated that not to be much of an issue of undue concern. What you are writing about appears to be recoil related, and barrel pressure and gun recoil are related only in that velocity and weight of everything that comes out of the barrel are two of the three factors in the recoil equation.

Many people, including myself feel that it is a good practice to use low recoil loads, consistent with what you are shooting at. Its like driving the 40 year old sports car at 70 when you know it will still do 100, but if you need/want to step on the throttle, you have the capability.

[Buddy Harrison]

Harold, Because of the variations in the condition of damascus guns, I don't think there is a black and white answer to your question. I am no expert metallurgist by any means but common sense tells me that there is probably some degradation in 100 year old welds and solder joints in all doubles, especially damascus. For that reason and because I am proud of my hands and fingers and other body parts, I won't shoot loads in my damascus more than 7,500 PSI. This is my personal limit, I am sure others have different opinions and I surely respect those. Again, just my personal limit.

[John Farrell]

What would be really nice would be a comparison of old twist or Damascus barrels with a "tuning fork test" as the measure of condition of the welds and steel. If one were to "tink" a good condition older twist or laminated barrels - and determine the key they were sounding - one could have an idea of the condition of another set of barrels. Having a good "musical ear" or knowing a musician that was also a gun nut would be a plus for this kind of analysis. An oscilloscope would also be beneficial.

[Rick Losey]

i wonder how many shooters into doubles still have a good ear

[Bruce Day]

A person can always do what a friend did the first time he shot a Damascus gun:

[charlie cleveland]

looks like them old barrels are still together.. charlie

[John Farrell]

You will note that I think using an oscilloscope, (to measure the sound wave) would be a good thing. I recall starting out in the benchrest shooting game in the late 50s - the days of Harvey Donaldson, Bob Hart, Mike Walker and other BR shooters - there were a lot of "what's that?" and "huh?" in the conversations. As a result, discussions on shooting and hunting ran on and on - as everything was repeated several times for the story to make it around the table. We used to stuff used cigarette filters in our ears to muffle the noise on the shooting line. I still own the first set of ear muffs I bought in the early 60s.

Now I ask "what's that you said?" and "huh?" a lot.

[Rick Losey]

hence the old saying

"you can tell an old skeet shooter
but you can't tell him much"

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Buddy, I think you will find the info I mailed to you very useful. Thanks for your reply on the max pressure. All the loads I am using now are around the 6000psi level, 16 ga. I should talk to my brother, who by the way IS a world renowned metallurgist-he travels and consults all over the world. Still, I doubt he ever did anything with Damascus.