doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com History of 10 ga. magnum load

While reading a 6th edition Western Ammunition Handbook, that I recently bought from a board member, I noticed there was mention made of the 10 ga. magnum loads. I never gave much thought to how old they were but, I guess I assumed they were a more recent development. However, the latest date mentioned in the handbook for any events being won with Western ammo is 1939. Am I wrong to assume that the handbook was written soon after 1939, possibly 1940 ? And if so, it is interesting to me that the 3 1/2" was already in use. First I ever heard of it, as a young man, was when Ithaca built the big Mag 10 autoloader.

Just when was it developed and marketed? and, what were the first guns chambered for it?

SRH

I believe John Olin asked Ithaca to make a gun to use the 3 1/2 10 ga. The NID Magnum 10 Ga. made for about 10 years starting in 1932. Nice guns, I am using one for Swan this year the best Patterning load so far has been 1 3/8 oz TM #3shot.

Shotguns by Keith has some information on the 10 ga. magnum. Old Elmer was in love with the Magnum Ten, as he called it.

The first listing I have for the Magnum-Ten shell is in the April 1, 1932, Western Ammunition for Rifle, Revolver and Shotgun booklet. The Magnum-Ten Ithaca NID double appears in the second printing of the 1932 Ithaca Gun Co. catalogue. One would assume that this project with Ithaca was in the works before the Olins rescued Winchester out of receivership. The first Magnum-Ten, NID serial number 500000 made for Major Chas. Askins --





and later made famous by subsequent owner and author Elmer Keith. Pictures from Elmer's article titled "Long Shots and Far Away" in the December 1965 issue of Guns & Ammo. Serial number 500000 was restocked after these pictures were taken, and one picture in the article shows Elmer with the gun and its new wood.

Ithaca NID Magnum-Frame serial numbers run from 500,000 to 501,011. A serial number compilation Ithaca put out in the 1960s shows that 887 were made as Magnum-Tens and 87 as Magnum-Twelves. The breakdown shows -- 574 Field Grade, 58 No. 1, 164 No. 2, 24 No. 3, 56 No. 4, 10 No. 5 and one No. 7 in the Magnum-Tens. The breackdown shows -- 37 Fielde Grade, 24 No. 2, 14 No. 4, 9 No. 5, 2 No. 7 and one Sousa Grade Magnum-Twelve. Some years back this No. 1 Magnum-Twelve, #500,155 was for sale at The Vintage Cup --

Thanks all. Way earlier than I knew about.

Dave, what was the original loading of the shell, as listed in the '32 Western booklet ?

SRH

The original Western Cartridge Co. Magnum-Ten Super-X load was two ounces of chilled shot in a 3 1/2 inch Field case or two ounces of Lubaloy shot in a 3 1/2 inch Record case. As always, Western just said "Maximum Load" and didn't give a Dram Equiv. on their progressive burning powder Super-X loads. Example of the difference in the load data on Western Cartridge Co. Super-X and Winchester Super-Speed shells.



The Super-X load was almost full grown when the Magnum-Ten was introduced. Western had added the Lubaloy shot option in 1929, their shells got non-corrosive priming in 1931, and in the very next Western Ammunition for Rifle, Revolver and Shotgun, Sept. 15, 1932, they introduced their Seal-Tite wads in their 10-, 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge shells. I don't believe the Olins put out any 3 1/2 inch Magnum-Ten shells in their Winchester brand until the very late 1960s or early 1970s. Remington Arms Co., Inc. still didn't list any 3 1/2 inch Magnum-Ten shells in their 1935 Ammunition catalogue, but they were offering 10-gauge 3 1/2 inch Magnum Nitro Express shells with 5 Drams Equiv. and 2 ounces of shot by their 1938 Ammunition catalogue.

I had a friend that expermented with 2.25 oz loads in the 60's. I shot one and never tried them again, he shot them in his mag 10 Parker, and a 4e NID. I think he was using AL7 but that is a long time ago.

bill

Winchester-Western introduced their Super-X Double-X in 10-gauge 3 1/2 inch with 2 1/4 ounces of shot in 1978.

So, "magnumizing" is nothing new. Very interesting bit of shotshell trivia. I'm gonna try to win me a round of clays with that information. I'll be willing to betcha' very few shooters/hunters know that the Big Ten was loaded that stout in '30s.

Thanks again for the info.

All my best, SRH

While we're discussing this, when did the "short magnum" 2 7/8" 10 guage chambering show up?

I have my great grandfather's Remington 1889 hammer 10, which is marked "Magnum" on the barrel flats, but I've always assumed that was from a later, non-factory rechamber job. Gun has the non-laminated field-grade steel barrels. Right barrel flat is also marked "BALL", for what that's worth. Choked Cyl/Imp. Mod. as near as I can figure.

Did the Remington factory ever chamber any original 1889s as 10 guage "short magnums"?