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Wolfman0125

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Just acquired an Austrian made hammer gun from 1910. It has 2 5/8” chambers. Is there any information available about reloading for this?  It does not have a Damascus barrel.  It is my first Hammer gun and I’m new to reloading and SASS though I’ve got an extensive collection of Cowboy rifles and revolvers and black powder revolvers.  I’d appreciate any tips or help in getting started reloading as far as what basic equipment is needed to reload .45 Colt, 12 gauge and 44-40. 

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Purdy shotgun.

Here's a good website -- Bookmark it!

http://www.tbullock.com/bpsg.html

--Dawg

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Either have the chambered lengthened to 2-3/4" or reload shorter shells.   Simplest way to do the latter is just trim 2-3/4" to the desired shorter length, and put an overshot card in before you crimp.  That's how I load 2-1/2".  (Well, that and Magtech all brass.)

The advantage of lengthening the chamber is that you can use/reload ordinary 2-3/4" shells.

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As fabulous condition as that old gun is in, and certainly hard to get parts or a gunsmith willing to work on it, I would be real hesitant to use it for Cowboy matches.  It will take quite a beating.   Maybe use it for cowboy clays shooting, though. 

 

Aguila makes short smokeless 12 gauge ammo, as does B&P.   Not all old guns have enough chamber wall thickness to be safely lengthened to 2 3/4" chambers.  A gunsmith should check it first.  I would not jump right into loading specialized shotgun shells as your first attempt in reloading.  Learn on the easy stuff - metallic cartridge.   Rifle and revolvers.

 

good luck, GJ

 

 

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Beautiful shotgun. JMHO but I would not use it for CAS for the followinf reasons,

 

First because of the short chambers.

 

Second because it has a Greener Crossbolt lock.  When you open the action the locking bolt protrudes from the left side of the action. The edges of this bolt are rather sharp and when reloading on the clock you stand a good chance of cutting yourself on these edges. 

 

Third is that fine English buttstock looks awfully thin in the wrist area. While this makes a beautiful gun, it is also a weak spot that will crack if abused. Ask the shooters using BSS shotguns how many cracked stocks they have seen or experienced themselves. When that stock cracks in the wrist area you'll pay more for a replacement than you did for the shotgun.  

 

Like Garrison Joe stated use it for Cowboy Clays or another side match where it will not get abused by dropping it on a prop as you transition between guns. Break it out when you are shooting for style points and not time.

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8 hours ago, Wolfman0125 said:

I’d appreciate any tips or help in getting started reloading as far as what basic equipment is needed to reload .45 Colt, 12 gauge and 44-40. 

 

Buy a current edition of the Lyman reloading manual as well as the Lyman cast bullet handbook. Both books have a great introduction to reloading in the first few chapters.

 

Second look for a mentor near you. Pick out someone whose ammo is always consistent. Avoid people whose ammo has velocities all over the map or those that have frequent squibs or the occasional double charge. Try to find 2 or 3  mentors. This way you can compare their techniques and take away their best practices. 

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32 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

Second because it has a Greener Crossbolt lock.  When you open the action the locking bolt protrudes from the left side of the action. The edges of this bolt are rather sharp and when reloading on the clock you stand a good chance of cutting yourself on these edges.

 

I sure love learning stuff through all you sagacious folks!

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I will echo the previous posters. CAS is hard on firearms. If you use that in a main match, it will age it another 100 years in just a few matches. Get something that isn't museum quality to play with and save your fancy shotgun for special occasions. Go to a few matches and see what others are using. You will not need a hammered shotgun unless you are competing in the Classic Cowboy category.

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What Garrison Joe said.

But first stop would be to read the Shooter's  Handbook !!!:D

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A very pretty and almost certainly a very well made shotgun.  And I'll agree with what's been said above, don't use it for SASS.

 

Even the most basic repair will cost money.  I had to have two screws that hold the hammers on done to a Birmingham made British shotgun.  It cost $300 to make the two new screws and have them engraved and antiqued to match the rest of the gun.  If the gun has to be re-stocked, figure $5000 (labor) PLUS the cost of the wood to be used.  And that's probably a low estimate.

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16 hours ago, Wolfman0125 said:

Just acquired an Austrian made hammer gun from 1910. It has 2 5/8” chambers. Is there any information available about reloading for this?  It does not have a Damascus barrel.  It is my first Hammer gun and I’m new to reloading and SASS though I’ve got an extensive collection of Cowboy rifles and revolvers and black powder revolvers.  I’d appreciate any tips or help in getting started reloading as far as what basic equipment is needed to reload .45 Colt, 12 gauge and 44-40. 

87A85064-49FB-4FD8-BC90-A9AE8DF58735.jpeg

2F480565-E5C8-4893-962B-80943601A8FC.jpeg

62BF3AA5-6099-4B65-A4B3-9590C46395A7.jpeg

1D47C0EE-839C-478A-BEC4-1B88E4C9B29A.jpeg

A374708D-8D63-47F5-A0D4-3FD93F3FB701.jpeg

E87595BA-7FC8-4610-988B-619B2C521842.jpeg

8143AAAA-0CFC-47F6-B479-03B17CFD20CB.jpeg

F031FDA2-5BA0-42B2-89E0-6766E4122E3F.jpeg

48EA5752-28B0-48F9-8DD1-89E9B53C325C.jpeg

Wow. You are made for CAS!  I like lee 4 die set better than 3 die sets. Go slow on 44-40. Cant help with the rest.

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On 11/10/2022 at 11:26 AM, Cholla said:

...If you use that in a main match, it will age it another 100 years in just a few matches....

Well, that's a little harsh.  Not all of us slam our long guns down on the prop.  And a lot of us do bring out our antiques to shoot from time to time.  My suggestion, after making sure your chosen ammo is safe to shoot (regarding chamber length, primarily), go ahead and shoot it.  You will very likely find that you will want/need a more suitable gun if the competition aspect appeals to you.  But you've already got this one.  Use a leather butt cover that covers most of the wood, and a leather forend cover as well (legal on shotguns) which will help protect the wood from scratches.  Good luck.

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You are a man after my own heart with the hammer double guns. I will follow up with not putting that fine old gun through the abuse repeated matches will cause. Yup, run it occasionally for fun, but find a CZ Hammer for regular use. Shoot well!

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