I received a phone call from one of my relatives. He determined I needed a 16-gauge Winchester model 12 to add to my other model 12s. The downside is the chamber is 2 9/16". Before everyone suggests opening up the chamber to 2 3/4", the answer is a hard no. I started looking for 2 1/2" 16-gauge shells, but they seem to be pretty rare right now. My plan B is to cut down some hulls and hand load a few. To be honest, I may never shoot the thing anyway, but I don't want the old girl to starve for lack of food. Any suggestions for a light squirrel load? I've got a weird assortment of powder and I think a few wads. Thanks for any suggestions
2 9/16" 16 Gauge
todddietrich
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Claysammo.com has 16 gauge 2.5” 1oz 7.5’s at 1150 in stock. ARMUSA 16 GA 2.5" VINTAGE CLASSICO (1 OZ.) 1140 FPS (1 CASE OF 250 SHELLS) FROM $145 + FREE SHIPPING tell them Steve sent you.
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I ordered in some primed hulls from Ballistic Products to try out my homemade roll crimper. I started to make an elaborate cutting jig for 2 9/16, but I found out a 16 ga. hull fits nicely in 3/4” PVC pipe. I just cut a piece to pipe to length and cut the 3/16” extra flush with a razor. In researching recipes the SR7625 powder looks to be lower pressure for good velocities. I tried loading 7/8 ounces, but my 1 ounce recipe makes a better stack height.
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Have good luck with Gamebore or Eley 1oz loads thru a 1908 M97 or an octagon breech IJ Champion (pre 1920). Fiber wadding, plastic cases. 1165-1220 velocity advertised. Fiocci 2.5s seemed a bit warm, you decide. Older Rem black game loads were shorter hull, did fine in 97. Why anyone really offers 2 3/4" only when the 2.5-2 9/16 hull is perfectly adequate is beyond me. See Rem OBGL. Found 1 box RST loads, they patterned fine too. Doubles of course is up to you, nothing exciting happened when shooting the Champ.
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I turned my own on our old shop lathe.
I am too cheap to purchase one.
When I threaded the shaft I got a little crooked, but the wobble seams to help.
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Precision Reloadings roll crimper was said to be better than BPI's. I have BPIs, and an old Lyman, most likely for paper hulls(?). Both worked ok on Fiocci 16 ga 2.5"s, but I never cared for roll crimping plastic hulls beyond one firing. Same Fiocci 2.5" 20 gauge. "Pin" count (more than 1) was supposed to be key. Fold crimp I still use an old Mec 400 with 2 9/16" crimping sleeve, press modified with 2 piece drop tube like 600jr.
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