doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 2 9/16 sixteen ga. chambers.....2 3/4 inch ammo

I HAVE JUST ACQUIRED AN OLD SIXTEEN GAUGE DOUBLE WITH 2 9/16 INCH CHAMBERS. I WONDER IF 2 3/4 INCH LIGHT LOADS WOULD HARM THE OLD GUN WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I ALSO WONDER IF GUAGE-MATES THAT WOULD ALLOW THE FIRING OF MODERN 20 GAUGE SHELLS WOULD BE SAFE TO USE IN THE OLD GIRL. IN MEANTIME, I HAVE ORDERED 2 1/2 INCH VINTAGER LOADS FROM POLYWAD. ANY ADVICE OR EXPERIENCES YOU CAN SHARE????

Please see these threads:
http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1983
http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1751

And here's some infro about Gauge Mate pressures:

Quote:
We have commissioned independent
pressure/velocity test with Winchester
AA
and Remington STS ammunition in 12 to 20, 12 to
28 and 16 to 28-g
adapters.
Pressure testing was done at the forcing cone
area. Because different
test guns
were used, the 12-g gun was measured at 3" and
the 16-g at 3 5/16" from
the
breech face. There are no industry standards for
pressure at that point.
Here is a sample of the data.

16 to 28 Winchester AA -- 5900 psi and 1252 fps
16 to 28-g Remington STS -- 5100 psi and 1215 fps

Nominal velocity for both brands is 1200 fps
SAAMI pressure standard for 16-g at one inch from
the breech face is
11,500 psi.

There are SO many options for low pressure 16g shells now that the Gauge Mates probably arn't worth the hassle (though you could use the cheap promotional loads for clays)

Mr. Regal - Without knowing anything about the piece in question and assuming it is a quality firearm in good condition, and depending the configuration of the chambers and the shells, it would most likely work, and not harm the gun. But there are so many varibles, I wouldn't say it was OK.

I have an old Doumolin SxS 16 Ga. that I will fire certain 2 3/4 shells in, it is a 65MM chambered gun. I shoot Fiocchi Game and Target shells in it without any worries. There are a boatload of shells I wouldn't shoot in it however. And just because I may choose to do this, doesn't make it OK to fire 2 3/4 shells in a short chambered 16, carte blanche.

With the availbilty of short & low-Pressure 16 Gauge shells, why risk it ?

Also tell us about the gun ?

Can you post pictures of it ?

If it were a 1930s WWII Sauer or Manufrance etc, in good condition you would be in pretty good shape, same for some American guns, Sterlingworth etc.

Tom, the Gauge Mates themselves are 2 3/4" long so will not fit in your short chambered gun. 2 3/4" shells fit in short chambers only because they don't become 2 3/4" long until after they are fired. And grinding them down so they will fit is not a good idea either as the 2 3/4" shells will open up beyond the metal and will be very difficult to remove. This isn't just my opinion, I actually called the company and asked them about it.

Larry

Gentlemen All,
Thanks for your good advice. I have ordered a flat of 2 1/2 inch shells for the old girl from Polywad. As info, the gun is a Francotte. Thanks again.
Tom

Good Gun !

BTW Weekend after next I am going to be counting coupe, on Sand Hill Cranes, with the Zabala I purchased from you.

Your Francotte should be fine with most 2-1/2 dram 2-3/4" field loads. I like the Winchester Super-X Australian shells, and the Remington Game Loads. Use them in my Parker and LC Smith 16's with no problems. The Parker is 1906 short chamber, and the Smith is 1928-29 on a Featherweight frame. The Federal field loads seem a good bit stouter than the others, so I save them for the Model 12's. You can get short 16's from ARMUSA, RST, Kent Gamebore, among others. Pressure is more important than shell length in the old 16's. Don't lengthen the chambers, but consider easing the forcing cones.

The only reason to use Gauge Mates in an old 16 is so that you can bum 20 gauge shells from your buddies.