16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 18

I have a '24 Nitro Express 16ga. Thanks to this site, I am now mostly up to speed on the chamber length issue. I went the safe route and ordered a box of 2.5" low pressure shells from Polywad, BUT... today I saw boxes of 1 oz 2.75" loads at Dick's for $3.99 and couldn't resist.

I figured I could mix in a few cheaper shells with the others, and as long as the load was a relatively light 1 oz, it wouldn't hurt.

Good plan, or not?

The Federal Game-Shok (old Game Load) and Winchester Super X Game Load are both 1 oz at 1165 fps. They are not going to hurt the action in any way and reproduce the standard 16g Field Load available since the 30s. The Remington Game Load is 1200 fps-a bit more recoil.
Do NOT try the new Federal 7/8 oz 16g load at 1400 fps (which BTW is not listed on the website http://www.federalcartridge.com/ballistics/default.aspx but some guys have found them at Sportsman's Warehouse)
I'd probably avoid the 1 1/8 'Hi-Brass' loads just because of your 80 year old wood.

Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 145 Location: minnesota

i will second rev on this one.
the 7/8 oz H/V loads are real zingers, even i won't feed the 7lb 870 a steady diet of them.
grouse,woodcock, long range 5-stand shots....that's fine.
4 rounds of skeet, no,no,no.

Member Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 743

Agree that the 1 oz "promo" loads should not be a problem in a Nitro. If you think the gun's kicking you a bit with 2 3/4" shells, you might try having the forcing cones lengthened (or the chambers and cones). This does result in a slight decrease in pressure, and some people believe there's less felt recoil as well.

Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 18

Now I feel like the man who knew too much Wink