I need HELP! Please

[Matt Valinsky]

Okay, here's the deal. I have the chance to buy a Harrington & Richardson 10ga. dbl. The gun is built on a Anson & Deeley frame. Damascus barrels that are in very good shape, just a hint of frosting in the bores and 30 inches long. Over all the gun is in very good condition. My understanding is H&R only built the guns for 3 years and only 3500 were made in 10 and 12ga. total. The gun was built in Worcester Ma. and being that I grew up about 35 miles from there, I'd kinda like to have the gun.

My problem is, I know nothing about loading/ reloading 10ga. shells. So, my question is, what does a guy need to do that, tool wise and otherwise. The other part of the question, where are all the recipes for low pressure 10ga. loads. There is a link here for some spread sheets that I can't seem to get open.

So any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Matt

[Mark Ouellette]

Matt
H&R is a good double!
Loading for the short 10 is easy. PM Pete Lester or me for Pete's spreadsheet.
You will need a loading press. I have MEC and PW. I love the PW.
.More later...

Mark

[Rick Losey]

A Mark said, get the spreadsheet, and pick a few loads, I just started loading short tens, and this was a huge help.

you can get a short kit for the MEC and get started fairly reasonably.

[Pete Lester]

To get into shooting and reloading the short ten you will need:

A good single stage press - MEC is the most economical.

A short kit for loading 2 7/8" shells.

A hull trimmer - easily made

A hull skivver - optional but handy.

A roll crimper - Ballistic products sells one that goes into a electric drill.

A hull vise - To hold shells while applying a roll crimp

10ga hulls - harder to find and pricier than 12ga

10ga wads - Remington SP10 or BP Decimax/VP100

Filler wads - Fiber is good and economical, 16ga fits nicely in SP10 wad, 1/2" fiber wads are easily split with finger nail if shorter is needed.

Overshot cards - If using a roll crimp.

Recipe's - See my spreadsheet (posted on 5/3/12 at this link) http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6282&highlight=SHort+spreadsheet

The process of loading the 2 7/8" 10ga is the same as loading any other gauge with the addition of hull trimming and use of a filler wad. It's a pretty simple process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owXs4Eg__BE

[Paul Harm]

You can just star crimp the 10 just like a 12 or any other gauge. I personally would not roll crimp plastic hulls - IMHO it's a PITA. Now paper hulls look right with a roll crimp. Precision Reloading or Ballistic Products both sell Remington or Federal Plastic 10 ga hulls, Remington 10ga wads, fiber filler wads, and if you want, the roll crimper. Most guys use a Mec press so if help is needed there's plenty of people to do just that. I don't use a short kit for the 2 7/8" shells, just for my 2 5/8" shells. There are two holes in the main bar and frame of a Mec 600jr, so there is plenty of adjustment for the 2 7/8" shell. They come set up for a 3 1/2" shell. Rich had Mec make him a 650 2 1/2" press. If they'd do that, maybe you could call them and have a 600 set up for the 2 7/8" 10ga. It might cost a little more but if you haven't reloaded before it would take some of the worry out of it. The 600 is a simple press to use and so is a Sizemaster. Both are singe stage presses. I would go to the Mec web site www.mecreloaders.com and then call them at 1-800-797-4632 and talk it over with them. Good luck - Paul

[Pete Lester]

I find a roll crimp useful for waterfowl hunting with non-toxic loads when using the same hull type. I mark the overshot card with the shot size so I know a duck load from a goose load etc.

You can just star crimp the 10 just like a 12 or any other gauge. I personally would not roll crimp plastic hulls - IMHO it's a PITA. Now paper hulls look right with a roll crimp. Good luck - Paul