Reloading For Short Chambered Guns - Couple Questions
 

Hi all, new to reloading and I have a couple questions for you old hands regarding 2 1/2" chambered guns.

Question One: I have several Brit doubles with 2 1/2" chambers and would like to know your thoughts on shooting low pressure 2 3/4" loads in them? I'm thinking of reloading some 2 3/4" loads where the pressure is 7100psi, the shot payload would be 1 or 1 1/8oz and a MV of around 1150fps. The guns are post 1900.

Your thoughts please.

Question Two: Does anyone have a recipe for a 2 1/2" load with a shot payload of 1 1/8oz? I'd be using Cheddite hulls. I know this load is out there as New Era Ammunition used to load them prior to them closing shop.

Thanks for any comments and suggestions!

Best!

Greg

Greg:
As long as you use a skivved mouth hull (like AA or STS), 2 3/4" hulls in a 2 1/2" gun are fine. The low pressure limit you mention is also fine. But... why use more than 7/8 oz. for any clay shoot? I use 3/4 oz. at under 1100 with perfect satisfaction in sporting clays. It's much better for older Brit guns as well.

Again, there is NO practical reason to use 1 1/8 oz. shot charges in these guns.

Best, Kensal

Hi Kensal, thanks for the reply! I guess I should have explained myself a bit better. For clays my payload would be 1oz. The 1 1/8oz would be for hunting loads (later season wild pheasants). I used this load (2 1/2" 1 1/8oz) for the last couple years and they worked excellent later in the season when the birds are wild and feathered out.

Oh, I'm talking 12ga guns BTW.

Thanks again!

Greg

Greg:
I assumed you were talking 12-bore. And even for pheasant pass shooting, I use 1 0z. of No. 6. Over dogs, 7/8 oz. of No. 6. Both in standard "clays load recipes." They work fine for me, and both my shoulder and the guns don't mind the experience.

For 12g. I reload 2.5" and 2.75" with 7/8 oz. if shooting clays. Why waste the lead? I normally load hunting rounds with 1oz. For 2.5" and the same or more for 2.75".

You would have a hard time getting more than 1 oz. of shot into a 2.5" hull.

2.5" load
 

Hi Brian,

What's your 2.5" load if you don't mind sharing? Thanks, Tom

Tom,

I reload 2.5" RST (or other Cheddite hulls). At my local gun club I recently garbage picked a lot of RIO 2-3/4" hulls that are made by Cheddite and I cut them down to 2.5"
The basic recipe that I work from is:

RST (Cheddite) 2.5 inch hull
Win 209 primer
Galandi wad GV-1222 (Ballistic products number is 072CS12 - CS12 Comp Special 12ga)
19.2 gr International Clays powder
7/8 oz shot charge.
OR 20 gr. for 1 oz. of shot.

I have used CCI and more recently Fiocchi primers in this recipe with no issues. The original data I had on this recipe was something like 1200 fps and 6500 - 6800 psi. I do not mind sharing. That is how I got this info for my use.

For 2.75" I have been reloading Rem STS hulls with CCI 209 Primers, International Clays Powder and Rem TGT 12 wads. I stuck with the International clays powder so that I don't have to keep different types of powders on hand. Those recipes were pulled right from Hodgden's Data tables. I chose a recipe that generates the same lower pressures as my 2.5" load so that I could shoot them in Damascus barrels.
Until recently I had been shooting just 2.5" shells in everything. But I figured I will start saving them for the guns that need them.

2.5 " load
 

Brian, Thank you Sir. Tom

Brian, On your 2 3/4' loads substitute Claybuster 1 oz. wads they are cheaper and the lower pressure without a loss in FPS.

Thanks Dave. Well I will have to shoot through the 1000 rem wads I have first.