doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Safe for Sauer?

Folks- I've got a pre-war 16 gauge Sauer Model 8 that's in fine, tight shape, which I've shot using Gamebore and Polywad 1 ounce loads. Also I've found a load from BP's 16 gauge manual for a 2 1/2" load of 1 1/8 ounces of shot at a pressure of 8800. Does this sound like it's a safe load for my old Sauer? Thanks for opinions!

Yes, but anything old can still give in to pressure. The JPS Modell 8 served as basis for series of Soviet era IZH 54 guns. These had Purdey double underbites plus X-bolt and were hellishy strong brutes.
PS. Be careful what you feed that 'Ole' Frau' with them tight tubes and short cones she can slap mightly hard!

While I am not personally familier with Sauer M8, if it is from pre WW2, with double underlugs and crossbolt, AND in excellent condition, I would see no problem with loads around 9K psi chamber pressure. IF this is typical Sauer 16X67 weighing 6,5 lbs or less, those 32 grams loads are going to whack you quite nicely.

I have and use a 6,2 lbs, totally original Sauer M2 hammer double in 16X67 and 1920s or teens DoM, also with same lockup, as well as tight bores and chokes, and stick with 28 or 24 gram loads -- 28 grams (1,0 oz) for hunting and 24 grams for targets. Where Pb shot is allowed for hunting, I stick with Remington Game Loads because they actually have 67 mm hulls (even though marked 70mm -- ditto for Fiocchi). For the few shots in actual hunting, I am not worried about the higher (10.500 psi +) Remington ammo in such a strongly built gun. Never needed heavier than 24 grams for trap or 28 grams for hunting shots to 40+ yards.

Actually, I only have one 16X67 that I ever used 32 grams factory loads in for hunting and that was because they were the only ones that gave really nice patterns for grouse hunting.

Niklas

I would just use std. Fiocchi 'Game & Target' 1oz load in 2&3/4" case. They have Vo of about 1200fps and consequently are very pleasant to shoot shells. I have seen them in 16br at local Gander Mountain for $7.99 or $8.99 per box which is quite reasonable.
With few exceptions most of that B&P stuff starts off at about 1400fps so 'Ole' Frau' is going to get quite overbearing.

FYI, standard European, even British, hunting loads for 12X65, 12X67, 16X65 and 16X67 use 28 grams (sometimes 30 grams in 12 ga waterfowl loads) shot at 1300+ fps. Very effective loads. Also rather punishing if many are shot in short time in typical 6,0-6,5 lbs guns.

Niklas

Thanks gentlemen for the opinions. The gun is built as you speculated, and usually I do limit my loads to 1 ounce of shot. I'm after South Dakota pheasants this weekend, and thought I'd like to try the heavier 1 1/8 ounce load since the birds are getting wilder at this time in the season (and are always pretty tough customers). I'll see how this load works; have just finished up building a couple boxes worth.

Update- The load worked fine, thanks all.