1901 loads

[charger]

I'm just in the process of aquiring a 1901 production year late 01 or early 02,that doesnt seem clear. Anyhoo,I'm assuming it to be the standard issue barrel. A chum who I trust my life with when it comes to gun condition has told me the bore is GREAT,and the gun is as tight as an eagles ???? in a power dive. I know I just can't roll up some standard loads,however the guns main selling feature at the time was the upgrade to smokeless, so I'm assuming that I must be able to take it over the black powder levels slightly...Any thoughts

 

[Dave McCracken]

They quit making these for a reason. Enough had come apart using smokeless shells that the company did a buyback. Ammo back then didn't have the bugs worked out nearly enough.

If you plan on using this, first have a good smith go over it. If he/she pronounces it safe, go with very light loads. If it's a 12, it's chambered for 2 1/2",2 3/8" etc. The Polywad short case 2 1/2" for old guns ought to work. Gamebore makes a similar load also. BP carries it,IIRC.

Or roll your own. The CAS folks have worked up some low pressure stuff. BP carries wads,etc.

I always thought these were really fun guns as well as functional. Please keep us posted.....

 

[Onmilo]

Actually, if that is a Model 1901 and not a Model 1887, it is a 10 guage and it is perfectly safe with smokeless powder loads, HOWEVER, the kicker is that many, many of the early 1901 guns were chambered for 2 5/8" 10 guage shells, not 2 7/8" or 3 1/2" Magnums.
Many guns were destroyed because folks shoved 3 1/2 " shells in and managed to get them chambered and fired with explosive results.

Have a gunsmith check the chamber length.
You can make and load roll crimped, 2 5/8" shells from cut down 3 1/2" Magnum hulls.
Mec 700 loader used to be able to be set down to load 2 5/8" hulls, I am not sure if the current 700s still allow this.HTH

 

[charger]

I was thinkin for the amount of action it'll see gettin myself some nice brass hulls

 

[charger]

I'm still trying to get a handle on the pressure levels. We know its design was higher than black,but by the same token we say low pressure, so We're obviously not up to todays pressures. I'm guessing in between,but where in between??