Shotshell search
 

Well, I guess the option of locating 2.5" shotshells has come to an end. RST is out of them, Polywad is out of them, and I'm not able to locate a lead anywhere on the planet. Am I missing something, gents? Or do I have an old Parker 12 ga. Damascus on the way that won't get used on the pheasants next year in S.D.?

You may be putting the cart ahead of the horse . You say gun on the way so you have not measured the chambers and do not know for certain what they are. Many threads here on so called short chambers. Parker made them that way for a reason. You might find that 2 3/4 will work just fine in your gun. Report back after you have measured them using the machinist rule method.

Next year as in fall of 2023? you will find shells by then. RST has occasional restocks, not more than 4-5 times in the past 12 months so stay vigilant. If you just want to throw money at the problem, then there are usually some RST shells on GB - far more frequent than RST has them available. Expect to pay a premium. If you have time, knowledge, and the ability - there are threads abound online within the past 3 years about loading for short chambers at low pressures.

Thankyou for the help
 

Dylan, thank you for the encouragement. I will keep looking. What is GB? And, yes I think I have time before next year. But, I also want to shoot the Damascus and figured I should use 2.5" and low pressure. Daniel, the seller has confirmed that the chambers are proper length for 2.75" shells, but I'm also being a little cautious (should I?) and thinking that smaller and less pressure shells might be a good idea for an 1880s vintage Damascus. I'm a shooter first and foremost, and want to run some rounds through the 12 ga. Damascus, and my 1929 20 ga. regularly to know how the SxSs perform before I go into the field. I don't want to pound away with 1200 fps / 1 oz target loads if there is room for potential damage, or worse. I'm new to the "old double" club and want to make the right decisions. My Brownings, Francis, and Remingtons are all modern, so I had never had to think about this. I really appreciate the advice and assistance. This is a superb forum.

GB = gunbroker. I can't comment on if you should be nervous. No one on the internet can intelligently answer if your guns set of barrels are safe for use or not. Any time I have had a damascus gun I take it to someone who knows what they are doing to have a wee looksie at the barrels and take some important measurements. If that all looks okie dokie - I am of the opinion to run low pressure shells through it, because why not If I can get them, and the wood is very fragile and crack prone.

The 2.5 vs 2.75 and high vs low pressure debate will probably rage on long after I am dead....

Not sure this helped you any - but it is what it is

There have been some BP 2.75 available and some of those are low pressure. There's a thread here somewhere but darned if I will be able to find it.

In that the chambers are 2 3/4 that broadens you ability to find low pressure ammo. In that a shell is short does not mean it is low pressure, a case in point, many have used the Federal 2 inch thinking they were low pressure and they are not. RST will have some shells suitable to your gun in the future or a member here will guide you to some. Again length alone is no indication of pressure.

Agree with all...
 

Gents, thank you. Yes I agree with all. 2.5 doesn't mean low pressure. And yes, no one can assuage my fears with advice or opinions. I've measured the 20 ga. using Researcher's advice the other day. I'm pretty sure it was originally built to carry 2.75s. I'm waiting on the 12 ga. Damascus and will, now with the insight provided here, have a qualified gunsmith do all the measurements and assessments, as well as confirm whether the chambers were modified. It seems that the 12 ga. has some records on file that I will order. Perhaps the original chamber details are published there. In any event, I want to shoot these and think that 2.5 inch low pressure might be a good way to treat them. Whether at the range or chasing upland birds.

I purchased 2 boxes of 12s just this week from RST. Basically you have to check their website daily. After I bought the 2 boxes I checked back next day and they were sold out.

I ordered a flat of B&P Competition1, 7/8oz, 7.5 shot, 1160fps 12g from Natchez Shooting Supply. Arrived in 3 days.
My favorite 12g shell for shooting out of my Damascus Parker. Soft on the shoulder and the gun, but devastating on birds and clays.
Just checked and they have them in stock as of now.

Breck: Thank you for the tip. I ordered some 12 ga 2.75" per your recommendation from them. Will see how they behave in the Damascus. And the folks at RST were kind enough to answer my email and alerted me to their protocol and how to get on the "notification" list for the out of stock items that become available. Thanks, all, for helping out.

Loren: Words of experience here. I wouldn't put all your eggs in that notification basket. I have been subscribed to several items that came in stock and went out of stock with nary a word from the notification system. I am not convinced it is working right.

