I have a 10 gauge #2 frame lifter and a round of sporting clays with an 1 1/4 oz load will start to wear on me, however with the #4 frame D or #3 frame DH I can shoot a 1 1/4 oz 10 gauge load all day long. These loads are Sherman Bell's at 1200 fps plus or minus.

Harry

BFT Mark, what chokes do you have in the 10ga you mentioned? Thanks

My trusty EH has constrictions of .030" and .032". I've never patterened it to determine the actual choke. It seems to shoot tight enough using Nice Shot.

Most of the dozen or so Parker 10 gauges which I have measured have constrictions near .030". I think the tightest Parker 10 gauge constriction which I've measured is .035". I do however have a couple LC Smith 10's with .050" constrictions with unmolested bores of .775".

Ten Pound Guns
 

10 gauge guns on the three frame with 30 inch barrels generally weigh 9 to 9 1/4; there are some of that weight on two frames as well. You might find 9 1/2 with 32 inch barrels.
Orvis Manchester recently sold a 5 frame ten ; which was discussed here on the forum.
Going heavier than 9 1/4 in ten gauge probably requires a larger frame or longer barrels, which reduces the population available quite a bit.
I have a 9 pound 15 ounce 3 frame lifter, but it is a 32 inch 12 ga.

Best, Austin

My grade 1 lifter has 30" barrels and has .030 in both.

The D and DH have 32" barrels. The D has .029 & .037. The DH has .035 & .034.

I load the right barrel of the 10 gauges with a Polywad SpredR load and sometimes the left barrel as well. I take a tray of WW 209 primers and mark them with a black Sharpie before dumping them out for reloading. With 1 1/4 oz loads I do not insert a 16 gauge card into the bottom of the SP-10 wad. I push the 12 gauge SpredR into the shot instead. It sure makes the old 10 gauge competative on the sporting clay course.

Harry

Harry,

I have similar experiance using the BPI X-Spreader in my 10 pound 3 oz DH 10 gauge named "Big Friend Ten". It has .030" constrictions but with the magic X its is capable of dusting clay targets up close and personal.

I own a #5 Frame Grade 2 Lifter 10 gauge that weighs 12 lbs 3 oz. It was known to post respectable sporting clays scores for its former owner. I'll give it a try on the course when the Michigan snow melts.

I also recently acquired a #4 Frame Top Action (hammer) 10 gauge that weighs 10 lbs 7 oz. It needed a little work so I took it to Brad Bachelder for a little TLC. I do like that gun and look forward to shooting it.

Mark

I'm envious of you boys and your #4 frame 10 gauges. All three of my Parker 10's are on #3 frames even the hammerless magnum. I can't use anything bigger than 2 ounce loads in it or the recoil will drive you into the ground. I've shot the 1 5/8 ounce stuff out of my D grade hammer and it seems to swallow them like good eating though do not consider that statement as any kind of a recommendation.


Destry

Hammerless Magnum Parker 10 Gauge!

I'm not worthy
I'm not worthy
I'm not worthy

Let's just call it a mutual envy :)

I'm very proud of it and it's a sure killer on geese. One of the few times I ever bought a Parker and felt like I could make money on it. Murphy has one that will rival mine that I'd buy if he was selling.....

DLH

My big #6 frame hammerless ten weighs 13 pounds, 8 ounces, has 3 1/2" chambers, probably from the factory. It cannot be proven as factory because it is a late fluid steel factory rebarrel, no records available. It may predate the first factory 3 1/2" ten gauges. I have no idea why anyone would specify a ten gauge gun that heavy unless the "new" 3 1/2" ammunition threw a scare into waterfowlers. Maybe Dave Noreen can tell us when the 3 1/2" Super-X ammunition was introduced.