info needed on reloading for a old 12g

[m-134]

im looking for any info i can find about reloading 2.5" or 2.75" 12 gauge shells for a old SxS hammer gun (Janssen sons & Co, with barrels in good/~ 8/10 condition with Mod. choke) dating back to around the 1890's-1920's.
i need info on powder types and charges used for around 1oz of shot (#4) and also for 00 buckshot.

i dont mind buying some black powder or other common powders that may work, or any safe/equvelent charges of HS6 if there are any. any info is beater than none.

 

[hk33ka1]

I have a Jansen double like yours. I was told when I bought it, it was black powder only and never did any research on the gun. I considered it a wall hanger and have never fired it.

I have loaded Goex ffG black powder shells for other doubles using cut off plastic hulls and Lyman data.

 

[saskbooknut]

Get some 3" hulls and cut down to 2.5 inch - I like Federal hulls. ( ask your waterfowling friends)
80 grains measure FFg black powder, 1/8 inch over powder wad, 1/2 inch cushion wad, same 80 grain measure of shot ( about 1 1/16 oz), card overshot wad, roll crimp.
Hand roll crimpers should be cheap in the gun shows, and work very well on plastic hulls.
Use a dab of crisco lube on the top of the shell for trap shooting to make the fouling easier to remove.
If you use prelubed cushion wads for hunting loads store them in plastic shell boxes that hold the shells with the shot end down to prevent migration of lube into your powder.
It is all amazingly simple and effective.

 

[Baribal]

The Janssen shotguns and combination guns are known for being made of quite soft steel. They are cheap spinn-off of expensive English shotguns and Combos. Seems most of them are chambered for 2 1/2" shells. The standard loads for 2 1/2" 12 Gauge where 3 Dr (or equivalent) of BP under 1 1/4 or 1 1/8 Oz.
I use 3 Dr under 1 Oz of shots.

 

[m-134]

thanks guys. do yous happen to know what results i would get if i was to drop the charge to maybe like 50gr or so just to test it before doing a full charge?

 

[Baribal]

1 Dram is 27.344 grains of Black Powder.

If you want to use it as Dram Equivalent, you need to know the following;

In 12 Gauge, 3 Dram Equivalent equals

1 Oz of shots @ 1235 fps
1 1/8 Oz of shots @ 1200 fps
1 1/4 Oz of shots @ 1165 fps

Personally, I wouldn't go much below 2 5/8 Dram with a 12 Gauge, so, not under 72 grains of PB. Below that, the reach and effectiveness will be quite low.

For 2 5/8 dram Equivalent, velicities will be such;

1 Oz of shots @ 1155 fps
1 1/8 Oz of shots @ 1120 fps
1 1/4 Oz of shots @ 1080 fps

In Hodgdon's reloading booklets (and website) you will find datas for modern powders with 2 1/2" cases.

Remember that BP needs to be correctly compressed to avoid pressure spikes.