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Hansol, thought I'd just put in a little reminder here, for those who get to reading threads without going back to their beginning and starting from there on the subject. We're talking modern, ordnance-steel barrels here, which can handle a lot more pressure than an 1840s or 1860s ML SG or even early hammer gun. Hope everyone here is careful of what they are loading for.

Daryl, you are a brave man with a shoulder of iron, to shoot those heavy loads in a 7 1/2 pound gun!

Aloha, Ka'imiloa

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I sold it! Too much 'good stuff' for me. Did I mention the torn cartilage in my shoulder joint, fornt and back. Torn in front from recoil of various rifles (15,000 rounds of .458 helped some) and torn in back from yanking my dislocated shoulder back into joint by myself - I've cooled my heals on heavy recoil now & wear a shoulder pad so 30 rounds of .375 from the bench is about all I can handle now in one sitting & that from a 9 1/2 pound rifle.

I'd keep antiques with excellent condition bores & actions down to 4 1/2 drams of so dependent on condition. That level of loading will handle any North American game. It depends a lot on conditon and regulation - A friend has a 3" chambered very heavy 12 1880's in excellent conditon that is designed & built for heavier loads yet. What gets used depends heavily on regualation and of course conditon. Also, pressures developed are very low in large bores - but still 'shake the stock and locks' while trying to pull the barrels off face. There is a good blow indeed when the hammer falls.
I think antique guns under about 8 1/2 pounds were meant for quite light loads, certainly no more than 4 1/2 drams.