Shooting current shells in old guns poll

[Researcher]

P.S. I was always told that was one of the live decoys in the bottom corner of the picture.

[Paul Harm]

I believe everyone at my club shoots low pressure loads in the old SxS's. Mark, with his heavy 10's may go a bit higher with hunting loads. In my 12s it's 3/4oz of shot with Promo or 700X. In the 10s it's 1oz or 1 1/16 oz and the Promo or 700X - everything at or below 1200FPS. These aren't duck or goose loads, but fine for target shooting. Loading for the 10s are a bit more because of the cost of getting shells, and the wads are a little more, but not out of range. Once empty shells are bought, they can be reloaded for just pennies more a shell than 12ga. I can get 12ga wads for a penny and a half where 10ga wads are 6.8 cents each. About a buck and a quarter more a box. Not too bad.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

I normally shoot low pressure smokeless loads through vintage guns. For hunting I will use modern factory loads in guns with both fluid and Damascus barrels that have sufficient minimum barrel wall thickness! I have on occasion even shot Federal steel shot through thick but tightly choked Damascus barrels with no ill effect. Oh, do not do this with a gun that you cannot afford to destroy!

Before I started blasting with modern ammo I bought the Hosford Barrel Wall Thickness Gauge set to determine the minimum barrel wall thickness at 1/2" intervals from breach to muzzle. Also, my guns are Parkers, LC Smiths, Lefevers, and AH Fox's.

Legal disclaimer: Do not try this at home!