Loren, I shoot a lot of Damascus guns in various gauges. The only gun I shoot 2 1/2" shells in is my 16g hammer gun because the chambers are 2 1/2". The rest of my guns are either 2 3/4" or 2 5/8" and as long as you don't shoot heavy game loads you should be fine. Have someone familiar with doubles measure your barrel wall thickness, that should ease your mind. If you keep your choice of ammo to 1 oz or less and 2 3/4 dram or less, you should be fine. Yes, you can use 1 1/8 oz of shot but there's no need to. The metal should be fine, it's the old wood that can be damaged by snotty shells. Now go enjoy that old double!!

Those B&P shells are soft shooting and smash targets!

Thank you for the encouragement. I can't wait!

Federal, Winchester , Remington, BP, others make cartridges appropriate to your gun. Your question is one of the most commonly asked on this forum and has been addressed countless times.

TPS includes chamber length and pressures information.

Thank you Bruce. I figured it had and knew you gents would take care of me. I just joined and posted to get the latest info. I know it's been a long time (11 years), but I just cruised through the photos from your Shaprtail Shootout in Nebraska. Looks like it was a blast. And brings back fond memories. I've walked and shot the GA, VA, NC, OK, Kansas, Montana, SD and ND lands over the years for quail, sharps and pheasant. Planning to go back to SD with the "new" Parkers and classics I've acquired this coming year with some family and friends. I note that you like the #6 shot 1 and 1/8 oz. lead. I will test that load in my 1889 12 ga. 32" barrels, Damascus. How do you choose the amount of propellant? By dram equivalent or Feet Per Second printed on the box? Thanks, again. Some of the info. here says 1200 FPS is about right.

it worked for me once....the next time by the time i read the email (a few hours) it was too late. doesn't work even when it does....

Hello Loren. I figure it’s good with about 3 drams equivalent and about 1150 to 1200 fps . TPS figures show about 10,500 lbs for early years and 12,500 later so what I use is within that.

For late season Dakota pheasant in winds and 40-50 yards where you need knock down power and choke I use a Parker GHE 12 ga 30 full and fuller 2 frame Damascus with 1 1/4 oz 3 1/4 dram loads 5 shot and a car length lead.

Last photo is what Parker literature states.

Reloading is always an option. MEC or Hornady 366 presses can be modified easily for 2 1/2 shells and if your patient purchased on ebay or ask around at your shooting club. I've purchased both of them for reasonable prices at one of my local clubs. Ballistic Products sell the necessary components (Cheddite Hulls, wads, Cheddite Primers and lead), powder currently is more of a challenge. I've been successful the last several years placing signs at the various shooting facilities around my house asking if anyone had powder for sale and have become well stocked on powder.
If you want to shot 2 1/2 if their is a will you'll find a way.

George. Thank you. Yes, I believe if I can’t get what I want I will start reloading again. It seems that my two Parkers don’t require 2.5 inch. So this may be a moot discussion. However, after selling off my MEC Jr and all accoutrement some
Years back I will have to start over. From the great advice I’m getting here I believe my classics will do just fine with store bought loads. I used to shoot so much that it made sense to reload. I won’t be doing that much with the 20, 16 and 12. Just enough to figure out how they behave before going afield. Really appreciate your advice.

I have two GH parker Damascus guns, 1890s vintage, both have 2-5/8-inch chambers. They shoot 2-3/4 shells fine. My favorite new shell is the AA low recoil, low noise, 28 gram shot load at 980 fps when I can find them. Otherwise, I load federal papers, 3/4 or 1 oz. with Clays, International, or Green Dot powders. See loading data for several suggestions on # of grains which has loads under 7,000psi. But, as stated previously, have the barrels checked out by a Gsmith, checking the wall thickness and lockup of the action.

James. Thank you for the details. The barrels and fit have checked out as exceptional. So my confidence is up and I’m looking forward to trying some different loads to see how the chokes and my skills align with the loads. I’m keeping pressures down and within published tolerances for the steel and vintages of the barrels. Thanks for the advice.

RST has 16 gauge available now!

I'm on the list...
 

Reggie: Thank you. I got on the notification list and ordered a case. Once I figured out how to work their portal, I've managed to get some 20 gauge and now 16 gauge. I really like these shells. Shot them last week at the clays range and at / on some birds. Very nice shells. Easy on the shoulder. Thank you for the alert.

Just ordered a Flat..... :bowdown:

I went ahead as well and ordered a flat of 16 in size 7. Ya never know when they are going to be available so you have to act when you see them for sure.

$20 per box plus freight. That is painful. Not too painful if used as hunting loads but that makes a round of sporting clays pricey.