Low pressure shells from RST. We see that repeated so often it becomes a mantra.
But we know what Parker recommended for 16 ga guns, we do not have to guess.
Photo 1: from the 1886 catalog, 1 oz and 2 3/4 to 3 dram loads
Photo 2: from the 1915 Small Bore Shot Gun pamphlet , 1 oz and 2 3/4 dram
So here is Photo 3, RST 1 oz and 1200 FPS loads and Federal 1 oz , 2 1/2 DRE , and 1165 FPS . The RST at 1200 FPS run out to about a 2 3/4 DRE load. I shoot both cartridges regularly. I just picked up a couple cases of Federals at Reeds in Walker MN last Sunday at nice prices.
So we know because we have run through the numbers before here that the Federals produces about 500 psi chamber pressure more than the RST loads but both are at least 1000 psi less than service load maximums given by Parker. The RSTs leave more burnt powder residue than the Federals, which are very clean burning.
Some contend that RSTs produce less recoil. That just isn’t true when a person actually calculates recoil energy . In fact, of the two boxes of shells here, the RST produce greater recoil energy.
Some also contend that because the RST shell are 2 1/2” expanded length, they must be used in old Parkers. I don’t know about your old 16 ga Parkers , but all of mine are 2 9/16 “ . And Photo 4, from the current DGJ we know that the short length is not harmful and from so many Parker sources , we know Parker wanted it for better gas sealing .
I’m no expert , so I just follow Parker instructions. I’m off for Oklahoma soon, then Montana then Minnesota, then South Dakota, and more . I’ll be gone most of the fall and I’ll take along several 16s including this old beater Parker 16 and cases of RST and Federal shells.
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