Older Shotguns - Pre 1940 & Short Mags?

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Bill B.

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Is there any hard and fast rules concerning shotguns made prior to WWII and them being safe to shoot 12 ga. 2 3/4 short mag. loads from them. I am asking about all action types not just say a Win. Model 12 or an old J. Stevens double. How was the steel prior to WWII or is there more concern about specific makes and action strength. Is the short mag. load that much of a PSI increase from what the High Power or Long Range loads that were in common use prior to WWII? Thanks for your thoughts ............:).
 
Is there any hard and fast rules concerning shotguns made prior to WWII and them being safe to shoot 12 ga. 2 3/4 short mag. loads from them. I am asking about all action types not just say a Win. Model 12 or an old J. Stevens double. How was the steel prior to WWII or is there more concern about specific makes and action strength. Is the short mag. load that much of a PSI increase from what the High Power or Long Range loads that were in common use prior to WWII? Thanks for your thoughts .............
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I will add to my question: Is anyone using short mag.s in any shotgun made prior to 1940 without issues? :confused:
 
I wouldn't do it without a smith's check over and blessing. If then.

Short mags were an attempt to improve patterns at longer ranges for pass shooting. Better ammo these days means we can do it without adding to pressures and kick.

A 1 oz load,all else equal, puts more pellets on TARGET today than a 1 1/8 oz quality load of the 50s. Maybe more than a 1 1/4 oz load of that time.

Short mags run high on pressure. Even with the reduced velocity that goes with moving that much weight safely, they're up against the red line of 13K PSI.

Do you have some old loads you want to use up?

I did, some 2 shot goose loads that were close to 50 years old. Ran them through that Saiga. Worked fine. But that's a new gun.
 
Do you have some old loads you want to use up?
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Yep! A Bunch of Rem. 2 3/4 Short Mag.s loaded with lead #2's. I would think them about ideal for called in Coyotes. About afraid to use them in my current 12 ga.'s. I may use them in a Remington 870 Express ..........I won't worry about it.
 
I used to burn "magnum" 16s, number 2, plastic hulls in my old single shot 30" full choked Iver Johnson, vintage unknown, but they stopped production in 1947. This was in the late 60s. Never hurt that gun. Ate 'em like corn flakes. :D Worked pretty well on high flying geese, too.
 
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