Pressure is not directly related to recoil. However, it is directly related to what can happen to the metal parts of a gun, as mentioned above. (And, as graphically illustrated by Sherman Bell in his destruction tests, reported in Double Gun Journal--although worth noting those were examples of EXTREME overpressure loads. Well above proof pressure, let alone service pressure.)
Unlike some, however, I don't think we need to look for 5,000 psi loads for our vintage guns. For one thing, sometimes ultra-low pressure loads don't perform well in cold weather. The old reloading manuals--for example, from Lyman--used to note on some loads "not recommended for cold weather". Sometimes low pressure, sometimes very low velocity.
Re gjw's earlier post on a low pressure hunting load, I've used something quite similar on pheasants for a long time. 1 1/8 oz shot in a Federal Gold Medal hull with Unique, Fed 12S3 wad. Also around 1200 fps and 7,000 psi. I would not want to shoot a round of skeet with that load in a light British game gun, but it's fine for hunting--and I don't need 1 1/8 oz for skeet anyhow.
Re recoil relative to shot charge and velocity, I shot a few Kent Fasteel loads at preserve chukars yesterday. (Preserve requires nontox.) 7/8 oz, 1500 fps. I was shooting a sub-6# Ithaca Classic Doubles 20ga. Thought the darned thing doubled the first time I pulled the trigger. Wow! Looking at my ballistics book, I find that load has a recoil energy of 24.5 ft/lbs. I'd never shot anything heavier than a standard lead target load, 7/8 oz @ 1200 fps--which has almost exactly half the recoil energy. (And most of the time, shooting skeet, I use 3/4 oz reloads.) Now I know why it kicked that hard!
Last edited by L. Brown; 03/17/15 08:51 AM.
