1906 PSI for 16ga loads?
 

I have several Damascus barreled 12ga SXS's I have always loaded my shells at 5800 psi.
I have recently acquired a 16ga Parker GH made in 1906 with Damascus barrels.

My pet load for my current steel barreled 16ga SXS's develops 9700 psi.
probably a bit too high for the Damascus gun.

It seems a lot of 16ga loads of current produce a lot more pressure than say 12 ga loads.

In 1906 what psi were 16 ga shells developing?
I use Rem SP hulls and I have a lot of 700X powder and it's damn hard to find any lower pressure loads. I am open to using another powder.
Yes, I have inquired on the 16 ga low pressure group and have no answers yet.
I can't seem to get an organized spread sheet from them as of yet.
Thank you,

Go over to the 16gauge.com board. The guys over there can give you some good reloading recipes.

Dale,
An option is to use commercially available shells from RST or Polywad. Here are 16 ga pressure loads from RST for their "Best Grade" 2-1/2" shells,

16 ga 2 1/2" Lite 1oz- 7000 Psi
16 ga 2 1/2" Spreader Lite 1 oz- 6500 Psi
16 ga 2 1/2" Falcon Lite 7/8 oz - 5800 Psi
16 ga 2 1/2" Ultra Lite 3/4 oz - 4800 Psi
The paper loads will be similar to their plastic counterparts but with 100-200 lower PSi's

The gun was designed to shoot 2 9/16” shells with a service load of 1 oz. shot at 2 1/2 Dr. Eq. (1165 fps) with a pressure of Bulk Smokeless about 7000 psi; Dense 500-1000 psi higher. Maximum load was 1 oz. shot with 2 3/4 Dr. Eq. (1220 fps) at about 8500 psi with Bulk Smokeless; Dense very close to modern pressures.
Parker cut the chambers slightly short for use with roll crimp shells. What is the chamber length now?
Using 2 3/4" shells in a 2 1/2" chamber will raise the pressure 200 – 1200 psi
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...vwLYc-kGA/edit

What load to use cannot be answered without knowing the wall thickness at the end of the chamber, 3”, 6”, 9”, 12" and 16".

Garth I have purchased RST shells in the past. Mainly 28 and 20 gauge. Pressure information is not listed. Can you get this information on the different shells if you call them?

Phil,
Yes, that's how I got the information.
Cheers!

I have a GH 16 Damascus and a 16 top lever hammer. I called RST and talked with them them about loads. Their choice was the 16 Ultra Lite..3/4..Worked for me..

The RST 3/4 ounce 16 gauge load works just fine for Ruffed Grouse with 7-1/2 shot. Good Luck!

If you are using Reminton hulls, 15.5 gr 20/28 with a DR16 wad and 7/8 oz lead makes a nice soft shooting load around 6000 psi and 1150 fps.

Thanks Harold I did find that load and ordered some DR 16 wads from Gamaliel.