Posted by David Williamson on July 16, 2018, 5:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Load Guidance"
Barry, I have a 1939 16 gauge that still has 2 9/16" chambers, the bores are .662 up from .650 when the 16 first came out. I believe the bores were changed in the early 30's. When Hunter Arms Co. changed the chambers on the 20 gauges to 2 3/4" they stamped the barrels water table stating said change. I believe they did this also to the 16 gauge and that change was with some of the late 1930's guns to 1940. Some sneak through as it was never written when the change actually took place as guns were still in the process of being assembled during the change.
The Herter's shells I believe are Cheddite hulls and most likely Cheddite Primers. I load only 2 1/2" because all of my 16's are 2 9/16" chambers.
The load data I have for 7/8 oz of shot in a Cheddite hull using Cheddite primers is 7500 psi using 19.9 Universal Powder with a Ballistic Product SG-16 wad at 1150 fps. This is a 6 crimp load not a roll-crimp, so I believe 1/8 oz. more is not going to push the psi limit much farther, but 3/4 oz. and 7/8 oz. to me is enough.