Brenneke slugs in a Parker or other vintage guns ?

[John Mazza]

To all:

Is it safe to shoot Brenneke factory slug loads out of old Parkers or other doubles of similar vintage ? (I have a 16 gauge German combination gun, and I wanted to consider shooting slugs. The gun has a 2 1/2" chamber.)

Are modern factory Brenneke loads "low pressure" or are they comparable to "modern" shotshell pressures ?

And finally, where in the world would I get 16 gauge Brenneke slug loads ?

Thanks !

[ed good]

certainly, one should not shoot slugs through any full choked double gun.

and, slugs are generally high pressure loads and should not be fired in any old gun made prior to ww2.

and, that is why we have the Ithaca Deerslayer pump gun, specifically designed to shoot slugs.

[John Mazza]

That's certainly what I thought...

However, if big game was the sole target, it was common for German drillings to be loaded with slugs in the shot barrels, as well as a rifle round in the rifle barrel (thus allowing quick follow-up shots). And the typical choke back then was full.

But, I am asking for opinions here, so I respect yours.

Anyone else have any notions on slug use ?

[ed good]

some drillings were made to shoot relatively high pressure rifle loads and slugs...most parkers and most other pre war made double guns were not made to shoot modern slugs. plus, keep in mind that the most fragile part of a gun is the wood. the older the wood the more fragile it is...please do not damage the wood on your old gun by shooting high pressure ammo, particularly modern slugs.

ever see an old gun with the barrels stamped "not for ball"? there are reasons for that.

[John Mazza]

Good point. I think I'll forget about trying to use slugs. Hell, if I can't hit a deer with the rifle barrel, odds are I couldn't hit it with a slug. (Who knows how well regulated the shot barrel is anyway !)

This combo gun is light too. The rifle round kicks a lot - I'm sure a slug load wouldn't be that fun...

Thanks !

[ed good]

what is the rifle caliber?

[David Holes]

I load round balls into plastic wads and fill to top of wad with 8 shot. I have patterned these with several parkers and they are accurate at 30-50 yards. Each gun shoots differently so you have to play around to see which is best. I check to make sure the ball inside of wad slips down muzzle before loading and shooting. Dave

[John Mazza]

The rifle barrel is 8 x 57 JR.

[Russ Lindsay]

Has anyone considered "cut shells"? In times past when money was tight and food was not obtained from the grocery store, "cut shells" were a solution to the dilemma of not having slugs or a gun that would shoot them.

Before the controversy begins, my question is, "has anyone considered?"

My grand father brought home a number of deer, and he only owned a model 12 and #7 1/2 shot shells. I don't know this to be safe for any firearm, just a consideration.

[Harry Collins]

I have a GH with Vulcan. I had the left barrel opened up to shoot sporting clays. Yea, yea, I know. So now the chokes are .012 in the right barrel ands .010 in the left. It shoots 2 3/4" 1 oz Foster slugs side by side at 25 yards.

Harry