doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Appropriate loads for Ithaca Flues 20 bore

I�m looking to work up a good load to shoot regularly in a nice little Ithaca Flues 20 bore I recently came into. I�ve read that turn of the century standard loads of 2 1/2 drams resulted in equivalent chamber pressures of 9000 psi for bulk and 11,000 psi for dense smokeless powder.

Looking at Hodgdon�s reloading tables show that the loads listed for 7/8 ounce payloads all range between the 9000 and 11000 psi range or higher and I cannot fing any load data for a 3/4 ounce load.

Not wanting to abuse this sweet little Flues, does anyone have any suggestions or documented pet loads they would be willing to share?

Dave Myrick

Dave, I shoot 2.5" low pressure RST shells in mine. Some Flues 20's have burst the frames shooting high pressure shells. I don't remember the chamber length in my Flues 20, but several of my light American 20ga guns do have the short chambers. RST or PolyWad vintager type shells kill birds just fine for me...Geo

I no longer reload, so others who do will provide some effective load data for low pressure.

I'd stick to the RSTs. In 20 gauge, very are very mild.

I appreciate that advice but prefer to load my own.

I use the lightest Alliant published 3/4 oz load using 20/28 powder, with # 8 Shot my bushing actually throws 11/16 oz. recoil is very mild. Guns are choked tight 11/16 is all the shot they need for clay targets.

I have hunted preserve Quail with the same loads. It�s about the largest bird that load is suitable for. Larger or longer birds I use a different gauge gun.

Pressure is important in most vintage lightweight SXS guns cracking the stock is what you want to avoid.

Boats.

PM sent

Back in the early 1960's I shot a 20 gauge Flues quite a bit. Chambers had been lengthened to 2 3/4" & not knowing any better at the time I shot it mostly with off the shelf 2�DE-1oz shot loads. It took them all in stride. "IF" I were using it today I would limit it to the 2�DE-7/8oz loads.

This was a fairly late Flues with a 6lb weight. Some earlier Flues' are around 5�lb & may have thinner side walls in the frame which is where they crack.

Keep in mind "Pressure" bursts barrels, "Recoil" cracks frames & stocks. For the Flues you do not want Heavy nor Fast shot loads, its not really so much about the pressure.

I am not at my home computer right now. On it I have several loads which are Flues safe. All loads are tested or from known sources. I will pm them to you this evening. One I use for hunting is AA 7/8 ounce at 7k. For clay target I use a 3/4 ounce load that is even lighter. Best thing to do is pick one, load six shells up and send them out for pressure testing. A very cheap thing to do for total peace of mind.

Have you checked the chambers to see if they are still 2 1/2�? If they are don�t alter them. Nothing makes a gun stronger by removing metal at key stress points.

Look here
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=421067

And here
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/shotgun

And here
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gauge=20&gtypeid=3

I use a AA hull, Win 209 primer, Claybuster 3/4oz wad and 15 grains of 20/28 powder. Works fabulous and very pleasant to shoot. An excellent load with higher pressure is 14 grains of Green Dot. If you want to use a straight wall hull the SG-20L or M wads work great. Let us know what you do.
Regards,
Jeff

Lots of parts in a 20ga Flues to batter to pieces with heavy loads.
3/4 oz, 1100 fps, and as low a pressure as you can get to burn.

They are struck very thin right by where your hand will rest, to get the low barrel weight. And of course the stocks are very lithe as well.

You are on the right track with your request.

It's hard to find the recipe's they require primarily because most loads listed need to actuate an auto loader.