Thread: "Desperately seeking", no not Susan, a 12 bore load with fibre,not plastic wads.

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Gunsmithing & Technical|June 2017

When selecting ammunition, please consider the environmental impact of game shooting. We recommend using paper-case, fibre-wad loads, wherever possible. The cost differential is negligible and the benefits in-keeping with the conservation-minded aims of our sustainable sport.

Original chambers.

English guns of the pre-war period will usually be chambered for 2 1/2″ cases (ammunition now sold as 65mm).

Some wild-fowling and pigeon guns will be chambered for 2 3/4″ cases (ammunition now sold as 70mm).

A few wild-fowling guns were made with 3″ chambers (ammunition now sold as 76mm).

Some English guns, originally made with 2 1/2″ chambers, may have been altered and re-proof tested with 2 3/4″ chambers.

Case Lengths

Imperial Metric Equivalents

2 1/2″ 65mm / 67mm /67.5mm

2 3/4″ 70mm

3″ 76mm

This is from BGAC SITE


Suitable Ammunition for British Shotguns

We shoot British 65mm cased ammunition in all our guns (even those with 70mm chambers) We believe that modern ammunition, of quality in 65mm (2 1/2″) cases is equal to all normal game shooting activity. Most people over complicate the issue. As a practical measure, we use Gamebore Regal 28g and 30g 12-bore loads and Gamebore Regal 28g, 16-bore loads. No.6 shot with a fibre wad will kill anything you hit with it within 40 yards and these loads will be kind to your old guns as well.

@Tedz50 maybe get your mate to get in touch directly with @Kiwi Sapper will help ease his mind...and as your mate is reloading them he will be able to help out with load details for the old gal.....

Out of curiosity; is duck shooting over water using lead shot and black powder loads legal?

We both load 65 gr 2Fg using these wads but I use brass cases.This is the same load and wads I use in my 12 bore Beretta and 13 bore Hollis muzzle loaders as the components used are pretty versatile.I suggest you get in contact with Jeff Brown at beaver grease if you want to reload but for the amount I shoot factory ammo works for the odd walk after a rabbit,plus I prefer muzzle loaders.

hunting and fishing manwatu used to have them even 2 inch ones.
deadeyedicks used to stock a fair selection of eleys to

lead over water legal with MUZZLE LOADER....think it still is anyhow.

.ight get a blunderbuss

Originally Posted by Tedz50

Attachment 175800Attachment 175801 We both load 65 gr 2Fg using these wads but I use brass cases.This is the same load and wads I use in my 12 bore Beretta and 13 bore Hollis muzzle loaders as the components used are pretty versatile.I suggest you get in contact with Jeff Brown at beaver grease if you want to reload but for the amount I shoot factory ammo works for the odd walk after a rabbit,plus I prefer muzzle loaders.

Thank you for your comments. I am awaiting the arrival of an order of those two types of wads from Track of the Wolf but they are 11 Bore for a 180 yr old muzzle loader.

Some time ago, when I came across that article, ( which you posted earlier, #16, ) and I pondered, on it's views on " The Suitable Ammunition for British Shotguns" , I became a follower, which is why, now that I have an English gun along with a very small amount of Eley Impax, I wish to attain details of a "load" similar to the Eley Impax. . Hopefully before I run out of the Eley.

But simple as that may sound, it is proving elusive to come by a fibre wad load using powders available, (not black although I have already mentioned I may have to consider that) for a 12 Bore, 2 1/2 inch chamber, 28.5 grms load or less and a PSI pressure that is unlikely to trouble a 71 year old E.J. Churchill. SBS.

I have everything, hulls, primers, over powder wads, column height wads, shot load, over shot wad, crimp sussed, but not the powder.

I do not want to use plastic wads nor powder loads which create high pressures. If I have to use Black powder and I don't want to in the Churchill, I would use the existing Black Powder, fibre wad, 1 oz load I already use in my 12 bore Hollis and Sons SBS Damascus.

I have been buying for some time from Jeff and the latest of his goodies to arrive are some of his 12 bore hard fibre wads. Are you suggesting that he may have a load "recipe" that meets my wishes? If so I can contact him.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

lead over water legal with MUZZLE LOADER....think it still is anyhow.

Too late for this season now if it isn't

Originally Posted by Woody

.ight get a blunderbuss

Nah...........My mental picture of you is that one of these is more your style...........

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

These are the details for target products who make the cowboy action I mentioned..........

Plastic wads.....................

so just swap it out for fibre...and be done with it...try it in modern shotgun first....

safe loading for older 2.5 inch barrels.
https://youtu.be/gHYAltIRL98

Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

Nah...........My mental picture of you is that one of these is more your style...........

Attachment 175833

i think i shot one of those last week...one in the wing and the other in the whining

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

so just swap it out for fibre...and be done with it...try it in modern shotgun first....

yeah, why don't stuff a 7.62x54 up the chamber of a .303...all 3.11 diameter bullets the same!