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

I have a Parker lifter with 2 5/8" chambers - with a .060 step at the end of the chambers. The bores are .800 [ a over bore by todays standards ]. There are no forcing cones. I've cut the shells at 2 5/8". I've tried useing load data for low pressure 10ga from Sherman Bell and Tom Amhurst. The gun weighs 9.5 lbs and kicks like hell. Called Craig from Circlefly and tried his load [ Rem. hull,30grs of 7625, Rem SP10 wad, and 1 3/16 of shot] that he claims is nice to shot at clays all day. I believe his gun has 2 7/8 chambers, but not sure. This load also causes my gun to kick bad. So I loaded up 1oz and 1 1/8oz loads with 20,22,24,26, and 28grs of 7625. At 24grs and 1 1/8 oz the recoil was acceptable. Previousaly I had tried a recomended load with 700X and also had excessive recoil. My question is why does the shorter shells recoil more than longer shells [ with the longer chambers ]? At one time I loaded 2" 12ga shells and had the same problem. With paper wads in the 10 recoil was acceptable. Has anyone any experience with a 10 and 2 5/8' chambers ? Paul

It was always explained to me that recoil is from the pay load (shot).

Yes,I know pressure is not in the formula for recoil. That's what has me baffled. One guy can shoot an 1 3/16oz load at 1200fps [ 6600psi if it means anything ] comfortably and I can't shoot the same load or even down to 1oz. The only difference I see is the chamber length. Maybe that's why the gun was sold - someone else didn't like the recoil. Maybe I'll just shoot 12ga with Gaugemates.

Differences in perceived recoil will have a lot to do with the buttstock.....and in particular the Length Of Pull (LOP), the Drop At Heel (DAH) and that secret b*gger PITCH.
I've had to have the PITCH on two of my stocks lessened to "make the pain go away".
Many of those oldie 10 gauge guns had what is today considered excessive DAH...which often makes the recoil feel much more than one is normally accustomed to.
My experience, anyway.

I have one in 2 5/8 and I load 23 gr of Pb and 1 1/4 oz shot and it seems ok to me. My gunis about 9 1/2 lbs

A gun of that vintage with a 2 5/8 inch chamber, the step, and a bore of .800" was designed for a 2 5/8 inch brass shell to be loaded with 9-gauge wads, and something like 3 1/2 drams of black powder and 1 1/8 ounces of shot. Excessive felt recoil in such a gun is probably more attibutable to stock dimensions than anything else.

Agreed. Likely an ill fitting stock.

One other real possibility is the gun might have excessive headspace and the rim of the cartridge is slamming against the breech face. This is not an uncommon cause of excessive recoil. Suggest you remove the barrels, place a hull in the chamber and lay the edge of a machinist rule over the barrels and see if there is a significant gap between the rule and the head of the cartridge.

After rereading your post I really believe this is the direction you should investigate.

I also use PB for short 10s. I load 21.7 grs of PB, MEC #33 bushing, with SP10 wad and 1 1/4 oz. If I am loading 2 7/8" I use a 10 ga nitro-card under the SP10 wad. If it is 2 5/8", I drop the nitro-card. My loads are roll crimped.
My 1887 vintage Charles Boswell 2 5/8" 10 has fired nearly a thousand of these with no problems. Recoil is not bad at all.

Joe

Thanks for starting this thread Paul I just picked up another 10 gauge and will probably start loading 10's.