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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Tom -- what kind of gun is it? Stoutness of barrels is a bigger factor than chamber length. I wouldn't be too worried unless we're talking thin, European, ancient etc. Per what Judge says the kind of gun and thickness of barrels is important even short shell i.e. B&P can be higher pressure BTW I went downstairs and measured 10 Kent Bismuth once fired hulls and all measured 2-5/8 inches. They are Cheddite hulls I believe and I have found that it is common to see factory loaded Cheddite hulls labeled 2 3/4 and the hull still measure 2 5/8. I found this true for b&p 20ga, 16ga etc. note while common some end up being 2-3/4 too, so yo have to check Going back to what Judge states, make sure your gun is suitable for 11,000 PSI and not just 8000 PSI That said i have shot kent bismuth in a solid 2 1/2 chambered Greener without issue
Last edited by old colonel; 01/19/17 09:43 PM.
Michael Dittamo
Topeka, KS
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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The gun I was thinking I could possibly use them in is the Emil Kerner that was for sale here. I bought it as a winter project gun. It has 2 5/8" chambers. The other I would not use them in is a William Evans with 2 1/2" chambers.
Other tha reloading, non-toxic 2 1/2" shells are not easy to come by. I called RST last summer and although they were working on them, they were not ready for production yet.
I may just see If I can sell them and I will eat the shipping.
Tom C
�There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.�
Aldo Leopold
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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B&P's website shows 720 bar for pressure of the 2-5/8 in 1 1/16 oz F2 16ga loading. that would be roughly 10,400 psi.
Kent's website shows 16 2 3/4″ bismuth Max 1300 FPS but no max pressure, but I believe it is safe to assume they are over 10,000 PSI
Last edited by old colonel; 01/19/17 10:03 PM.
Michael Dittamo
Topeka, KS
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I recommend you go to the 16ga.com website a chamber pressure discussion as it explains it better than I would http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3428
Michael Dittamo
Topeka, KS
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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If it's an older gun - and a 2 1/2 inch or 2 5/8 inch 16 is - you also have to consider how these loads will affect the head of the stock. It's wood 70 or more years old. Running 2 3/4 shells through a short-chambered gun will guarantee 2 things - higher pressures and way more recoil. Excess recoil damages the head of old gunstocks. I'm betting that these bismuth loads are intended for waterfowl, so they're pretty much max loads to begin with.
Do you really want to subject your gun to that?
fiery, dependable, occasionally transcendent
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I've used nothing but 2 3/4-inch in my 16s, keeping handloads in the 7500 range. Kent loads are another story entirely. Kent's earlier low-pressure waterfowl loads now are beyond reason.
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I heard there was a sale going on at Cabela's on Kent bismuth shells and I happen to live about 10 miles from one so I stopped over there when I was going past it. Without thinking, I purchased a number of boxes of the 2 3/4" shells for my 16s and on the way home I realized my 16s were 2 1/2" and 2 5/8" chambers. We have discussed on this forum in the past the use of 2 3/4" shells in a 2 1/2" chamber but what are your thoughts on their use in a 2 5/8" chamber? Since they have a no return policy on ammunition I may be selling the 6 boxes of 10 shells each I purchased. Cheaper then replacing a stock or a hand. Shooting old guns is fun but they need to be babied. Keep the pressures low and you and your gun safe.
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Kent says the 16 gauge, 1 ounce bismuth shells generate a pressure of 9900 psi.
I have another question about the markings on the action flats. I understand the proof marks and the 16 in a circle. Does the "16/1" mean the gun was proofed for 16 gauge, 1 ounce loads? What does the "1/25" mean?
Tom C
�There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.�
Aldo Leopold
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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One other question. Does anybody have a good recipe for a non-toxic 16 gauge load I can use in RST 2 1/2" empties? I have a bunch of those. bismuth or ITX?
Tom C
�There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.�
Aldo Leopold
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,071 Likes: 72
Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Kent says the 16 gauge, 1 ounce bismuth shells generate a pressure of 9900 psi.
I have another question about the markings on the action flats. I understand the proof marks and the 16 in a circle. Does the "16/1" mean the gun was proofed for 16 gauge, 1 ounce loads? What does the "1/25" mean? 16 in circle is just 16 gauge 16/1 I can't remember for sur off the top of my head, but I believe it means a slightly reduced bore for fibre wads, but someone else needs to chime in 1/25 means proofed Jan/1925
Michael Dittamo
Topeka, KS
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