doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com 12 Bore Load

Hi everyone!

I'm doing some research on classic guns and wanted to know if something I came across was accurate.

Did they actually use 9 drams of black powder in the old 12 bore guns for African loads?

Thanks!

I am pretty sure Holland & Holland were the ones who starting making 12-bore rifles regulated for the 9 dram load of black powder. They first show it in their 1887 catalog. So yes there were 12-bore rifles regulated for a 9 dram load. I believe other makers made a few rifles using this load too, as I have also seen a 12-Bore Tolley that is supposedly regulated for 9 drams of black.

I have posted this table many times before from the DGJ and the work of Frank Findlow. Not shown in Franks tables but the Holland paradox 10 bore 8 dram load has about the same energy as the 9 dram 12 bore load.

Thank you for this information. Do you think that modern 12 gauge doubles would be all right with a 9 dram load, given that these seem to be on par with the pressures of a 3" magnum load?

These were rifles with heavy barrels not shotguns. Why don't you google Ed Hubel or Shotgun from Hell a long series dealing with modern shotguns and slug use.

I did come across Hubel's series, but I'm looking to reproduce black powder loadings and not modern slugs.

Well if you are looking to do that you have two options:

1.Find an original 12-Bore double rifle regulated for 9 drams of black powder. This should be about a 15 lb gun, and will be very hard to find, not to mention expensive.

2.Have someone custom make a 12-Bore black powder double rifle regulated for 9 drams of black powder.

Both of these options are going to be expensive. With modern shotguns, magnum or not, the barrels are too thin for conical bullets or even sperical balls. Plus you do not have express sights. It just won't work. You need a gun that is built from the ground up to be a rifle, not built to be a shotgun turned into a rifle.