10 gauge ammunition

[Alpo]

Is it readily available?

 

Now and again, in fiction, somebody will bring out a 10 gauge double barrel and either just threaten someone or blow them away.

 

I assume they have a 10 gauge in the book because it's big and scary.

 

I know there are people in the game that use 10s. But I presume they load their own, because as high as 12 gauge has gotten 10 gauge must be outrageous.

 

If it's available at all.

 

I don't think I've ever seen any 10 gauge on the shelf. Of course, I don't think I've ever seen any 28 gauge on the shelf. So maybe people who shoot these things have to order them in.

 

 

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

Have you tried a search under various sporting goods stores?
This is the first one I checked: Sportsman's Warehouse

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

A couple years ago, I bought a 10 ga. double off of the classifieds here. I went to Cabela's and found the pricing as above. They only had two boxes and I just bought one. About 50 bucks out the door.  Just to try it out.  Then I bought the five round boxes of slug loads to try it at an indoor range. It has a pretty good kick but is fun to shoot. 

I did buy a press to reload 10 ga. and got a lot of advice here on the wire about reloading it.

Horace

[Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129]

I have an old "Herters" ajustable aluminum Shot/power scoop from 7/8- 2 1/8 oz. of shot. For 10 ga. I use it set to the max, for both Goex 2F and shot. 

In the old days this was called a Square Load, still works just fine... 

 

Jabez Cowboy

[Warden Callaway]

I got 8 or 9 10 gauge hammer doubles. I picked them here and there. Almost all require repairs.  Mostly stock damaged at wrist. I've shot most at least one time in a match. They tend to result in having a high score. Remington 1882.

 

[Pat Riot]

7 hours ago, PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L said:

Have you tried a search under various sporting goods stores?
This is the first one I checked: Sportsman's Warehouse

The Sportsman’s by me always seems to have some 10ga on the shelves. Army first I thought no one was buying it, but it never is the same ammo when I go back there occasionally. 

[Warden Callaway]

Grafs shows a lot of 10 gauge but it's not going to work in the old 10 gauge doubles. All 3.5" waterfowl loads with steel shot.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/6200

[Blackwater 53393]

There are a couple of outlets for 10ga 2 7/8 and 2 5/8” shells on the interweb.  They’re usually pretty expensive and limited quantities.

 

Between plastic, paper, and brass I have around 250 rounds put back.  I just bought another press for loading 10ga exclusively.  I have a trimmer to shorten the 3.5” shells to the lengths that I use, so when I find other’s discards laying around, I’ll pick ‘em up.  
 

I can buy the new, primed 10ga shells from Ballistic Products cheap enough to make it worth my while to cut ‘em down and load ‘em up and I can recondition used ones too.

 

SO! YES! You can buy 10ga shells, often locally, and they are even available in the shorter lengths if you’re willing to look around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 12 by Blackwater 53393

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

I be thinking , I need to make a visit to someone , and RAID 

 

their 10 ga supply 

 

CB 🤣

[Warden Callaway]

When I was trying to load for my first old double, I asked everywhere,  gunclub, cowboy shooting buddies,  at gunshops.  Everybody knew someone that shot 10 gauge, they'd get me some hulls.  None came up with any. 

I finally bought a hundred from Grafs.  Fiocchi,  as I remember. I found I could only get a couple of uses until they burned through.  Son lives in the frozen north where they hunt a lot of waterfowl.  But he said few that had 10 gauge didn't reload so didn't bring the hulls home. I lucked into brass hulls so use them.

 

Grafs shows 10 gauge brass hulls available in many lengths.  Expensive. 

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/4040

[Stump Water]

As the Warden said, all I've ever seen in the store is waterfowl loads.

 

When I got the '87 I found a lot of once fired, high-brass, 3.5" Federal hulls on gunbroker.  Look just like the ones Blackwater posted.  Trim 'em and load em'.  When done they look just like the ones Blackwater posted. 

 

BP only in the 1901 '87.

.

.

Edited February 12 by Stump Water
Schpellin

[Warden Callaway]

I've never crimped my brass cases. Never sized them. They fit ok in every gun. But I've only used light black powder loads.

My homemade priming tool.

[Blackwater 53393]

Just for those of you that find yourselves in need of ‘em, Ballistic Products has Cheddite 10ga 3.5” shells, primed, bag of 50 for $28.49.  They’re good stuff and you can cut them to any length you need!

 

They have wads and other components for 10ga to give you any combination you want or need and they’ll talk to you on the phone if you have questions!!

 

They also carry the components for loading your brass shells as well!

 

 

Edited February 12 by Blackwater 53393

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

I wonder , IF , I be smart enough to mess with black powder at times 

 

  CB  

[Eyesa Horg]

No doubt!

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

I err to the side of caution , when I start something , I have little to NO knowledge of 

 

  still got all my fingers 

 

  CB 

[Warden Callaway]

1 hour ago, Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 said:

I err to the side of caution , when I start something , I have little to NO knowledge of 

 

  still got all my fingers 

 

  CB 

I'm always taken back by people that think they can't load black powder.  If you can put cereal in a bowl and add milk, you can load black powder.  With some common sense precautions like no smoking and no open flame, loading black powder is easy and safe.  For one thing, you can't overload or double charge with black powder. Probably the worst thing would be an empty case. There is a little more house keeping with black powder.  Got to empty any powder measure and scrub up your powder die, etc. Uneducated primitive men have been do it for hundreds of years.  But it would help to have a mentor set with you until you fell comfortable. 

[evil dogooder]

We carry it and actually go through more than most would expect.  Normally about 10 cases a season of shot and a case of slugs a year.  Some people just like it. 

  Works well. The first time I went duck hunting the guys talked me into bringing a Browning gold in ten. Worked pretty good but I prefer my 28

 

[Chantry]

I have 3, 1 modern Spanish 10 gauge with 3.5" chambers and two antiques.  Everyone knows when I light off the modern 10 gauge since it 120 grains of 1F or 2F and 1.5 ounces of shot.  The other 2 are loaded with 65 grains of 1F or 2F and 1.5 ounces of shot.   I load my own BP loads and have a mix of about 75-80 brass hulls.  I have some plastic factory, but with BP they don't last long. 

 

Smokeless factory is available, but's it pricy and you'll find a better selection online.