Maybe you could help by telling us what is your quarry. King has it right. Bigger is not better and RST would have anything low pressure you would need.

I've killed a load of birds from quail to Canada geese and in between. Focus more on learning your gun and don't obsess on bigger and faster loads.

I am headed to Montana in Oct, and hope to have time to do a little pheasant hunting. We are on a Mule deer hunt, but when we tag out usually get in a bit of bird hunting. So, #6 1&1/8 - 1&1/4 1200 fps load is what I was thinking.

I can get a wall thickness gauge from Brownells... I may just pick one up, wouldn't be a bad thing to have around.

And yes, if I don't find anything else I am comfortable shooting out of the gun, I'll be making another order with RST.

BTW, ordered the Manson Wall thickness gauge from Brownells....

I have enough vintage shotguns I'll have some use for it, and keep it with me when considering the purchase of new guns.

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the importance of making sure the stock is tight to the receiver. They can come loose from use and from wood shrinking with age. If the stock is not tight to the receiver the receiver jackhammers the stock with each shot regardless of the load used.

Everything is still nice and tight on this gun... I think I am ok there.

I honestly doubt there are any issues with it, but will check on as much as I can. I have already shot some low recoil herters out of it on clays. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear the gun was a lot newer than 1926 DOM.

Joe I like to play around on the skeet field and the wobble trap with those Herters you mentioned. They will break targets off the wobble trap at quite the distance and out of my 34" guns they sound more like a 410.

No doubt, I barely feel them out of this trojan.... Weighing in at 7lb 10 oz it's like shooting a 22 rimfire. :D

Joseph, there's a "knack" to measuring with the Manson Wall thickness gauge. The directions provided are hard to follow, but after reading some suggestions on this site, I have been able to get the same numbers from both my Manson and Hosford gauges. You'll be glad you invested the money, but be sure you use it correctly.

DON'T JUMP ON ME, JUST PASSING THIS ALONG.
 

From a couple of sites. I have always heard this rule and I follow it.

"According to W.W. Greener in his book "The Gun" a shotgun should weigh 96 times the shot charge.

Or 96 X 1 1/8oz.= 108 oz. = 6lb. 12 oz., that is for a upland bird gun.

For ducks a much heavier gun will be wanted."

"Greener wrote that gun should weigh 96 times its intended shot charge to properly absorb the recoil. According to Greener, therefore, a 20 gauge firing 7/8 once of shot should weigh 5 ¼ pounds while a 20 made for an ounce of shot should weigh 6 pounds. A 12 for 1 1/8 ounces of shot would weigh about 6 ¾ pounds; a gun for 1 ¼ ounce loads (which were considered quite heavy in Greener’s day) would weigh 7 ½."

Of course this is for a gun in good shape. All of the guns I shoot have had the stock removed and the head checked, oil removed if it exists, and repaired if necessary.