Cheap safe shells for a test fire

[Aaron Rohland]

Hello parker people.
I acquired a 1909 VHE 12 ga last year. It has 30" full choke Vulcan steel barrels. After I get the gun and barrels inspected, I would like to test fire a few rounds. I'm not looking to hunt or shoot clays at this point. I've read so many mixed opinions on safe ammo for hunting and regular shooting. I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations on shells that would be overall safe and on the conservative or lower pressure side that would be ok to shoot. Mostly looking for something I can generally fire a few rounds and not worry about it. Not slugs or hunting rounds. Basically a safe light kind of practice round. Thanks

[Bruce P Bruner]

I like these.

[mobirdhunter]

There could potentially be a range of options available at your regular ammo outlets, but you can be sure of RST shells which are loaded to pressures suitable for vintage guns. All this pending examination by an experienced smith.

[Drew Hause]

Having the gun inspected by a double gun specialist is of course the first step. If the smith identifies no cracks in the wood, a tight lock-up, and barrels with adequate wall thickness which are free of defects, any 1 oz. at 1200 fps target load would be a good choice.
Lots of information here
https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads...-shoot.366087/

[Andy]

Bruce is right, and a lot of folks shoot Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics 1170fps 7/8 or 1 oz loads readily available.