16 gauge 2 and a half inch

fuzzy39

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Super GunNutz
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Saskatchewan
I have acquired an old drilling in 16/16 over 8x57R. According to the proof marks, the shotgun chambers are 2 1/2 inch. I am wondering if anyone has any idea where I could acquire so 2.5 inch shells…. If available anywhere??

Thanks in advance.
 
Check Kent in Peterborough for their supply of Gamebore Regal 2 1/2” or check Prophet River in Lloydminster for their stock of RST 2 1/2”.

Both those companies (RST amd Gamebore) make what you want. But I don’t know if you’ve heard. There’s a shortage of ammo.
 
Thanks Dilly. It’s the one that had been for sale at Frontier Firearms. Price was awesome but does need a quick check over by quality smith. It’s super neat with about 19 inch barrels. It’s got claw mounts (no rings though) and of course the rear site pops up when you select the rifle. Super light and should be nice and handy. There is a manufacturer that makes a mount that fits the rear claw base and allows an Aimpoint to mount on the plate. I think a red dot with suit this real nice. Overall, the gun is in pretty good shape for being made in 1931! Few minor dings but no cracks. Won’t feel afraid to go walking with it;)
 
That seems like an interesting gun and I hope you enjoy it very much. A word or two of caution, from my experience: If you haven't figured our exactly what rifle ammunition your drilling takes, you must do a little research. There is no such thing as a generic "8x57R" cartridge that fits in those drillings. Most old ones were made with a .318" bore, and of course for the rimmed version of the cartridge. That is 8x57IR or 8x57JR ( I and J are interchangeable letters in the original German script ) More modern drillings are all made for the 8x57IRS or 8x57JRS and have a .323" bore diameter. USA made 8x57 mauser rimless ammo is likely not appropriate for your rifle. That ammo is made with an intermediate size bullet and low pressure, to allow it to be fired in either bore size bolt action rifles. "8mm Mauser" ammo does not have a raised rim for break action rifles to extract the cartridge with. I had a nice old Sauer drilling in 8x57IR that was an exception, which had a neat dual purpose extractor, the old .318" bore, and could fire mild USA made 8x57 "Mauser' ammunition safely.
Regarding claw mounts, you might get lucky and find a mount that fits your claw base, but claw mounts were made to be individually hand fitted, a technology that predates our mass market expectations of interchangeability of parts. it would be random chance if you could find a claw mount that fits your gun. All the new claw mounts that I'm aware of are made oversize and must be carefully and meticulously filed to fit. But you never know, you might get lucky. Or pay the $1500 or so to have a new set of rings fitted by a traditionally trained German gunsmith.
I've had good service for my 65MM chambered 16 ga. guns with Gamebore Traditional loads. They are very good quality and match original specifications for older guns.
I hope you get to take your drilling hunting soon, they are a wonderful, versatile gun!
 
Longwalker, lots of great info and advice but a heads up. Gamebore no longer makes the Traditional loads. Replaced by Regal. And I got into the warehouse when I found out about the change and bought all the Traditional I could find.
 
Thanks for all the information. I have done a chamber cast extending into the rifling and have measured the bore diameter of the cast to .322. I still intend to send it to Epps for a going over. I don’t plan to load this hot regardless as it’ll be more a short range handy little gun.

Here is the link to those claw adapters… https://www.optics-trade.eu/ca/eaw-adapter-for-claw-mount-aimpoint-micro.html
They do look cool.
 

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