Reloading For Short Chambered Guns - Couple Questions

[Greg Westberg]

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

[Kensal Rise]

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

[Greg Westberg]

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

[Kensal Rise]

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.

[B. Dudley]

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.

[Twice Shooter]

Hi Brian,

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

[B. Dudley]

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.

[Twice Shooter]

Brian, Thank you Sir. Tom

[Autumn Daze]

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

[B. Dudley]

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