An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I have had the stocks of LCs and one Fox split while shooting nothing heavier than 1 ounce loads at moderate (1200 fps) velocities so I have taken to glass bedding the stock heads and insuring that the action screws are all tight on all of my vintage guns as a precaution against splitting. Since glass bedding my actions I have not had a stock show any signs of cracking even when occasionally shooting moderately heavy ounce and one eighth loads in my 16 gauge Fox, Lefever, Parker and LC. I have given up shooting 12 gauge but do dabble in 10 gauge doubles that are more than 125 years old but keep the velocities in the 1100 fps range and don't exceed one and a quarter ounce loads. As far as chamber pressures go I stay at of below 9,500 psi in my steel barreled guns and at or below 7500 psi in my damascus barreled guns.
Last edited by TwiceBarrel; 09/15/12 12:47 PM.
