doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hunting/Target Ammo for Vintage Side-by-Side

If you use European cartridges look for the letters CIP on the box. If they state they are o.k. for 65mm., 67mm., or 70mm, you are o.k. One thing of note that although Proof tested for the 70mm. 2 3/4" cartridges I would avoid heavy loads. Although the gun is now tested safe for them it was made as a lightweight game gun and best used with light cartridges to avoid excessive recoil and punishing an old gun. Game cartridges in the 28 or 30 gram range would be good choices. Lagopus�..

Thanks all. I went ahead and purchased some RST shells, their 2 3/4� Lite 1 oz loads. That should work for my hunting ammo needs. I�m sure I could also use them for target shooting but would also welcome recommendations on �off the shelf� target ammo that has low pressures. I read over Drew�s linked article and it seems that Winchester AA low noise low recoil or B&P Competition shells could do the trick. If there are folks who currently use certain modern factory ammo brands that aren�t prohibitively expensive for breaking clays with vintage guns, please chime in.

I don�t currently reload but I am starting to wonder if learning how to do so would be a good idea...

ms86,
For my guns chambered for 2 3/4", I use Estate Super Sport Competition shells, 2 3/4" 1 oz. #8's. At 1175 fps, they are reasonable in cost and soft shooting.
Karl

Reloading is an excellent idea

If the gun is proofed at 70mm (2 3/4") it can handle the pressure of US 2 3/4" loads. My concern is recoil on the wood and my shoulder so I prefer lighter recoiling loads.

For all of the birds you mention, except pheasants, I would use 2 3/4" 1 ounce #7.5 at 1150 - 1200 fps. I would use the same load for sporting clays and skeet but would use either #7.5 or #8 shot.

I haven't hunted wild pheasants but would increase the load to 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 ounces of #5 or #6 shot with a lower velocity - I'm not a believer in high velocity for lead shot loads.

Thanks. I think the RST shells I purchased are exactly in line with your thoughts. #7.5 1 oz load that should be a good option for clays, quail, and dove. I did also buy some #5 1 oz loads to try out on pheasant.

Since you're shooting a British gun, you may also want to try some British shells. Kent Gamebore makes a Pure Gold load in 12ga with which I've had excellent results on wild pheasants. 1 1/16 oz of British 6's. Brit shot sizes run smaller than ours. Their 6's, at 270 to the ounce, are slightly larger than our 7's. That load gives you almost exactly the same pellet count as 1 1/4 oz of American 6's. 2 1/2" paper hulls with fiber wads. If you want the equivalent of American 6's in shot size, you need to use Brit 5's.

Only guessing, but is it possible that the pheasant and chukar are preserve birds? I hadn't seen mention of chokes, distances or confidence in the pattern board, but you may be more than well covered by an ounce of #7 or #6 for the bigger birds. I'd suppose #5's are just fine. I think reloading is a great option, but that doesn't mean someone can't mix in factory shells with their shooting.

Is that 1&1/16 oz load available in a plastic case Larry?

You got it the pheasants and chukar in this case would be pen raised though I�d like to get out and do some wild pheasant hunting we just don�t have as much of that in TX. Chokes are basically IC and Light Modified/Modified (.011 and .017) and shots typically within 20-25 yards. For clays the application would likely be sporting clays or skeet. Not as likely to be used for trap.