doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The 24 Gauge: An Oddity

Mainly found in Continental Europe. I have a Belgian Byard 24 bore hammer double in just about mint condition. I rescued it from a local gunshop. The owner was going to have it de-activated as a wall piece. I made an offer on it and rescued it just in time. I also have a double hammer gun by G.E. Lewis of Birmingham. I can find Fiocchi ammunition and sometimes get an odd old box of something of French manufacture. Magtech make brass cases too. Not much practical use at the side of a 28 bore but fun to use something a bit different. Lagopus.....

I have a german drilling made in 24 gauge. Very petite gun with a side lever. Probably made for a child or woman shooter

Maybe more unique is a 32 ga, I have one of those too.

John
Arrieta

I have been searching for my 24 gauge stuff, since this thread started. All I can find is the loading data I used in 2007. The powders are no longer made, so we'll skip that.
The 24 gauge as loaded today is weak. The guns were primarily "garden guns", something you kept in the European garden shed to blast pests away from your crops.

Fiocchi makes ammo with #8, 6 and 5 shot. Fiocchi uses a brush wad and really soft lead. The barrels are a mess after shooting. The best use for the factory shells is practice and make empies for a better reload.

The better reload. Ballistic Products has a SG24 wad it has petals. The wad is from Italy and really made for a 2 3/4" hull. It can work in a 2 1/2" hull, if you roll crimp. The previously mentioned roll crimper from Italy is the way to go. I did convert a MEC600 Jr to 24. I had a 28 gauge sizing ring opened to 24. Skip the last 2 stations on the loader, since roll crimping. I still have the MEC.

My 24 gauge loads were #8 1/2, 13/16oz, pellet count about 404.

The 24 gauge pellet count ends up equal to the 12 gauge shooter next to you with 1 oz of #8, their pellet count about 410.
At normal skeet and clays ranges, the 24 tosses about same pellet count and breaks just as many birds. I left many die hard skeet shooters scratching their heads, wondering how did I do that? It's just math, plus a little move-mount-shoot.

My gun has moved on to other shooters. It's in the Atlanta area currently.

All Best,

Joe in Charlotte

Whatever happened to that one? Other than the pad, it was a sharp old gun.

Best,
Ted

I sold this gun to complete a model 21 3 barrel set project. 410, 28, and 20 gauge.

Good plan. Three gauges are more useful than one, especially that one.

Best,
Ted

I can't help you there as I shoot Fiocchi factory shells.

John
Arrieta

The gun I mentioned above is actually a Zoli - Rizzini. I got it out and realized it has a date code of 1969. I would never have guessed from the condition.

I remember when John was selling the Berettas. I checked regularly because I badly wanted a pair in 24 and 32 with double triggers. Never popped; just didn't have the money then. One turned up recently on GB and I bid a lot but was amazed at the final bid. Supply and demand. I bought a double trigger 686 Special 2 years ago and it brought the price of a new base level 686. The older Berettas in odd gauges or double trigger configuration are showing some demand.