doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Shell selection reality check-gotta see this!

Here's the original thread:
http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3209&start=0

Boy, I am sure sorry. I was going to ask this question on another thread, but I guess there is no better time. I have a L.C. Smith grade 2, crown steel barrels, made in 1905. I have had people say that it is safe to shoot only with trap loads, others have said that it is safe with any nitro mag 2-3/4 shell. What is the real truth?

Very ouch--hope his eyes fared better than his fingers. That webpage is blocked for me here at work--what happened? Is there a likely culprit--old gun with too-thin barrels, high-pressure ammo, bore obstruction, etc??

David: check the thread when you can, but this was not an obstruction nor handload. The shooter had used the gun regularly for trap with trap loads and this happened with a Bismuth goose load.
IM: Most guys suggest limiting pressure to about 8000 psi, which is right about where the Winchester AA Xtra-Lite 1 oz Target Load runs. And sweet gun BTW! My 06' 16g LC is a Grade 2-nice enough for some extra pride in ownership, but not so nice you're scared to scratch the stock chasing birds.

Interesting. The pressure graph in the thread is, however, bogus. They call it 'chamber pressure', because that's where it peaks. This is well established.

SGJones got it right there. I doubt the actual shell had much to do with this burst. Doesn't really look like an obstruction burst either. Possibly a "Seamy" piece of steel that finally just took all it could & turned loose. In spite of all the condemnations of damascus a flaw such as this is as apt to show up in fluid steel which is "Drawn" into bars. A flaw is thus stretched into a seam which can be totally hidden in the wall.

Boy, that does give you pause about old guns. Apparently also happened to a 20 ga Ithaca.

Thats scary,
"16gaugeguy" ought to be very careful what he recommends on a public BBS.Posting "Store bought ammo must be safe to shoot in just about any gun of the prober gauge and chamber length considered functionally sound." is going to get somebody hurt.Keyboard cowboys like that are a lawyers dream !

Saying an old gun is safe with only trap loads is about as unreliable as any other generality. Factory trap and skeet loads are not likely to be low pressure. The contrary is more likely. Low pressure, light loads of shot are always better for old guns. I wouldn't dismiss the possibility of an obstruction just because the owner says it wasn't. It doesn't look like the results of one to me, though. The barrel looks a bit thin in the burst area, possibly the result of over honing or re-striking the outside to remove rust, pits or dents. I'm sorry too, about the injury and gun loss. Shot happens!

One of the first things I read when I discovered this Site some years ago was Cmdr. Roy Gunther's article "Is It Safe To Shoot?" in the 'other useful information' section. What he said to the effect that he wouldn't personally shoot any gun built before World War 2 has always stayed with me.

I am satisfied that you can shoot our old guns safely enough, and I do, regularly, but only with low-pressure shells, and after lots of inspection and consideration of the individual gun as a whole and the barrels especially. As a group, I believe the members of this forum provide some very well thought-out, reasoned, educated and relevant information to each other and to the Public.

I say enjoy collecting the old guns and use them if YOU believe they'll stand up to it. Get professional advice on condition if you aren't sure about that. But only use them appropriately and with full respect for their century old wood, battle scars, and metal parts that are inferior to modern materials...Geo