lengthing chambers
lengthing chambers
I had a gunsmith lengthen the chambers on my 1927 Sterlingworth. At the time I was not aware that 2 1/2 shells were available. I spoke to someone at RST and they have lite 2 3/4 loads that I can use in the gun. What shells are most of you using...what do you recommend? I am told that Federal make a ultra lite load.
-
bbman3
- Posts: 1620
- Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:13 pm
- Location: Deep South
- Has thanked: 180 times
- Been thanked: 112 times
- Contact:
Re: lengthing chambers
You can use the 2 1/2 inch shells in your longer chambers which I do on my lighter Foxes.I shoot regular 2 3/4 inch in my Foxes with that length chambers.I buy cheap Winchester,Rem,Federal etc game loads. Bobby
-
Researcher
- Posts: 5750
- Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:18 pm
- Location: WA/AK
- Has thanked: 301 times
- Been thanked: 1543 times
Re: lengthing chambers
While no one can tell you over the internet what ammunition may be safe in a given gun, in my younger years I had the chambers of a few smaller gauge doubles lengthened for 2 3/4 inch shells. The 12-gauge Fox doubles regularly came with 2 5/8 inch chambers which were intended for 2 3/4 inch shells so I've never had one of them touched. For high volume shooting at clay targets I pretty much stick to my 1200 fps, 6300 psi 7/8 ounce reloads. Pressure is not really the issue. The heaviest old bulk smokeless powder or dense smokeless powder loads our ammunition companies offered during the first 25 years or so of the 20th Century had pressures as high or higher than modern SAAMI specs for 2 3/4 inch 12-gauge shells. These 3 1/2 drams of bulk smokeless powder pushing 1 1/4 ounce of shot --
and these 28-grains of Ballistite pushing 1 1/4 ounce of shot --
loads ranged from 11700 to 12600 pounds according to some old DuPont powder booklets in my collection.
The introduction of progressive burning smokeless powders, perfected during The Great War, to shot shells in the early 1920s, Western Cartridge Co.'s Super-X load leading the way, meant that our ammunition companies could move that 1 1/4 ounce 12-gauge load out at considerably higher velocity, and in the 16- and 20-gauges a 1/8 ounce heavier payload and higher velocity, at significantly lower pressures. Cracked stocks are much more a long term result of this higher velocity or heavier payload and higher velocity effect then anything to do with pressures. The introduction of the even heavier payloads in the 2 3/4 inch magnum shells in late 1954 probably made things even worse for our Fox doubles aging and oil soaked stocks.
The metal of a sound condition, on face, Fox double is more then suitable for any SAAMI Spec. 2 3/4 inch lead loads. The aged and oil soaked stocks maybe not so much.
and these 28-grains of Ballistite pushing 1 1/4 ounce of shot --
loads ranged from 11700 to 12600 pounds according to some old DuPont powder booklets in my collection.
The introduction of progressive burning smokeless powders, perfected during The Great War, to shot shells in the early 1920s, Western Cartridge Co.'s Super-X load leading the way, meant that our ammunition companies could move that 1 1/4 ounce 12-gauge load out at considerably higher velocity, and in the 16- and 20-gauges a 1/8 ounce heavier payload and higher velocity, at significantly lower pressures. Cracked stocks are much more a long term result of this higher velocity or heavier payload and higher velocity effect then anything to do with pressures. The introduction of the even heavier payloads in the 2 3/4 inch magnum shells in late 1954 probably made things even worse for our Fox doubles aging and oil soaked stocks.
The metal of a sound condition, on face, Fox double is more then suitable for any SAAMI Spec. 2 3/4 inch lead loads. The aged and oil soaked stocks maybe not so much.
Share the knowledge