doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Two inch Twelve gauge

Reverend Doctor Drew, I finally picked up my Powell gun after a week at the beach. I'm sending you a picture of the barrel flats, but the proof is 1 1/8th oz. Gil, I do not find the JA mark on the barrels ..Geo

There's a Powell collector on board here. Maybe he can add something about the origin, but I believe Powell made their own if not mistaken. Gil

George,

Contact Steve Helsley through a PM. He’s the guy GLS refers to above.

Ken

George's Powell SN 15126



The date code is 1954 but still proved 1 1/8 oz. under the 1925 Rules

So in summary

In late 1935, the Proof House established that 2" proof and service pressures were the same as 2 1/2" - 3 Dr. Eq. with 1 1/8 oz. shot with a mean pressure of 3 1/4 tons by LUP = 9,800 psi by Burrard’s conversion.

Henry Sharp in Shooting Times, April 1, 1939 re: 2" loads
This latest issue with its load of 28 grains of Empire powder and 1 oz. of shot will be obtainable for the coming season as an alternative to the cartridge with the original loading of 26 grains of Smokeless Diamond and 7/8 oz. of shot.
The same loads are listed in the 1948 Edition of Burrard; with no 36 gr., 42 gr., nor Dense Smokeless listed
Curtis’s & Harvey “Diamond Smokeless” (introduced in 1903) and Nobel’s Explosive Co.'s “Empire” were both 11 grains/dram equivalent
26 grains = 2.36 Dr. Eq (roughly the standard (British) 20g 7/8 oz. 2 1/3 Dr. Eq. load)
28 grains = 2.55 Dr. Eq. (roughly the standard 16g 1 oz. 2 1/2 Dr. Eq load)

Burrard's The Modern Shotgun, Vol. II "The Cartridge", 1955 3rd Edition p. 157 lists standard pressures for cartridges
12g 2 1/2" 1 1/16 oz. 3 Dr. Eq. Service 2.7 tons = 7,952 psi; Max. 3.5 tons = 10,640 psi
12g 2" 7/8 oz. 2.36 Dr. Eq. (26 grains of 33 grain = 3 Dr.Eq. powder) Service 2.25 tons = 6,440 psi; Max. 3.0 = 8,960 psi

Under the 1954 Rules of Proof 2” chamber guns were proved for 2 3/4 tons = 8,193 psi max. service load.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
We've seen 2" guns marked 3/4, 7/8, 1 and 1 1/8 oz proof
Were the proof and service pressures for 3/4 oz. and 7/8 oz lower than 1 and 1 1/8 oz??

some photos from Steve Helsley and one of his 2" guns.

You might ask about its proofs. He said it was bought in '41.


https://peromycus.imgur.com/all

F. P. Baker 2"
https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...f-p--baker-in-20-ga.cfm?gun_id=100876180
F. P. Baker was a department store with a sporting goods and a gun department. Skimmin & Wood were known suppliers.

That's a weird gun. Description says 2.5" 12 ga. Title says 20 gauge. At 6 lbs it's a nice 12 gauge if 2.5 or 2.75" but it is porky if it is a 2". As a 20, it's a lot of extra baggage. Any idea what it sold for?

You might be correct Brent. A pic of the flats would help, but it was Cabela's

It is probably a 2.5" 12 gauge. It's a bit heavy for a 20, and for sure it is not a Skimin and Wood 2" action. Even with the poor photos, I can tell that.