doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 2 1/2" Shell Advise

Hi all, need some advise from those in the know. I may be in the market for a nice english SxS with sleeved bbls and 2 1/2 chambers. The seller said I could hone the chamber out to 2 3/4". I have my doubts as to how safe this would be.

Anyway to get to the point. What is a good load in 2 1/2" for wild pheasants (shot size, etc). Would be hunting over a good pointing dog, but want something to really anchor the birds.

Also, other than RST, where is a good source for factory 2 1/2 loads (not interested in reloading)?

Thanks again as always!!!!

Greg

B&P High Pheasant is my favorite 2.5" loading, 1 1/16 oz at 1300 fps, but best for modern steels. It sounds like your gun might qualify.

Their #5s are about like US #5.5.

Sam

We've lost Eley and ARMUSA shotshells
Polywad 'Vintager' http://www.polywad-shotgun-shells.com 800-998-0669
Kent/Gamebore http://www.firearmservice.com 512-821-9953
RST http://www.rstshells.com 570-553-1651
B&P offers 67mm F2 Sub Sound and MB Light in 12g. and are excellent loads http://www.bandpusa.com/ 800-683-0464
Italian 5s are sorta US 5 1/2s

A pheasant is a tough bird and straightaway shots need good penetration. Nos 4 and 5 work for me. Working with dogs is an advantage for properly choked 6s. Kent carries 2 1/2 in Nos 5, 6 and 7.

Links for converting Italian and British shot sizes to the SAAMI equivalent:

http://www.kwacs.org.uk/barrels&choke.htm
http://www.hrwscothunt.ndtilda.co.uk/info/data.htm
http://www.bandpusa.com/files/productguide-USA-2005.pdf

Note that lengthening the chambers does not increase the guns ability to handle heavier loads. Even if lengthened it should be fed no heavier loads than it was designed for. In any case the chambers would be lengthened by "Reaming", this is not a honing job.
Within the load parameters of the 2½" chambered gun a 1¼oz load can be given about 1100 fps with pressure @ no more than about 9K psi. Though I am not in pheasant country I would think this with #5 should handle a lot of pheasant situations.

I had good luck with Eley Grand Prix in the standard Brit loading (1 1/16 oz Brit 6's, which are about American 6 2/3). I think they may still be available, but not positive. Since I ran out of those, I've been shooting Kent Gamebore Pure Gold Paper, same recipe (1 1/16 oz Brit 6's), with absolutely super results on wild pheasants over pointing dogs--and I live in Iowa and shoot in the neighborhood of 70 roosters or so per season. My 30's vintage Army & Navy 12's really seem to like these shells; the pheasants don't like them at all. I do back them up with my own reloads, 1 1/8 oz American 6's at around 7500 psi, in the tighter L barrel--but about 90% of my kills are with that Gamebore load.

1 1/16 oz Brit 6's gives you almost exactly the same # of pellets as you'd get in 1 1/4 oz of American 6's. Open choke over pointing dogs--makes for a great combination.

I have been using the Kent Gamebore Pure Gold Paper load that Larry is using. I can also report super results. Not only do they kill well, the "diamond" shot do not drag feathers through the bird like soft lead does and most of the birds I got in South Dakota a month ago the shot exited the bird!

Hairy

I havnt tried the Gamebore's, but intend to after reading this post. I am pretty well satisfied with the RST #5's, the B&P High Pheasant seemed a bit hot to me.