Question

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Jeff Elder

I know this is a wide question, but what psi would be a safe one. You know just across the board?

As Rick has said it all depends on the gun, but for a 16ga I would like to be in the 7500 to 8000 range. with my later fluid steel guns, Damascus less then that. Again even if the barrels are great we are still talking wood that is at least eighty years old..... and most is well over a hundred years old !

[Drew Hause]

A DuPont Ballistic Table published in Parker Brothers' “The Small Bore Shotgun” c. 1920 listed 16 gauge:
2 3/4 Dr. Eq. 7/8 oz. = 7,035 psi
3 Dr. Eq. 1 oz. = 1275 fps = 8,980 psi
using Bulk Smokeless; Dense Smokeless would be 1000-1500 psi higher

http://parkerguns.org/pages/PDF%20Do...%20Shotgun.pdf

Your gun can not be presumed to be safe with ANY load until you are able to answer Dean's question - what is the end-of-chamber, forcing cone, 9", and minimum wall thickness and where?
And are the barrels fluid steel or Damascus?

[10 bore]

What are you shooting that 4 s are what you need ? I like to 6s in the small bores for duck. In my 20 ga i shoot 7/8 th oz of 6 s and it works great on duck and a few geese too.
Scott

[Jeff Elder]

Originally Posted by scott kittredge

What are you shooting that 4 s are what you need ? I like to 6s in the small bores for duck. In my 20 ga i shoot 7/8 th oz of 6 s and it works great on duck and a few geese too.
Scott

Canvasbacks, sprigs, gray ducks, mallards, and widgeon. Early season 6's work fine. Late season the fat gets thicker and it's tougher to get a clean kill with 6's.

[Jeff Elder]

Originally Posted by Drew Hause

A DuPont Ballistic Table published in Parker Brothers' “The Small Bore Shotgun” c. 1920 listed 16 gauge:
2 3/4 Dr. Eq. 7/8 oz. = 7,035 psi
3 Dr. Eq. 1 oz. = 1275 fps = 8,980 psi
using Bulk Smokeless; Dense Smokeless would be 1000-1500 psi higher

http://parkerguns.org/pages/PDF%20Do...%20Shotgun.pdf

Your gun can not be presumed to be safe with ANY load until you are able to answer Dean's question - what is the end-of-chamber, forcing cone, 9", and minimum wall thickness and where?
And are the barrels fluid steel or Damascus?

Titanic steel. It went to Briey for chambers being lengthened so I know it's safe to shoot because they check that there. I found a man in Bay City Tx that specializes in old guns and he is going give me all the answers y'all are looking for when I bring it back with me next week. Hopefully then I can figure out what it can take. In the meantime I'm on the hunt for some loose bismuth for reloading.
Thank you for your help.

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Jeff Elder

Titanic steel. It went to Briey for chambers being lengthened so I know it's safe to shoot because they check that there. I found a man in Bay City Tx that specializes in old guns and he is going give me all the answers y'all are looking for when I bring it back with me next week. Hopefully then I can figure out what it can take. In the meantime I'm on the hunt for some loose bismuth for reloading.
Thank you for your help.

Precision Reloading sells bismuth shot but they are out of #4s .
I suppose you could try a duplex load of #6s and #2s .