Got a shotgun question?

[Rob00Taws6]

I got another hobby i cant afford, but i always wanted one! Also know this is the wrong forum, but i don't feel like joining another one. So my grandfather got his old shotgun back from his brother, and he gave it to me. Its a 12 gauge 1918 Ithaca Flues double barrel with a 2 1/2" chamber, Its amazing! From what i found out about the gun (which is very little, I didn't know much to begin with) the gun is not made to handle modern loads. From what i understand modern shells produce ~12,000 to 13,000 psi on the barrel. The gun that i have is made to handle 8,000 psi, and I'm having a hard time finding PSI ratings for 2 1/2" shells or any shells for that matter. Does anyone know what i safely shoot in this old shotgun, maybe how PSI rating brake down to FPS ratings?

[Willfully Armed]

you wont find a reliable equation to convert FPS to chamber pressure.

That gun is likely rated in CUP given the age, which is different from PSI.

Copper Units of Pressure- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_units_of_pressure



I would search for firearms historians,

http://www.e-gunparts.com/forum/forum2.asp?cat=28 might be a good start.

[Rob00Taws6]

Ya i saw a study on PSI and FPS

http://www.claytargettesting.com/study2/Study2.3.pdf

apparently the jump in PSI doesn't mean much for FPS. was also looking at LUP numbers, still don't know where my shotgun should fall.

[Rob00Taws6]

think i found something!!!

http://www.polywad.com/vintager.html

[2000LS1Bird]

think i found something!!!

http://www.polywad.com/vintager.html

That's probably what you need right there. Since modern 12 gauge ammo is all 2 3/4 or 3", you will have to order yours special like that.

I recently inherited an Ithaca Model 37 in 16 gauge from my grandpa. Its a great gun! It has a manufacture date in the 1950's, so luckily mine shoots the 2 3/4 shells.

Take care of that shotgun. Piece of history there. Even cooler that yours is a double-barrel.