Good for you!

I like your new Ithaca.

Unless I think a gun might be unsafe, I shoot everything that I own, including an 1816 flintlock musket. Also old Sharps rifles, a Burnside and Smith carbine. Old Colt pistols, two Navy's - lots more.

I don't have any real pristine Parkers. But I've got a very nice Sterlingworth and Lefever and I shoot them both.

This Ithaca is a beauty and I would not hesitate to shoot it with Polywad or similar shells.

Thanks Steve. I don't even think twice about shooting this beauty. She's got super clean bores and still has her full chokes.

Welp, you have a wonderful gun there, sir. Have fun with her.

SM

16 ga ithaca hammer
 

Angel if your 16 is like mine it has some seriously thick barrels. I shoot mine all the time. It has short chambers so I use 2 1/2 inch Vintagers. I also have a Ithaca 12 hammer and I havent done any detailed measurements but think the frame is pretty near the same size in both 16 and 12 gauge.

Brent, I also have 2-1/2 inch chambers and I load 2-1/2 shells. At 6lbs 9oz she's like my 1 frame 16ga Parker.

I ought to try out some of my father in law's Revolutionary and Civil War rifles on game.

I have shot my 1861 Springfield hundreds of times, but have never hunted with it. Those pure led minie balls would be devistating on game I think. http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...unStuff076.jpg

NICE!!!!!

Thank you.

During the Civil War soldiers were ordered to polish their rifles and this one has been well polished. You can see how the wood was sanded. The iron holds very little color today, just as it did back then. The stock was rubbed with linseed oil which over time oxidized, turning black. The bore is fine, so the GI who was issued this weapon took care of it and it shoots wonderfully even today.

With a standard pure lead minie ball and 60 grains of FFg, which was the original load, she barely kicks at all. Muzzle velocity was around 1300 fps I think. However when that 500+ grain lead slug met flesh was devistating. The sights to go 500 yds, a long shot.

The GI's were ordered to shoot low so many wounds were from the belly button down.....OUCH. I read that some guys could get off four shots a minute. When I was in one of those CW re-inactment units I couldn't get off more than 2.5 and I was trying hard and no one was shooting at me. I'd jam my bayonet in the ground next to me and place the ramrod in the socket...I don't think they did that during the War. The act of removing and replacing the ramrod takes time.

The sound of the minie ball going down range is noteworthy. They make a loud buzz and when coming at you and passing by you that buzz must have been unnerving. The cartridge box held 40 rounds and sometimes they'd shoot it empty. Hard guys those.