Shot my 1887 shotgun Saturday

[Bunk Stagnerg]

It is a 12 gauge made by Chiappa and imported by Taylor in Winchester Virginia. It has the Cowboy Action two shot style drop in action, and works well with shells cut to 2 ½".  It is being shot box stock with no tuning up other than a little lube on the moving parts. An action job might help, but I could not justify the cost since the RO usually uses a West clock alarm clock to time me

My first experience with it was that it did not work well with regular factory crimp shells. They feed fairly well but it seems that the empty case is caught by the receiver bridge when ejecting. It does sound like an old time hay baler when it opens and is not as fast for me as a SxS or a '79, but still is fun to shoot.

The shells were Winchester AA once fired cut down to 2 ½". A wad column consisted of an over powder wad, a ½" lubricated fiber wad, and an over shot wad.

The load was "worked up" by increasing the volume of KIK FFg powder and an equal volume of shot until the column gave a nice tight roll crimp. Since your mileage may vary I will not give my load data.

It took a couple of stages to get the technique of dropping in the 2 rounds, but once that was figured out it was about as fast as my fumbling shells into a double barrel.

I shoot for fun and am not in any way competitive but enjoy the smoke and flame of BP loads and the reaction of spotters and the RO.

Load 'em heavy boys they air a'comin'
Bunk
 

[Blackpowder Burn]

Now you need to get some brass shotgun shells and learn how to load them! 

I recently got an '87 and have just about figured out how to run it with brass shells.  That gets style points.  Fortunately, that's all I care about.  In my case, they use a sun dial for timing. 

[Dick Dastardly]

My 10ga 87 seems to prefer 2-5/8" ammo.  I cut down 3½" once fired hulls and roll crimp them.  One firing is about all I can get out of them.  The rig sure takes down the KDs though.

DD-MDA

[Bunk Stagnerg]

Hello Black Powder Burn
some time ago i reloaded some elderly Winchester brass cases. Out of the 22 that I shot i had one split case and one stepped on and ruined. It hurt me to lose those old cases so I went to plastic (ug!!) cases but with BP style wad column. Easy to clean and plenty of fire and smoke. No style points, but cheap fodder. I cut down 12 ga. cases other shooters (richer than I) just throw away.
Bunk

[Blackpowder Burn]

Bunk,

You can buy new brass shotgun hulls from Magtech.  Many retailers have them - MidwayUSA, Ballistic Products, etc.  They cost about $1 each - $25 for a box of 25.  And they last a long time.

[Bunk Stagnerg]

Thanks Burns,
I have loaded brass cases before, but it has been long time ago. I think there may even be some 10 gauge cases in the back of one of my lockers.

Right now it is hard to have time enough to keep up with ammo for 2 people for 2 or 3 shoots a month and help with the cow-calf operation my daughter Victoria Whiskey and I run.

Especially now with calving season and with babies hitting the ground every day I hardly have time to load anything. So I will keep on with the plastic (ug) cases. They are cheap and I do get a couple of reloads from them.
Bunk

[Rye Miles]

I've owned 2 of them and just couldn't get used to using them in a match. I'll stick with my Stoeger doubles but they are a cool gun to have around. Style points abound!!!!

Rye

[Bibbyman]

I bought a Century Arms 87 a couple of months back.  I'm sure the Chiappa is much better.  It would have to be!  My gun does not have the drop two mod so the carrier drops all the way down.  I've tried to shoot it drop two but the second top round falls too deep to feed.   So I just shove the first one down and then insert the top one in the chamber.   Not fast but reasonably sure. 

I'd like to see a clear picture of a carrier modified for drop two.

[Gabriel Law]

I have a new-to-me original '87 in 12 gauge.  It has a 32" full choked barrel, and I shall leave it that way, naturally.  I've heard that these guns have a 2 5/8" chamber, and like 2 1/2" AMMO.  I took a brand new never fired plastic shell case 2 3/4" long, and it loaded into the chamber without interference of a short chamber.  I measured the chamber with my home-made chamber feeler, and it comes out at 2 3/4". 

What gives?  If I shoot 2 3/4" ammo, I cannot see how it should be a problem.  I also have 2 1/2" brass cases, and of course, they load and cycle perfectly...no hang ups at all.  If I shoot ammo cut to 2 1/2" in a chamber that is 2 3/4" long, is there an issue with pressure, safety, or pattern damage?  I will only shoot black powder in the old girl.