I've got a couple old shotguns now,one of them is a 1901. To be honest I'm starting to wonder if the thing fired a shell for every 1000 hrs of carrying. Man is it tight..When I fire a shell of modest pressure the back of the case bulges out slightly,about .005-.007"..Yet my pressures are under 9000,my primers are as tight as an eagles ***** in a power dive....So I'm wondering if its a pressure thing or were rims back then thicker? The extractors seem to have about 3 times the room required for the new rim,and firing these doent seem to be hurting or loosening the gun any...Any thoughts
100 yr old shotguns
- Thread starter charger
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Have you checked the chamber lengths? 2 5/8" or maybe even 2 1/2" would have been more typical of that time period, and I don't recall anyone even offering a 3" shell at least until the 30s (in 12 gauge, I mean). A shorter shell length means that the longer shell is trying to fold out into the forcing cone and bore itself, which raises back-pressure.
Bulging at the base of the shell is a pretty typical sign of excess headspace no matter how "tight" the gun seems to be. I would have it checked before firing it any more.
Besides that old gun has a good collector value, and you take a chance of damaging it by firing it.
Jim
Besides that old gun has a good collector value, and you take a chance of damaging it by firing it.
Jim
The casing on right shows how much the rim thickens by after firing compared to a new one left...I think that they just werent able to form yims as sharp and thin back then hence slightly more room for movement...I know what you mean Jim,but I'm the kind of collector thats taken forever to build a collection,because it has to be a correct gun plus function,plus fit,plus if its a rifle shoot dimes. They just can't sit
Not trying to BTT my own post but it was at top anyway ..I think sometimes we take things for granted and dont even look until we get in a panic because its an old fragile gun. As long as its a new one we just ignore things.I went through a bus load of once fired hulls that came from NEW shotguns lastnight, and a suprising amount of them also had slightly thicker rims after firing..So I guess I've answered myself in time. Just load her moderately and enjoy
Jim Watson
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Yes, a paper hull shell fired in a modern chamber will often show a thickened rim that will have to be resized for reliable function. And I really like those paper Federals for trap, too.
Gough Thomas wrote about shimming the breechface of double guns to take up the excess headspace which he said would not only ease reloading but would reduce felt recoil. Something about the hull getting a "running start" toward the breechface accentuating the recoil. He just cemented shimstock discs to the breechface with Araldite.
Gough Thomas wrote about shimming the breechface of double guns to take up the excess headspace which he said would not only ease reloading but would reduce felt recoil. Something about the hull getting a "running start" toward the breechface accentuating the recoil. He just cemented shimstock discs to the breechface with Araldite.
Right we were Jim
I found a turn of the century all brass case at a show,bought it for 15$canadian. Brought it home and measured it. The rim on it was exactly as thick as the modern shells after firing. So I glued a thin shim to the bolt face. Now no bulge,better extraction,slightly less recoil...Yes virginia the old buggers can be fired
I found a turn of the century all brass case at a show,bought it for 15$canadian. Brought it home and measured it. The rim on it was exactly as thick as the modern shells after firing. So I glued a thin shim to the bolt face. Now no bulge,better extraction,slightly less recoil...Yes virginia the old buggers can be fired
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