Any idea what the pressue is like on new Herters Target loads?

[Drew Hause]

John: A DuPont Ballistic Table was published in Parker Brothers' “The Small Bore Shotgun” c. 1920 http://parkerguns.org/pages/PDF%20Do...%20Shotgun.pdf
It is clear that this table converts Long Tons to PSI simply by multiplying by 2240; NOT using Burrard’s conversion
p. 7 “All powders referred to on these pages are of the bulk nitro"
Numbers require adding 10 - 14% for modern piezo transducer pressures.
12 gauge
3 Dr. Eq. 1 1/8 oz. = 8,110 psi
3 1/4 Dr. Eq. 1 1/8 oz. = 8,960 psi
3 1/2 Dr. Eq. 1 1/4 oz. = 9,900 psi
16 gauge
2 3/4 Dr. Eq. 7/8 oz. = 7,035 psi
3 Dr. Eq. 1 oz. = 8,980 psi
20 gauge
2 1/2 Dr. Eq. 7/8 oz. = 12,655 psi
DENSE Smokeless Powder pressures would be 1000 - 1,500 psi higher

The 1933 edition of “Smokeless Shotgun Powders” by Wallace Coxe, ballistic engineer of the Burnside Laboratory of the E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. reported the pressure for 1 1/4 oz. 3 Dr. Eq. of DuPont Bulk Smokeless at 9,600 psi by LUP.

Of course everything changed with Western's boomers

In a 1927 Western Cartridge Co. flyer “Super-X The Long Range Load” by Capt. Chas. Askins the 12g “Duck Load” (not specified but presumed to be 1 1/4 oz. Super-X “Field”) is described as 3 1/2 dram (38.5 gr. DuPont Oval Powder = 11 gr. / Dr. Eq.); at 1400 fps (at the muzzle rather than 3 feet) and 1000 fps average over 40 yards, with a breech pressure of 3 3/4 tons or about 11,480 psi by Burrard’s conversion.
3” Super-X “Record” with 1 3/8 oz. at MV 1400 fps with 4.25 Tons psi = 13,160 psi
Super-X 10g 1 5/8 oz “about 4 1/2 Drams” No. 2 shot Full choke 32” barrel, average velocity over 40 yds. 1030 fps; “up to 13,000 psi” by crushers = about 14,500 psi by modern transducers.
Super-X 3 1/2” 10 Gauge Magnum in Ithaca Gun Co. with bore .795” with 2 oz. shot; pressures “about 5 Tons” = 15,680 psi

[Drew Hause]

A Hunter Arms Co. Pressure Curve dated June 10, 1929, is in the McCracken Research Library, Buffalo Bill Center of the West
http://library.centerofthewest.org/c...d/8149/rec/107

Maximum Standard Factory Loads 1” peak pressures
12g 3” ‘Record’ 1 3/8 oz. shot presumed 1275 – 1295 fps = 13,250 psi
12g 2 3/4” ‘Field’ 1 1/4 oz. shot presumed 1330 fps = 10,750 psi
12g 2 3/4” 1 1/4 oz. 28 gr. (3 1/2 Dr. Eq.) Ballistite = 12,900 psi
12g 2 3/4” 1 1/4 oz. 3 1/2 Dr. Eq. DuPont Bulk = 10,000 psi

[charlie cleveland]

those 10 ga magnums are way up yonder...the 3 inch loads aint far behind...them duck loads in 2 3/4 are not far behind...its a wonder that any of these old guns got a stock left on them... i have shot my share of these old 1 1/4 ounce loads...charlie

[John Davis]

Charlie, maybe they're a little tougher than we give them credit for.