Magnum loads
 

Just wondering if it is a good idea to shoot 2 3/4'' magnum loads occasionally out of a 12 ga Parker with titanic steel barrels. I would normally use trap loads in a antique, but thinking of going after a gobbler with it. What do you guys think.

i wouldn;t just because the stock takes a pounding, pick up a 10 ga, scott

Ed, I am 67 and have been plagued with turkeys on my farm for years. I call them Hoovers, ie.vacuum cleaners, they get into a field and eat up lots of grain intended for the dove and quail. Over the years I have shot at least ------, well lots of them with anything with .030" of choke and regular 1200 fps 1 1/8 oz. of 7 1/2's. Usual shell is the Rem STS Light Handicap. At 45 yds. or less just put the bead right under the head I'll have holes all in the head and neck. At 25 yds. a lot of the head goes away. Don't know how close you hope to shoot one at but you might draw a head and neck on a piece of cardboard and see what your gun will do. The density of 7 1/2's out of a good shell is really something. Something to try. JH

"Plagued with turkeys"...!? Poor guy!! I think we better have a party weekend at Johns and help him out guys!! Would that be fun or what?!

Richard, I'll race you to see who gets there first.:rotf:

ed i dont think a few of these shells through that old parker will hurt her...but as said a ten is better...im shooting 3 1/2 inch 12 ga through my old ten ga parke r for turkey...it aint hurt it yet...yep its twist steel... charlie

Thanks for all the good ideas. Charlie, I have not heard of that before, how do you accomplish 12ga in a 10? Is there an insert? Can I shoot 20ga in my 12ga the way you do?
Twist barrels Im sure is done to death on here before. Is there a bare bones basic on which twist barrels can be shot? My old Daddy told me you can never shoot twist because bad stuff (acid?) can seep inside from old time powder and cause deterioration. Since many guys shoot twist he was wrong. Are other brands weaker than Parker? What is the magic formula?
Thanks again. Ed

Gentlemen,

Please know that the SAAMI specification for 10 gauge 2 7/8" and 3 1/2" loads pressure is 11,000 psi.

The SAAMI 12 gauge 2 3/4" and 3" pressure is 11,500 psi.
The SAAMI 12 gauge 3 1/2" pressure is 14,000 psi.

That extra 3000 psi is 36.6% over 11,000. The surface area of a 10 gauge compared to a 12 gauge is 9% larger so potentially there may be a 9% pressure drop but I have no data to prove this. Even if it would only be a 27% gain in pressure that doesn't seem to be safe.

I believe that one can do as they chose so long as it does't hurt others but...

Charlie if you blow off a finger or two you'll type worse than you do now! It is hard enough to read your posts now since punctuation escapes them! I do however try to read them because they are full of good wisdom. :) Please do not endanger any of your typing fingers...

Let's be careful out there!
Mark

You should try RST's premium grade 2 3/4" pheasant shells with 1 1/4 oz of 5 or 6 shot. I have fired them in #6 shot through my D grade damascus Remington 1894 12 gauge with 6" of choke constriction (.037) and the pattern out to 45 yards is just unbelieveable! Box of 25 is only $11.00.

Bill

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Charlie your got me scratching my head on that one. Does the 10ga have a 3 1/2 in chamber your shooting this 12ga 3 1/2s through? About the craziest thing I ever seen was my cousin shot a 38 special through my 300 win mag. Checked the gun over and could not find anything wrong. I have shot the gun for years after with no problem. I can only guess that the soft lead .357 bullet compressed itself through the .308 barrel.