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A customer gave me a model 1887 to “clean up” for him. The finish looks original, is worn and has rust spots. The stock shows normal ware with a few scratches. I told him that because of it’s age, I wanted to research it before I do anything. He wants to use it because it was his wife’s Great Grandfather’s gun.
Any suggestions? Thanks
April 15, 2005
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Unless your customer intends to load his own shells, it is not really feasible to shoot it. The Model 1887 10-ga guns were chambered for a 2-7/8″ maximum length shell (much shorter than modern shells), and it was loaded with black powder (low pressure). Chamber pressures should not ever exceed 7,000 psi in a Model 1887. Modern smokeless powder 10 gauge shells are in the 11,000 psi range.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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Bert H. said
Unless your customer intends to load his own shells, it is not really feasible to shoot it. The Model 1887 10-ga guns were chambered for a 2-7/8″ maximum length shell (much shorter than modern shells), and it was loaded with black powder (low pressure). Chamber pressures should not ever exceed 7,000 psi in a Model 1887. Modern smokeless powder 10 gauge shells are in the 11,000 psi range.
Bert
Some, like the one I have, shoots 2-5/8″ shells. I ordered 2-7/8″ and they were too long. Powder, over powder card, pellets and then another card glued in with something like rubber cement. This way you don’t have to roll crimp the end of the brass. You can also use a new plastic hull and cut it to length and then reload it as above using black powder. Make sure that if you use a modern hull and crimp it like the modern ones are crimped you must make sure when the hull opens up there is room in the chamber for this extra material or you will over pressure your gun.
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