DH 32" #3
 

Just took possession of a #3 frame DH with 32" sleeved barrels and new wood. It has 3 1/2" chambers but not sure I want to go there yet, ordered some 2 7/8" #6's to get a feel for the gun. Gun was born in 1888 weighs 9.4 pounds but points like a bird gun, can't wait to try it out.

Scott, tell us about your sleeved ten. Who did the work? What kind of markings does it have concerning the sleeving? My DH sleeved ten is a Lefever Arms job with their marking on the rib.

Will look again tonight but do not remember seeing anything but the normal markings, gun came from the estate of an old live bird shooter but have no idea who did the work. Whoever did the work the original ribs were retained and you have to look hard and have correct light to see the joint lines.

Every gun in the collection was 30" or more and full/fuller, also purchased a 30" GH 12 and a 30" VHE 16. Tried the 16 on mallards last week with Classic Doubles and loved it.

There may be some confusion regarding Nice shot as originally manufactured, and loaded by RST in its non-toxic shotshells. I don't know if it's currently being made to the same specs, or being manufactured at all. Nice was made of 58% tungsten, 38% tin and 4% iron, and it has a density of 11.0 grams/cubic centimeter. Pure lead is 11.1 gms/cc, and high antimony hard-lead shot is a little less dense than that. Thus, Nice shot is quite soft (owing to its high tin content) and will perform just about like lead shot will.

I've never used ITX shot which is said to be made of tungsten and iron but I don't have the exact percentages. Its density is supposed to 10.0 gms/cc, hence it will lose velocity more quickly than Nice or lead (for a given diameter of shot pellet). Also for comparison - Bismuth shot is 9.6 gms/cc and steel is generally shown as about 7.9 gms/cc. Kent Tungsten Matrix which is favored in factory loads by many vintage waterfowl hunters is listed at 10.6 gms/cc. I don't have data on any other type non-tox shot. Sorry.

Net, of the products shown here I believe that Nice shot is your best choice for extended range waterfowl shooting, followed closely by Kent TM ..... when both are started at the same high muzzle velocity. Just my opinion gents!

I was told with Nice Shot I could pretty much use the same powder charge and could use the same wad as I used with lead shot . Is this also practical with the ITX shot ? Extended range isn't in my own personal criteria , I just want a shot that's relatively safe for use in my old fixed tight choke doubles and Damascus doubles . I suspect that once I've killed a duck or two and a goose or two with two to four of the guns that'll be all the water fowling I wanna do . It's more a matter of having a couple guns I'd like taking a goose and a duck or two with . I don't plan on being in set ups where I'll have to shoot further then 30-40 yards and hopefully less .

yes, lead loading info except that nice shot does boost pressure

by about 1500 if I remember correctly

so then my 30 grains of SR7625 with 1 1/4 ounce of shot with Nice or ITX should be reduced 2 or 3 grains to keep pressure relatively close to the lead loads ?

I went through all the posts to try to carefully record how many individuals shoot a Short Ten of some make. 78 of us have responded thus far, wow. I think I will start another thread and ask how many of us reload for the Short Ten.

I would think that oughtta be about a 95% given of those that own to those that load !

short 10
 

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps6v6c4dki.jpg

this wk at a tower shoot