coneyhunter Posted May 19, 2011 Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 Hello all, i have been looking at a single barrel 10 bore on offer for a reasonable price and am considering it as i want to go into wildfowling. Its an absolute behemoth and im very interested. i have a few questions, what is the standard chamber size for such guns i.e 2/3....3inch.....? how much does the ammo tend to be? What type of range would i expect to be able to accuratley and cleanly take ducks? Could i use it for other types of shooting i.e a fox? Im quite experienced with the usual 12 bore and other smaller calibers but have no experience with a 10 bore. any advice appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby b Posted May 19, 2011 Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 Hello there i had until recently 2 10 bores they are awesome. To answer some of your questions they are normaly chambered 3 1/2" and ammo is priced from about £26 for 25 hi speed steel to £43.50 for 10 wingmaster hd. I would say 50-60 yards for the steel to give clean kills. I use some 70g lead i have for foxs and they don't like it (i got them cheap so use them otherwise i don't think i would bother as it's very expensive) I would say go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyhunter Posted May 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 Excellent thanks for the advice Bobby, i will probably go for it, more for the novelty value than anything and could try it on some ducks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 19, 2011 Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 50-60yds is exesive for steel a lot of clubs would disapline you for taking such shots. You say for ducks? forget it and use a twelve in two or three shot format. there is no real advantage to a ten for duck (you did say duck didn't you), at an evening flight on teal or widgeon you would be at a serious disadvantage using a ten especially a single shot as you need handling and speed more than heavy loads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted May 19, 2011 Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 50-60yds is exesive for steel a lot of clubs would disapline you for taking such shots. You say for ducks? forget it and use a twelve in two or three shot format. there is no real advantage to a ten for duck (you did say duck didn't you), at an evening flight on teal or widgeon you would be at a serious disadvantage using a ten especially a single shot as you need handling and speed more than heavy loads Kent is bang on, these days the 12 g 3 1/2" chambered guns that are around are more than enough for sensible shooting range fowling and you have the means to use smaller shells for duck. You might still want to get the ten for the geese, but it is much cheaper to feed a 12 for very little performance reduction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyhunter Posted May 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 thnaks all, i did consider geese, i recall on a duck shoot i use to attend one of the guns shot with a single barrel 10 ( i forget the make) and used to drop them cleanly at ranges that i wouldnt try with a 12. To be honest i would not be taking shots at excessive range, i only tend to take a shot if i feel the outcome will be conclusive and humane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magus69 Posted May 19, 2011 Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 (edited) The posts above give some very good advice I will add please check carefully the chamber length of the gun and what it's proofed for. If it has a chamber length of anything less than 3.5" you cannot buy ammunition for it and you would need to hand load.If it's only proofed for BP then that would restrict you even further,also check on the choking as most are/were quite tightly choked and would not handle steel shot especially so if it is an oldie with a damascus barrel. However there is something magical about being out on a marsh with the heavy artillery I shoot from 4 bore down the 4 is a single so I always take a back up gun for the reason stated earlier you will probably need at some point a fast second and maybe third shot. 60-70 yds with the 4 is probably on the guns limit and is definately on mine and way out of range for a 10. If you do decide to go for it and especially if it's an older gun and you need some loads give me a PM. Mike... Edited May 19, 2011 by Magus69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyhunter Posted May 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 Thanks for the advice mike, to the best of my knowledge it is chambered for a 3/12 but i will check the chokes as if i go on ducks / geese will need to use non lead shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Single barrel = No follow up shot............. You need to be a good shot with one of those, remember that it should weigh quite a bit and if it doesn`t, then it will kick like a mule. I had a 10 and prefer the 3 1/2" 12 bore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 First thing to check is what type of barrels (Damascus etc) because steel could be the death of the gun and you! I have an old English (1890) 10 bore hammer gun specially built (not for me I hasten to add ) by Blands of London for shooting flighting geese. It's full choke both barrels and I regularily killed geese at 70/80 yards. At 40 yards on a pattern plate the spread wasn't much more than 9/10 inches. The barrels are Stubbs Twist (similar to Damascus) and there's no way I'd be putting steel through it. Find someone who'll load some bismuth/tungsten cartridges for you BUT make sure they know the gun before doing so. Forget about the cost per cartridge...wildfowlers rarely shoot much anyway I mostly shoot geese now with a Beretta sa 12 bore which with magnum cartridges is almost as effective as the 10. It's lighter to carry for miles across the marshes and being plastic/chrome is pretty much impervious to the weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) 50-60yds is exesive for steel a lot of clubs would disapline you for taking such shots. You say for ducks? forget it and use a twelve in two or three shot format. there is no real advantage to a ten for duck (you did say duck didn't you), at an evening flight on teal or widgeon you would be at a serious disadvantage using a ten especially a single shot as you need handling and speed more than heavy loads Take issue with you if I may......... no offence I trust I have a Lincoln U/O 32 inch tubes 3 1/2 chamber and just sold my SXS double which i shot for the last 5 years 10 Bores choked at full and full in the days of Lead where very effective well beyong 60 yards in Fact Highlandre has dropped them at 80-90 yards I along with a friend load 3 1/2 carts with imported 5mm steel shot and the range is again beyond 60 yards. I have done lots of testing and posted results on here. I am in 3 fowling clubs and the only stipulation i know of the gun must match the bird (no small bore on fowl) You lose about 9 yards range for every mm you drop in shot size with steel, the problem is folk still think 32 grms of number 3 is ok for geese its not! I dont care if its over deeks and claims to always head shot.......... Fine on ducks at 30 yards so as Kent says a 12 would be fine and I agree a better tool for the job People also shoot at birds passing over at morning flight that are way to high and wound them again they are often under gunned If your out for duck stick to duck but often a goose will pass over and folk get tempted If you are looking to use steel but not load your own the Remmington sportsmans is a good load in BB (4mm) and has a very impressive pattern at 50 yards, but nothing less Not 1s not 3s they are ok for duck Hope this helps.......... Edited May 20, 2011 by pavman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Take issue with you if I may......... no offence I trust I have a Lincoln U/O 32 inch tubes 3 1/2 chamber and just sold my SXS double which i shot for the last 5 years 10 Bores choked at full and full in the days of Lead where very effective well beyong 60 yards in Fact Highlandre has dropped them at 80-90 yards I along with a friend load 3 1/2 carts with imported 5mm steel shot and the range is again beyond 60 yards. I have done lots of testing and posted results on here. I am in 3 fowling clubs and the only stipulation i know of the gun must match the bird (no small bore on fowl) You lose about 9 yards range for every mm you drop in shot size with steel, the problem is folk still think 32 grms of number 3 is ok for geese its not! I dont care if its over deeks and claims to always head shot.......... Fine on ducks at 30 yards so as Kent says a 12 would be fine and I agree a better tool for the job People also shoot at birds passing over at morning flight that are way to high and wound them again they are often under gunned If your out for duck stick to duck but often a goose will pass over and folk get tempted If you are looking to use steel but not load your own the Remmington sportsmans is a good load in BB (4mm) and has a very impressive pattern at 50 yards, but nothing less Not 1s not 3s they are ok for duck Hope this helps.......... Reloading your own steel beyond what our proof laws currently allow will increase range with steel some granted. Using lead is totally irrelivent to todays coastal fowler though. Personally i use Remmington Nitro steel factory 3 1/2" BBB in my 12 and geese just dont seem to like it much Using off the shelf ammo do you still see a great advantage in a 10 over a 12 3 1/2" gun? I shoot in two clubs, one has so many rules they have run out of letters of the alphabet to refference them against and another that have few but "out of range" carries no calibre caviat and is rigerously enforced. Do you feel a single barrel 10 is a good start to fowling, for a guy who mentions duck? personally i dont but thats just my opinion. Is it any extra use against fox? not realy That said i should love to add a nice 10 bore double to my safe, even better an eight and get into shotgun reloading as well as the rifles i already do. But thats just coz i am a gun nut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Reloading your own steel beyond what our proof laws currently allow will increase range with steel some granted. Using lead is totally irrelivent to todays coastal fowler though. Personally i use Remmington Nitro steel factory 3 1/2" BBB in my 12 and geese just dont seem to like it much Using off the shelf ammo do you still see a great advantage in a 10 over a 12 3 1/2" gun? I shoot in two clubs, one has so many rules they have run out of letters of the alphabet to refference them against and another that have few but "out of range" carries no calibre caviat and is rigerously enforced. Do you feel a single barrel 10 is a good start to fowling, for a guy who mentions duck? personally i dont but thats just my opinion. Is it any extra use against fox? not realy That said i should love to add a nice 10 bore double to my safe, even better an eight and get into shotgun reloading as well as the rifles i already do. But thats just coz i am a gun nut Personally I think a single is of no use for Fowling and for sure a nice semi auto 12 with 3 1/2 is fantastic on Duck and Geese with the right load , My Xtrema II is a great tool and again I home load 5mm steel for 12 and no fancy stuff on the 10. In fact a high powder charge above 30 grains over speeds the shot and blows the pattern on the 10. The 5mm shot carries enough extra weight to keep going and have devastating effect at range from a 12 or 10. The loades I make up only carry around 75 pellets but a single pellet strike will take a Bird out inc Geese. A useful exorcise is to lay out a 3, 3.5, 4 and 5mm pellet and also weigh each pellet. the extra weight of the 5mm is what does the damage, its like throwing a brick and not a ping pong ball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Personally I think a single is of no use for Fowling and for sure a nice semi auto 12 with 3 1/2 is fantastic on Duck and Geese with the right load , My Xtrema II is a great tool and again I home load 5mm steel for 12 and no fancy stuff on the 10. In fact a high powder charge above 30 grains over speeds the shot and blows the pattern on the 10. The 5mm shot carries enough extra weight to keep going and have devastating effect at range from a 12 or 10. The loades I make up only carry around 75 pellets but a single pellet strike will take a Bird out inc Geese. A useful exorcise is to lay out a 3, 3.5, 4 and 5mm pellet and also weigh each pellet. the extra weight of the 5mm is what does the damage, its like throwing a brick and not a ping pong ball 5mm is the mertric equivelent to the BBB i use? I am a great believer in patterning myself ( it drives the wife nutty if i do it when she is home though) , steel is just weird one brand to another shooting the same payload Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Reloading your own steel beyond what our proof laws currently allow will increase range with steel some granted. Personally I think a single is of no use for Fowling and for sure a nice semi auto 12 with 3 1/2 is fantastic on Duck and Geese with the right load , My Xtrema II is a great tool and again I home load 5mm steel for 12 and no fancy stuff on the 10. In fact a high powder charge above 30 grains over speeds the shot and blows the pattern on the 10. The 5mm shot carries enough extra weight to keep going and have devastating effect at range from a 12 or 10. The loades I make up only carry around 75 pellets but a single pellet strike will take a Bird out inc Geese. A useful exorcise is to lay out a 3, 3.5, 4 and 5mm pellet and also weigh each pellet. the extra weight of the 5mm is what does the damage, its like throwing a brick and not a ping pong ball @kent -that should read, reloading steel beyond the cip regulations. there is a recoil limit and a speed limit, shotsize limit, and just to be picky, if it doesnt say 'steel-shot' a cartridge can fail cip regulations. all cartridges must not exceed the pressure. @pav 5mm (is that BBB?) carries alot of weight, what is the shotcount ? 70 /oz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 @kent -that should read, reloading steel beyond the cip regulations. there is a recoil limit and a speed limit, shotsize limit, and just to be picky, if it doesnt say 'steel-shot' a cartridge can fail cip regulations. all cartridges must not exceed the press ok thats a lot clearer now, it has nothing to do with proof then it's like he says note to self ( do research before posting) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 @kent -that should read, reloading steel beyond the cip regulations. there is a recoil limit and a speed limit, shotsize limit, and just to be picky, if it doesnt say 'steel-shot' a cartridge can fail cip regulations. all cartridges must not exceed the pressure. @pav 5mm (is that BBB?) carries alot of weight, what is the shotcount ? 70 /oz? not got my fact sheet in front of me sorry its around 75 pellets a cart about 1 3/8 oz ish but would have to check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 yeah thats about right, those big steel loads dont need to go fast either (to perform.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 infact these loads in a 10gauge firing 5mm steel BBB or whatever the big shotsizes are ttt,tt f should be awsome. big pellets big load.... ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 infact these loads in a 10gauge firing 5mm steel BBB or whatever the big shotsizes are ttt,tt f should be awsome. big pellets big load.... ! I have found 29 grains is a good charge and you get full Penetration through a 6 mm board at 60 yards, 5mm is horrible to pattern, I am told its as the pellets are so large they try to move away from each other so more charge is not a good thing you have to strike a balance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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