ITX Trials
I started with a 1950 Husqvana 615 12 gauge. Bores .117 & .718. Gun came choked Full and X-full. I drove the gun to a destination gun smith not far from Owatonna to have the chokes opened to IM and LM. Also had them ream the chamber to 3 inch which in retrospect was a waste of money as I can get all the performance I need with 23/4. I then patterned the gun using 11/8 and 11/4 ITX loads – relatively low pressure nothing over 9000 PSI. Results were horrible; as one of my friends stated where did the shot go? Unbelievably bad patterns. I then checked the gun it appears the smith never pushed the Gilchrist reamer all the way through the bore leaving a small lip at the end of the chokes. Gun also kicked like a mule. I bought my own tools and lengthened the forcing cones and re-cut the chokes to IM (.023) and LM (.013). The Husky printed better but was not acceptable. I then used my Montefeltro as a ‘control’. Using Carlson IM chokes I got OK patterns from the same ITX loads but when I went to LM (Skeet II) the patterns were excellent. I then had the opportunity to pick up a Knockabout that had been built as a 10 gauge but reworked by the previous owner to 3” 12 gauge. Briley sleeved the chambers making it a heavily over-bored 12 gauge. The Francotte throws excellent patterns with ITX and anything else I have shot so far. The Husky has been relegated to an upland gun. My tests with lead shot suggest a short shot cup like the BP Brush Wad throws the best patterns with #5 and #6 lead. IMO the ITX is just a little too hard for the tight bores and chokes when combined with a heavy shot cup designed to carry tungsten payloads. Based on my experience combined with comments from others the ITX runs much better with more open chokes and I would probably just run with NICE shot if I was to load for an original European double gun.
