doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 10ga SXS Waterfowl?

When the boutique legal no tox shot became popular, Atlantic Guns in Silver Spring, MD offered a gross amount of steel ten gauge ammo for about five bucks a box, yes, a box of 25 shells. I had a very large covey of tens at the time, but didn't want to damage the bores on those collector guns. The option was to use my minty AYA Matador lightweight ten, the one with case hardened frame and double triggers. I shot that great gun for several years for all of my waterfowling. The steel shot caused no damage to the bores or chokes and made waterfowling on a budget a reality. Steel shot for long range waterfowling is another story. Yes the AYA Matador ten is my choice for a waterfowl gun. I load my short tens like they were 12 gauge shells for the same use. Skeet loads with about 21 grains of Red Dot and 1 1/8 ounces of shot with any wads that fit, just like the old days. Heavy waterfowl loads, look on the PGCA forum for information. Factory RST would be one choice.

eightbore, small question on the AyA 10; did you have some choke removed for steel or did it shoot through the original tight chokes?

Oddly, good English 10's are hard to find here I think most were somehow exported. I have only a single by Sumner of Liverpool. Still looking for a decent and affordable double. Lagopus.....

Stan, why would you not use plastic wads?

stan, all bs aside...pls dont shoot steel in this fine old nid...you will score the barrels for sure...

I will use plastic wads, for 1 1/4 oz., maybe a little more, but you can't fit a 1 5/8 oz. bismuth into any plastic shot cup that I am aware of. I want to work up a bismuth or Nice Shot load that will approximate the 1 5/8 oz. lead load that was intended for this gun when it was built. I have plenty 12 ga. waterfowlers that handle 1 1/4 oz. bismuth quite well. This girl needs to shoot as near as possible what she was made too shoot, IMO. Just a fun project to do.


Go root under a rock, ed. If you don't know me better than that, from my posts over the years, don't even address me. I would like to know one thing, though. What BS are you referring to?

She, Valerie that is, is in high original condition, Gil. Wood and metal finishes original, IMO. I believe that she has never been fired much at all.

Stan, that Ithaca is a beauty.

I'm down to six ten gauge shotguns from a high of eight.

Three are SXS's. My favorite is a Francotte grade 25 with 32 inch barrels and 2 7/8 chambers. Presently, I also have a W&C Scott and a Sarasqueta.

It's a pleasure to shoot with my light lead lead reloads, I even load Polywad spreaders for tower shoots for pheasant. I just wish RST would get back in production, because cut down hulls from 3.5 inch steel loads just don't always crimp the way I want them to. My RST hulls are on their 3rd reload and I'd like to buy another 100 or so to keep me in the game.

ROMAC,
That is a stunning gun, as is Stan's Valerie! The condition on both seem beautiful.
Karl

stan, i dont know you, except for what you post here...

What chokes for the steel #3s, please?