I've been following this thread with interest. I have acquired a Fox A Grade 12 GA that I plan to use for wild pheasants. In the past (in more modern guns) I have always used a 1200 fps load of 1 1/4 oz 5s, but I am concerned that that load may be a little "hot" for my old Fox. RST makes a 1 1/4 oz 1200 fps Pheasant load that generates 7800 psi and a 1 oz 1175 fps Lite load that generates 6200 psi. Both are available in 5 shot.
Any thoughts on the suitablity of these loads in my old gun?
If your Fox is in good condition, i.e. not loose, and on face, those two loads are entirely suitable for it. I shoot loads with considerably higher pressures than that in mine, and have for many years, with no ill effects. Be very sure, however, that the head of your buttstock is sound and not oil soaked. The pressures the shells generate have absolutely nothing to do with recoil developed, in and of themselves, but the velocities and the shot charges do. 1200 fps and 1 1/4 oz. is not magnum by any means, but it does generate enough recoil to work some havoc on an ill fitted, or oil soaked, stock head. Any crack that may be present will only get worse, same with any looseness of the wood to the receiver. If you have any doubts as to the soundness of the wood at the head, remove it from the receiver, get all the oil out, and glass bed it to the metal. Not an expensive job if you have it done, and even less if you do it yourself.
Hope you enjoy that Fox.
SRH
