old gun, new shells

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Clark McCombe

A novice question:
is it advisable or safe, to use new shells in an old gun, specifically 1 oz steel shot 1165 fps in a 1918 16 ga.
or 1 oz steel 1325 fps in a 1928 12 ga.
Now that I have these Parkers, I'm almost afraid to use them after doing some reading.
My son was looking at a new Beretta. I was trying to talk him out of it, but now Im not so sure...

If I was contemplating using steel shot I'd buy a brand new shotgun with a fixed, no tighter than mod choke. If the gun has screw in chokes, which is pretty common nowadays, I'd use the two most open chokes. Now that is just me. Nor am I an expert on shotguns. I bought an oldish Spanish double once that had a bulge in the barrel that looked like a chicken egg. Ruined the gun, of course. I took it to Keith Kurshier, he took out the egg and opened the chokes. Great shotgun and pretty, but I still, and will never, shoot steel shot thu it.

[Kevin J. Burke]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

There are plenty of Bismuth choices for using your Parkers for ducks. You're only going to shoot up a few boxes a year.

I agree with Mr. Spencer. If you need to use nontoxic shot through your Parker, Bismuth is the way to go.

[Joseph Roth]

In August of 2021, took a trip to Del Greco's shop,
He inspected my 1916 "VH", after his quick inspection, he asked how many 2-3/4 shells went thru it? He pointed out the parallel cracks, in the top of the stock wrist starting from the tang. the chambers were 2-5/8". He indicated that the chambers , can be lengthen to the standard. He also indicated that smaller frames could not be altered, due to the shorter barrel flat length and the water table of the receiver, as the longer shell length and the remainder of the forcing cones of the barrel, would weakened the barrels.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Joseph Roth

In August of 2021, took a trip to Del Greco's shop,
He inspected my 1916 "VH", after his quick inspection, he asked how many 2-3/4 shells went thru it? He pointed out the parallel cracks, in the top of the stock wrist starting from the tang. the chambers were 2-5/8". He indicated that the chambers , can be lengthen to the standard. He also indicated that smaller frames could not be altered, due to the shorter barrel flat length and the water table of the receiver, as the longer shell length and the remainder of the forcing cones of the barrel, would weakened the barrels.

He was wrong in all respects in what he told you about your Parker.
He was living by archaic suppositions that had no basis in fact… just rumor.





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[Eddie Kay]

Sent a Rem 32 to them 3 time's that was doubling.The last time I got it back ,the wife is my witness, I would cock the shotgun, gently lay it on the kitchen table and it would fire 30 seconds later on it's own. They may have had all the parts for 32's but didn't know how to fix them. Sent the gun to Pat Laib,put in 2 mainsprings and all was well.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Joseph Roth

In August of 2021, took a trip to Del Greco's shop,
He inspected my 1916 "VH", after his quick inspection, he asked how many 2-3/4 shells went thru it? He pointed out the parallel cracks, in the top of the stock wrist starting from the tang. the chambers were 2-5/8". He indicated that the chambers , can be lengthen to the standard. He also indicated that smaller frames could not be altered, due to the shorter barrel flat length and the water table of the receiver, as the longer shell length and the remainder of the forcing cones of the barrel, would weakened the barrels.

Dean is right. The 2 5/8" chamber was intended to shoot 2 3/4" shells, and the cracks are the result of shooting load of high, or higher recoil, not related to the shell length. The reason one should tread carefully in lengthening a chamber has nothing to do with the the water table length in an 0 frame gun, but the reduction of the cross section between the new forcing cone, and the outside of the barrel in barrels with more striking for profile. The "standard" chamber for 2 3/4" IS 2 5/8".

[Dean Romig]

Right Edgar, the outside taper profile where the actual chamber is intended to terminate at the beginning of the forcing cone is the critical point.





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[Clark McCombe]

Clay's Ammo has 12 ga
7/8 oz
1330 FPS
but 7200 PSI
$105 per flat
no sales tax outside FLA
any thoughts?

[Drew Hause]

Clark: that is the (not 24 gram) typical bunker trap load and I've found the recoil to be sharp.
I'm shooting lots of these since the 7/8 oz. B&P are hard to find
https://www.natchezss.com/fiocchi-12...ntent=20250825
The fired hulls are a full 2 3/4" BTW

Fiocchi hasn't published the pressure but it is likely similar to the B&P 1 oz at < 7000 psi
https://fiocchiusa.com/shotshell/shooting-dynamics/

[Double Lab]

Like Drew said, those loads are a bit snotty and will beat you and the gun. I think B&P sells a 7/8oz load but at 1200fps. Of course there is always RST.

More manufacturers are coming out with lighter loads, even some 3/4oz stuff that is pretty nice.

Ya' know. with all this hullabaloo about lead poisoning, and lead in the environment (where it actually came from) at shooting ranges, the ammo companies are missing out on a huge marketing opportunity which would possibly keep them in business and allow us to continue to use lead shot at our target games. Quite simply start manufacturing shotshells with less shot in them promoting them as "eco light" loads depositing less lead in the environment. At least try to show the tree huggers they are promoting these lighter loads. Might not shut them up but it's worth a try.