Shotshell Pressure Question?

[Ed Blake]

"High" and "Low" pressure designations are relative terms in regards to vintage shotguns. I use a rule of thumb of anything over 8,500 psi is considered high, and if you think your gun can't handle 8,500 psi (for one reason or another) the gun should not be shot. Period. Go read Sherman Bell's series in the DGJ.

[Mike Stahle]

Originally Posted by Leighton Stallones

I bought some of these also, in the commerative box and e mailed Federal as to the pressure. I received a semi generic answer back telling me to assume that all of their ammo was 10,000psi or more

I did the same this morning, anxious to see what reply I get back.

[Mike Stahle]

Originally Posted by Mike Stahle

I did the same this morning, anxious to see what reply I get back.

Hey Federal, still waiting for a reply.

[Mike Stahle]

Any idea as to pressures of any of these old rounds?

https://docs.google.com/View?id=dfg2hmx7_333g89dwqg8

[Roundsworth]

I have quite a few catalogs from WRA Co., Eley and Kynoch. They date from 1881 to 1928. No pressures are given in any of them. I wonder how they came up with velocities. It would be interesting to see what was used as a 'chronograph' 100+ years ago. Testing pressure was probably done with lead or copper slugs in a special chamber. Even so, where did they come up with the standards. In other words, .xxx" squish equates to x,xxx LUP or CUP. Mike and Calvin, I agree with you. I don't handload shotshells (yet), but use Polywads in my non-fluid steel barrels. It does not take but 4 or 5 pounds of energy per pellet for taking a Ruffed Grouse. Cheers!

[Leighton Stallones]

Although Federal sent me the reply about 10,000 psi assumptions, I do not believe they are over 8500 psi and maybe less from shooting them. I don't shoot them in my damascus simply because of the recoil of 1 1/8, but millions of this nature have been shot in Damascus and laminated for over 100 years.

[Bruce Day]

Then there's always the proof and service load table in the barrels chapter of TPS. People seem to want avoid that pressure information and invent their own pressure limits.

Guess its foolhardy to drive the old SL above 60 mph also.

[Mike Stahle]

Well guys I did the unthinkable with a Damascus barreled
parker and shot 5 rounds of these smokeless shells through each barrel today.

The old girl didn’t even flinch for a second. She said just bring it.
For what it’s worth, the recoil was noticeable less than the same load in
MagTech with BP. Wow! this old girl shoots a very tight pattern.
I repeatedly flipped an old 5 gal. Kerosene oil can over at 40 paces with this load of #8 shot. All the shot cups were found within 10 to 15 feet of the can. And for what it’s worth the barrel didn’t blow up or split, and I still have all my fingers.

[Bruce Day]

Be careful in saying anything. You'll have the low pressure police after you.

I've shot thousands of rounds of moderate pressure factory shells through my damascus guns, as have other major collectors I know. One of the most significant collectors buys shells from Wal-Mart and blasts away with high grade guns, yet he won't say anything here because of adverse comments it would raise. Others buy Win AA Lights and Ultra Lights by the multi case lot, one even buys a pallet every year and fires away through a damascus AH.

But, over the years, I have seen several guns rupture. All have been fluid steel barreled. Proof positive that you need to be careful in shooting fluid steel guns.

[Austin W Hogan]

Gentlemen: I was cleaning up the disks today, and came across this figure which appeared in Parker Pages a few years ago. It shows that regardless what the guys in the grey flannel suits say, chamber pressure is simply a function of the length of the shot column.
Parkers are strong, they will take a lot of heavy loads without saying uncle. Along the way to uncle , chips will appear behind the tang, and the stock will begin to show some space along side the tang.
Remember that 80% of Parkers were made when 3/4 ounce was a twenty gauge load, 7/8 ounce a 16 ga load, 1 or 1 1/8 in a twelve, amd 1 1/4 ounce in a ten.

Best, Austin