Black Powder or Smokeless Powder?

[confederatemule]

How can I determine if a shotgun is intended for black powder or smokeless powder shells?
For example, I have a Riverside Double Barrel Shotgun 16 Gauge with Exposed Hammers made by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. I think it is a model 215 and Produced between 1914 and 1924. I think it shoots a 2.5 long shell, although I shot a 2.75 long shell in it.
I'd like to know for sure if it for BP shells and is it for 2.5 long shells.
I don't know of a "gunsmith?" in my are that I trust.

Mule

 

[ElvinWarrior]

I don't think you really have to worry much about shotgun loads. Shotguns are not designed for high pressure, high velocity loads to begin with. If it were my shotgun, I would only use BP in it anyways, as I am a dyed in the wool BP'er, and I wouldn't ever fire smokeless from it anyways.

Sincerely,

ElvinWarrior... aka... David, "EW"

 

[Foto Joe]

If the gun was produced after the introduction of early smokeless it would be my opinion (I was wrong once before my wife tells me) that it was made to accept early smokeless powders.

Having said that, early smokeless powders were not on par with what we shoot today. For example, I'd be a little hesitant to shoot Universal out of an original Colt 1911 even though it's a low pressure round.

Be nice to your shotgun and it will last long enough to pass along to your great grandkids. Feed it Black Powder and you'll both be happier. Not to mention that a shotgun loaded with the real stuff is impressive.

 

[confederatemule]

Thanks to all for the helpful posts

 

[BCRider]

With the date of manufacture being somewhere in the 'teens or early twenties it jolly well should have been made for use with smokeless rounds.

The real issue is the chamber length. I'd compare the length of a proper 2 3/4 from the rim face to where the forcing cone starts to your new gun. Keep in mind that to keep things from going over pressure the chamber needs to be long enough that when the hull folds open that the forward lip of the hull doesn't rest on the forcing cone. If it does rest there by any significant amount it may hold the hull's opening closed to a size which is less than the actual bore. And if that happens you get yourself a bucket of overpressure. This is why when you measure a 2 3/4 chamber for length it's closer to 3 inches or even a hair more. It's to give room for the hull to fold open and lay along the parallel portion of the chamber.

But really if it's noted on the barrel that it's chambered for 2.5 inch rounds then it seems to make sense to stick to the shorter and lighter loads. OR!..... you could load up black powder reloads where the top cap is that glued in place disc of card stock as mentioned in that thread on reloading black powder shot shells without a press a month or so back. With no folds to open up and with the far softer recoil from BP you could easily and safely shoot such BP shells from this ol' girl.

 

[confederatemule]

I've tried measuring and it does not seem to work for me. I'm probably doing it wrong. It does not designate a shell length any where on the gun nor do any of the other older shot guns that I have.

 

[BCRider]

The forcing cone IS a very gentle taper. The best way to measure it would be a tube the same diameter as the 12Ga round pushed ahead until it binds. The forcing cone would begin at a point about 1/16 to 1/8 back from that depending on how much play there is with your measuring tool.

So if it doesn't SAY what it's chambered for on the barrel did you just guess at the 2.5 inch size or did that information come from the previous owner?

 

[confederatemule]

The forcing cone IS a very gentle taper. The best way to measure it would be a tube the same diameter as the 12Ga round pushed ahead until it binds. The forcing cone would begin at a point about 1/16 to 1/8 back from that depending on how much play there is with your measuring tool.

So if it doesn't SAY what it's chambered for on the barrel did you just guess at the 2.5 inch size or did that information come from the previous owner?

That information came from an individual on another forum about a year ago. I guess he based it on the years of manufacture, which I got from the same forum.

 

[Busyhands94]

load some black powder shells for it. it'll be fun one your out at the trap range! you'll be standing there while the other guys are shooting their silly modern smokeless loads, and you'll step up and shoot and create a big impressive smoke cloud! that would sure turn a lot of heads!