Shot my LC at doves yesterday and the Vintagers shells were hanging in the extractors both going in and coming out. I compared them to some WW shells and they just dropped into place instead of having to push them home. Not every Vintager was a problem, but enough were for me to wonder if others noticed this problem.

I don't want to break a spring on this old gun!

Buy some Federal 'Gold Medal' 2&3/4dr 1&1&8oz papers and your problem will go away. You might also increase you hit/miss ratio. A better shell in every way.
If that LC Smith can't handle this shell you need another gun.

Well thanks for the advice. The chambers were lengthened from 2 1/2 but I don't know about the 70 year old stock. As for needing another gun I've got another.

Deltaboy:

Previously, I've shot flats of the Polywad Vintagers(if that's the shotshell you are referring to) without any problems. But one of the last flats of no. 12 bore 2 1/2" 24g #6s had several cartridges that had an issue/indention near the crimp. But a Leech & Sons boxlock & a Lindner Daly, both which I shot, as well as a Model 1900 Remington with ejectors digested them fine with the exception of 1 cartridge that the shot just made it out the end of the 30" tubes.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Those are specs for kiddie, or subsonic trainer loads. Local W-mart carries Winnie 70mm Featherlites for $5.98/box. You are getting screwed on the price Raimey! My fav 'Gold Medal' is 3 x better shell for 50c/box less.
Just to help you let me give you specs for Winnie load:
Code: AA12FL 2&3/4" #8 1oz 1000fps Recoil velocity 8.9ft/sec time to flight to 30yrds .1177 sec.

Well, those kiddie loads really do the trick. The downed doves don't seem to have a preference. What pressure are you looking at on the AA12FL and what price are you assuming on the Vintagers? What about the diffence in shotshell length?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

3 Dr. Eq. 1 1/8 oz.
Winchester Trap Load
1,202 fps 9,600 psi

AA Xtra-Lite 1 oz WAAL12
1189 fps 8000 psi

AA 'Low noise Low recoil' 15/16 oz
980 fps 6,200 psi

Thanks guys I just wondered if I was the only experiencing trouble with these shells.

Their site states $95/250 rounds for large box full of "entropic" contents.
Most QUALITY lead game loads fall in 450bar to 650bar range. Hot German 3&1/4dreq 1&1/4oz 70mm shell develops about 600bar (pretty much like one of those crazzzy live pigeon loads). I can't see those "subsonic" Winnie loads developing >500bar.
PS. Short chambers & forcing cones plus longer shells make for very poor combo. That will result in extra slap und...... I see those guns you mentioned were made before late 20s, so you might want to stick with 65mm cases.

Thanks for posting oh omnipresent RevDoc. You see boys quality standard American game loads are about equal to those stupid CIP Euro offerings.

Call Jay at Polywad and see if he has had other complaints. Every once and a while a bad batch happens. I have not been having problems.

Jager:

Thanks for attempting to assist me in the cost, but I prefer Damascus tubes(they are a work of art) and most are 65mm and short forcing cones. Using 70mm in a 65mm chamber, even though the pressure of most intended is within the range, could result in a rogue Baby Mag or Polymag being dropped in the chamber and ignited to dire conseqences. I do shoot RST and others but Polywad's flats are a box of loose which you can take to the field, open up and empty(also put hulls in box). No other trash of boxtops and the like. Tread lightly and left little evidence, such as a footprint or broken cotton stalk, that you were there. The more powder charge you put behind a shot charge, the longer the shot string. The Polywad shotshells burn a little dirty and may suffer in fringe area but in my case, they perform well when you are on target. For the cost of an additional box, one could have the SpredR(?) load which is supposed to aide in the fringe area. I had purchased several cases when they were cheaper and from gunshops whose clients didn't like loose shotshells and the flats were around $85. Some were more with shipping. On your millisecond time, are you measuring group velocity or an average velocity along the shotstring?

Thanks & Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse