Gungoesbang Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 Not sure if this is a guns and equipment topic or cartridges but here we go. In a modern o/u I have shot all types of cartridges from 24-50 gram loads. However, recently I have been shooting some old 28 gram loads, and I’m wondering why they are so noticeably punchy. They kick way harder than any modern 28g load, and I also find some ‘quick’ 32g+ loads that are notoriously kicky (black gold etc) much softer. The cartridges are at least 30 years old. I was given a few slabs and they work fine, dust clays fairly nicely, but I’m baffled as to why they are so much more thumpy than anything modern? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet11-87 Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 some powder can degrade over the years and become more "pokey" think most powders in modern use are made so that they get less so as they degrade. no idea what was happening 30 years ago but ive seen videos on youtube of old ammo being way over the safe limit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 As other say powder can degrade and either break up which will make it burn as if it were a faster powder. Or dry out. Which I don't know what it would behave as if. OTOH if the cartridge gets damp the fibre wad might swell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmaxphil Posted April 24 Report Share Posted April 24 I seem to remember in the 80s that double based powders were popular but a bit pokey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gungoesbang Posted April 24 Author Report Share Posted April 24 On 23/04/2024 at 19:19, Sweet11-87 said: some powder can degrade over the years and become more "pokey" think most powders in modern use are made so that they get less so as they degrade. no idea what was happening 30 years ago but ive seen videos on youtube of old ammo being way over the safe limit Over the safe limit for what? Pressure? that can’t be good - I’ve shot 500 of them so far - could they be harming the gun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted April 25 Report Share Posted April 25 (edited) 10 hours ago, Gungoesbang said: Over the safe limit for what? Pressure? that can’t be good - I’ve shot 500 of them so far - could they be harming the gun? Don’t worry about the gun. Worry about your left hand and your head! (Joking!) Edited April 25 by London Best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gungoesbang Posted April 25 Author Report Share Posted April 25 5 hours ago, London Best said: Don’t worry about the gun. Worry about your left hand and your head! (Joking!) Haha worried about the new gun! think they’re probably fine then… Not done any visible damage in 500 rounds and it’s a modern 3” superior steel proof gun so I doubt even degraded old powder would exceed pressures. I have no idea if that’s stupid logic or not though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted April 25 Report Share Posted April 25 (edited) 1 hour ago, Gungoesbang said: Haha worried about the new gun! think they’re probably fine then… Not done any visible damage in 500 rounds and it’s a modern 3” superior steel proof gun so I doubt even degraded old powder would exceed pressures. I have no idea if that’s stupid logic or not though! If you are really concerned about firing old cartridges just send them over here and I will personally test every one of them for you next season. I just re-read your OP and it occurs to me that if the cartridges are 28 gram loads they are not actually what I would call old. If they were old the loads would be marked in ounces. I reckon they will be under forty years old, max. Edited April 25 by London Best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted April 25 Report Share Posted April 25 Just now, London Best said: If you are really concerned about firing old cartridges just send them over here and I will personally test every one of them for you next season. I just re-read your OP and it occurs to me that if the cartridges are 28 gram loads they are not actually what I would call old. If they were old the loads would be marked in ounces. Good point and heavier loads too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted April 25 Report Share Posted April 25 I've some old paper Eleys & going to use them decoying with a s×s this harvest. After years of O/U's its nostalgia time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet11-87 Posted April 25 Report Share Posted April 25 (edited) 20 hours ago, Gungoesbang said: Over the safe limit for what? Pressure? that can’t be good - I’ve shot 500 of them so far - could they be harming the gun? if its a modern 3" steel proof chamber its been proofed with a charge of about 1330 bar and showed no sign of stress or damage. the going rate for a 2-3/4 cartridge is about 650 bar so it has to have been one hell of an unstable propellant to degrade to produce twice and then some pressure mate. id say you're gonna be absolutely fine but that may be the reason they feel a bit pokey huge margine before thumpy becomes dangerous. in my previous post about "way over the safety limit" i should of explained. it was like 70 year old 8mm mauser center fire ammo made in turkey Edited April 25 by Sweet11-87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gungoesbang Posted April 25 Author Report Share Posted April 25 16 minutes ago, Sweet11-87 said: if its a modern 3" steel proof chamber its been proofed with a charge of about 1330 bar and showed no sign of stress or damage. the going rate for a 2-3/4 cartridge is about 650 bar so it has to have been one hell of an unstable propellant to degrade to produce twice and then some pressure mate. id say you're gonna be absolutely fine but that may be the reason they feel a bit pokey huge margine before thumpy becomes dangerous. in my previous post about "way over the safety limit" i should of explained. it was like 70 year old 8mm mauser center fire ammo made in turkey Excellent. Thought they’d been fine so far but interesting how pokey they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted April 26 Report Share Posted April 26 If you were to try a large range of (current and older) standard 1 oz/28g cartridges - you will get a wide variation in recoil. LOTS of things - powder type (and it's burn velocity), wadding type and design, closure tightness, head space, and lots of other minor items make a wide variation in the way these 'work' and the recoil produced. I have found Hull Cartridge (Imperial Game and CompX) to be relatively 'mild'. In 21g (12 bore) versions CompX is very mild whereas both Eley and Gamebore (and others) are noticeably 'sharper' on recoil. Both work well enough, but I find the Hull more pleasant to shoot. Personally - where possible I like stick to one cartridge, but admittedly have a few (Eley, Hull, Gamebore) on the go at present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted April 26 Report Share Posted April 26 On 25/04/2024 at 14:08, Gungoesbang said: Haha worried about the new gun! think they’re probably fine then… Not done any visible damage in 500 rounds and it’s a modern 3” superior steel proof gun so I doubt even degraded old powder would exceed pressures. I have no idea if that’s stupid logic or not though! Flog em to someone with a Hatsan ! 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted April 26 Report Share Posted April 26 1 minute ago, Westley said: Flog em to someone with a Hatsan ! 😄 No, GIVE them to someone with a Hatsan Escort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.