Vintage shotshells

[Cold Spring]

I keep reading cautions about firing hotter loads in older SxS's (made for such loads) that have old, dry stocks. And while I understand that old wood has a slightly lesser moisture content than newer wood, the age certainly hasn't deteriorated the lignin = "glue" that holds the cellulose fibers together. Can someone please explain the scientific/technical considerations whereby old dry wood is allegedly more prone to setback or cracking from recoil? I personally haven't seen that while shooting boxlock guns that have properly tightened screws and are not oil soaked and already showing setback, nor those with stocks that haven't already been cracked from falls and other similar mishaps. Thank you.

[Kensal Rise]

Originally Posted by Frank Srebro

I keep reading cautions about firing hotter loads in older SxS's (made for such loads) that have old, dry stocks. ... I personally haven't seen that while shooting boxlock guns that have properly tightened screws and are not oil soaked and already showing setback, nor those with stocks that haven't already been cracked from falls and other similar mishaps. Thank you.

While the experience and knowledge of others are certainly their own, and as valid as mine, I can only offer what I've encountered in stripping down a great many boxlocks, and no small number of Parkers:

Old American double guns, stocked with black walnut are almost always split inside. Apparent cause: age, dry wood and recoil forces.

American guns stocked with English walnut are less prone to splitting. Reason: Hardshell walnut retains a measure of resiliency longer. But it can still spit if it's old, dry and pounded by heavy loads.

Oil soak in the stock head makes the wood punky and soft. Whether this quality promotes or lessens splits I can't say. But I've seen a lot of oil soaked stocks with splits.

All of this is why I limit target loads to 3/4 oz and field loads to 1 oz in these old doubles.

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Frank Srebro

I keep reading cautions about firing hotter loads in older SxS's (made for such loads) that have old, dry stocks. And while I understand that old wood has a slightly lesser moisture content than newer wood, the age certainly hasn't deteriorated the lignin = "glue" that holds the cellulose fibers together. Can someone please explain the scientific/technical considerations whereby old dry wood is allegedly more prone to setback or cracking from recoil? I personally haven't seen that while shooting boxlock guns that have properly tightened screws and are not oil soaked and already showing setback, nor those with stocks that haven't already been cracked from falls and other similar mishaps. Thank you.

Exactly. I view this caution as another of those old wives tales that upon repetition takes on a life of its own and becomes truth without considering its basis. There have been thoughtful posts here saying what Frank just said again but they seem to be quickly forgotten. For me, if the stock is not pulled away, not cracked, not oil soaked and soft, the head is tight against the frame, there is no basis why the gun cannot be used to its service loads. Stock cracks, if present, can be usually easily repaired . Of course a person can always choose to use lesser loads for less shoulder recoil, preservation of ammunition components, general sense of easier on the gun, matching the load to the game, etc. Thanks for a thoughtful post, Frank.