8 GAUGE BRASS SHELL TURKEY LOADS

[Wayne Owens]

I have a P grade hammer gun on a 7 frame with 34" barrels and full chokes. The gun was originally shipped from Parker in 1894. It was returned in June of 1914 to have the barrels rebrowned and the action repaired and cleaned. The barrel wall thickness is as follows: .151" one inch in front of forcing cone, .069" ten inches in front of forcing cone, .062" sixteen inches from muzzle and .058" minimum wall thickness. The components I plan on using are as follows: 3 1/4" brass Rocky Mountain Cartridge, W209 primer, Alliant Blue Dot powder, .125" overpowder wad, .500" fiberwad, #4 West Coast premium magnum extra hard lead shot, .025" overshot wad held in place with Duco Cement.
I have Tom Ambrust's book but he really doesn't address loading the brass shells and using the Precision Loading components. Does anyone have any experience with using these components? Any suggestions on powder and shot quantities?

[Harry Collins]

I've tried everything from water glass to just oversized overshot cards with brass shells. I like hot glue the best. It sets up immediately. As far as 8 gauge shells I know nothing. I do like IMR 4756 in 10 gauge.

[Mike Franzen]

I've loaded 10 ga brass shells with smokeless powder. There is very little data out there for this type of loading. I used PB powder, 1 5/8 oz. I ended up settling on 40 gr. powder and had best patterns using two 1/2" wads.

[charlie cleveland]

all of your coponets sound ok now how much of powder and shot do you want to use..your gun sounds like it is in real good shape...how much does it weigh...i would start with a light load and work my way up...a light load would be 40 grains of bluedot and 1 1/2 ounce of lead shot...a medium load 45 grains of blue dot 2 ounce of shot a heavy load 50 grains of bluedot 2 1/2 ounce of shot...when loading the brass shell i would put 2 or 3pellets of black powder by the primer to help have better ignition of the powder plus you need to put some pressure on the over shot wad and use hot glue while holing pressure on the over shot wad...charlie

[Wayne Owens]

Charlie, the 8 gauge weighs 12lbs 7oz. I agree with you to start out with a light load. I naturally want to keep the pressure as low as I can (8000 psi max) but still have the killing power out to 40 yards. The last thing I want to do is loose a wounded bird. Actually, the last thing I want to do is ruin my gun and loose some fingers!

[Harry Collins]

Wayne,

I fully appreciate your trepidation. I worked my way into shooting Damascus and Twist Parker's very slowly. With all we have learned I have come to the conclusion, rightly or wrongly, that Parker's are all near equally as strong. I have two 1881 Twist Parker underleavers that take off the shelf shotgun shells. The 10 gauge is difficult to find 2 7/8" shells for, but the 12 gauge lives on a diet of off the shelf 1 oz loads at 1200 fps or below. Just try not to flinch as you grow a custom to the strength of Parker barrels.

Harry

[Bill Murphy]

Wayne, go on the Alliant site and look at the Blue Dot loads for ten gauge to get a "feel" for what charges you like. In the bigger eight gauge hole, the loads recommended for ten gauge should come in at a lower pressure. In the lighter shot charge, a lot lower. I have 30 RMC brass shells, but have not used them yet. My Parker hammer gun was also shipped in 1894, to Tryon in Philadelphia. It is serial number 76,470. Is your number close to that?

[Wayne Owens]

Bill,
The serial number is 79884. The gun was shipped one day after the order was received to C. H. Tucker in Wakefield, RI. The gun was returned 20 years later by A. L. Lamphere from Stonington, CT. Thanks for your help.

[Wayne Owens]

After loading my first/lightest 8 gauge load, the overshot wad ended up 1 1/4" from the end of the brass shell. Does anyone know if shooting the shell "as is" will create a problem? In order to get the overshot wad close to the end of the shell, I would need to put 2 additional 1/2" thick cushion wads below the shot. Wouldn't this increase the pressure and maybe affect the shot pattern. Any thoughts?

[Paul Harm]

It doesn't matter how far below the charge sits, just a little more trouble reaching down in to apply the glue. In my experience, too many cushion wads can give a hole in the pattern. If you want it to look pretty, put in more wads, but shoot it on paper to make sure it looks good. No, you won't increase pressure.

[Harry Collins]

In the days of black powder the rule of thumb was a square load. If I remember correctly, whatever the volume of powder one would use the same volume of shot and the over powder card and wads would equal the hight of the powder or shot. You might try an over powder card and wad combination to equal the volume of shot in the 8 gauge brass case.

I have shot black powder in my old Parkers and they preformed wonderfully. You might give it a try, but have a dog or a spotter with you as you can't always duck the smoke to see the bird hit the ground.

[Mike Franzen]

I started loading my 10 gauge with BP and had them same issue with not filling up the shell. It didn't affect the loads ability to send the shot down range but like Paul said it does make sealing a little harder. When I put 2 half inch fiber wads on top of the over powder wad I did get a perceived increase in pressure AND it tightened up my pattern considerably. I submitted an article about all to the Parker Pages so it may get published. I am a fan of shooting BP. Good luck

[wayne goerres]

I would like to try some brass shells and black powder in my grade 2 10ga but i Bulk at the cost of the brass cases. You could try some close cell foam on top of the shot charge. You will get a little snow when you pull the trigger.

[Mike Franzen]

Wayne, good brass cases are a good value. They should last for years with reasonable good care. I would suggest getting a few from TOW if you are interested. They are made by one of our members and based on Parker chambers.

[Dean Romig]

I submitted an article about all to the Parker Pages so it may get published. I am a fan of shooting BP. Good luck


Oh it WILL get published Mike, in the Fall 2015 Issue.
I read it and edited it (you won't even notice) and selected and cropped some of your pictures to accompany your article. Very nicely and thoroughly written Mike - Thanks!

By invitation I'll be exhibiting and demonstrating some of my Parkers at a local gun club and one of the guns I'll be letting a few folks shoot is my 10 ga. Grade-3 lifter with some of Frank Cronin's handloads :eek: (Thank you Frank) and I wonder if I might have your permission to print off a few copies of your article for the very few folks who would like it for reference?
We can very easily copyright it.

[Mike Franzen]

Sorry Dean, but I just saw this. You may do whatever you think is best with the article. Your editing and work on the photos greatly enhanced the article. Thank you for that.