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I am interested in getting an American 12 gauge double and I was curious about a couple of Ithacas, the Fleus and NID. Is the earlier Fleus safe to shoot with modern 2 1/2" ammo or low pressure handloads? Can someone tell me about the weight and feel of these guns and how you think they compare to one another.

Skip

Flues USUALLY lighter and better handling, NID's always stronger, assuming equal states of condition.

Lot's of us shoot our Flues with low pressure loads, I think some late Flues had 2-3/4" chambers but I feel you're better off with the 2-1/2".

NID's are safe with sane, modern 2-3/4 loads.

Thank you. I just measured a few of the AAHS hulls I have and they average about 2.68". The gun is sn 382xxx. If I looked at the chart correctly that makes it a 1923 gun. According to a book I have Ithaca went to 2 3/4" chambers in 1924. I believe I can trim those ten to twelve hundredths off the hull (if necessary) to get them down to 2 9/16". I only plan to shoot 7/8 or 1 oz loads in the gun. Most of the 1 ounce shells I loaded years ago has slightly dished crimps and could stand a little shortening anyway. What is a safe pressure limit on this gun? I plan to shoot it no more than 200 times per year.

Skip

Skip,
Just shoot it and dont worry about miniscule length differences. It only makes less than 100 psi differnces at worst.

"According to a book I have Ithaca went to 2 3/4" chambers in 1924"
In an American built 12 gauge??? They had 2 3/4 inch chambers well before 1923. The smaller gauges, yes, I agree, but I think you need to plug that chamber.
All the best

When the gun gets here the chambers will be measured. I was basing that date on what I read in "The Best Shotguns Ever Made in America", by Michael McIntosh.

Skip

OK, so the guy used McIntosh as an Ithaca reference. Snipe Hunter, around these parts using any Ithaca reference not quoting Walt Snyder is akin to defiling virgins, raping dogs and shooting over and unders. In this case you're safe since McIntosh's data is quoted from Snyder. Your information is correct- before August, 1924, 2 5/8". After August, 1924, 2 3/4". Enjoy a fine field gun and remember what GrandPa used to say, "Son, quit worrying about the mule going blind and just keep loading the wagon."

Cary, thank you. You can tell by the number of posts that I don't get 'round these parts too often.

Am I correct that a 382xxx serial number means the gun was made in 1923? Is there a pressure limit that anyone familiar with the Flues recommends I stay under? I don't load for any other twelve gauge guns anymore but I have enough wads and powder on hand to load at least 500 rounds. If I could use that up it would mean I don't have have to buy anything for a couple of years. The published pressure using those components in a one ounce load is 7500 +/- psi.

Skip

Walt's list in Walt's book shows 1924. Walt's list differs from some of the others because most of the others are repeats of the same list, complete with errors. Walt's list corrects these errors as much as is possible after this many years.

I'd stay below 8,000 psi pressure just because it seems to be the most often recommended. You'll be fine at 7,500.

I'll throw a few stars at you to welcome you back.

The pressure is far more important than the hull length. Use a loading manual load of 7,500 psi or less and the extra hull length will not matter enough to matter. There are plenty of loads that are sub-7500 psi. Also, use light shot charges, say 7/8 oz, for low recoil. Low pressure is kind to the metal and low recoil is kind to the wood and the shooter.

These old guns are a hoot to shoot. But, being a bit long of tooth, they require careful considertion for their dietary needs.