Williams & Powell 10 Ga

[Wes Shirah]

Went Duck hunting this weekend in the Salt Marshs of Dulac, LA.
Saturday was a marginal day; we shot 6 Ducks. A cold front pushed in that evening changing everything. Sunday morning we harvested 29 total.

I hunted with my new William & Powell 10 Gauge (1880's Vintage). Due to the lack of Nice Shot availability, I wound up using Hevi-Shot's 3" 12 Gauge # 3's (1-1/4 oz). I used this in conjunction with my set of Gauge Mate Gold Adapters. All components performed flawlessly.

I choose the Hevi-Shot because of the manner in which the shells are loaded. The Steel Shot is loaded first in the bottom of shot cup, followed by an equal amount of Tungsten loaded in upper portion of the cup. I liked this arrangement because of the idea that the Steel Shot, after pulling the trigger, always has the wall thickness of the shot cup between the shot and the Barrel Walls (as it travels the length of the barrels). The theory being that the shot cup would protect the inside diameter of the barrels from the hard steel. All evidence indicates that it worked out fine. The 10 or so shot cups retreived from the water showed no signs of the steel having pierced the shot cup walls. There is no evidence of scoring in the barrels.

Prior to hunting, I went to the range to check pattern performance on the pattern board. Shooting the 12 ga Hevi-Shot produced patterns approx 25 % more open than RST's 2-7/8" # 6's (Lead) at 25 yards. The combination of the adapters with the 12 ga ammo was deadly on the ducks out to 30 yards (Estimated distance). Regrettably, I didn't make any long distance shots. Recoil using the 3" 12's is marginal.

[Wes Shirah]

More

[Wes Shirah]

More1

[charlie cleveland]

really nice gun and sounds like a really fun hunt...first time i ve got to look at a william powell gun...it looks to be in top notch condition on the finnish...i too use gauge mates fairly often with 12 gauge shells...i plan to use my parker on a duck hunt this season if i load my own i will load steel bbs or if i use 12 ga will use3 inch steel shot of 1 1/4 ounce...charlie

[Wes Shirah]

Thanks Charlie for the kind words. The gun is a real beauty. Got her back in Feb when I traded some of my modern Spanish SxS's with Mr Jensen (Olathe Gun Shop - Kansas) for a number of his Vintage guns. She's lots of fun to shoot, and after this past weekend, can't ever see myself parting with her.

[Mike Franzen]

Very nice gun and a well thought out plan.

[Wes Shirah]

Thank you Mike.

This is the Ammo I chose. Think I'll try #4's next time - Add a few more pellets to the pattern.

I have additional photo's of the shotgun if anyone is interested.

Wes

[charlie cleveland]

i m interested in more pictures of the gun...charlie

[James Halvorson]

I'd also like to see more pictures of that shotgun. Looks real nice in the photo above.

I would have serious reservations about shooting that ammo in that gun. The Hevi-shot in that load is not the same as the shot in Hevi Classic Doubles. It is hard shot, not softer than the steel loaded in the bottom of the wad. With the Gauge Mates, I would also be concerned about 12 gauge steel wad pedals opening some in a 10 gauge barrel allowing contact with the barrel.

[Wes Shirah]

Here are a few pics. Sorry for the delay.