who is the best source of 2.5" 12 ga. shotgun ammo..

In the USA I don't know. But for sure both Holland & Holland and Westley Richards have a presence in your country so may point you in the right direction.

As to who makes the best 2.5" (also of course marked up as 65mm or in many cases 67.5mmm) that's a whole topic in itself.

Best by far in UK is probably Lylvale Express in terms of quality. Hull Cartridge Company are also good. I'd rate Eley as third behind those two. Gamebore? I'd sooner not take my gun out than use gamebore through it.

But in terms of paper case cartidges Gamebore, Hull, Eley all use the same generic Europan cases bought in. The best paper cased cartridge cases IMHO are Sellier & Bellot. The contents...shot quality...may not be as good as Lylvale but the cases are better. So maybe seek a Sellier & Bellot importer in the USA?

Hope it helps.

RST Shells are used by many

Try Polywad as well. Good stuff..

Call LD McCaa at Westley Richards in Florida and see if they are importing.

I’ve had good luck with Baschieri & pellagri. I have also used the rst. B&P have good prices and you can get free shipping most of the time.

I tried them to buy some 2 5/8 10G. shells but just got the runaround on that site listed above.I hate not being able to talk to a human being.

I have loaded them using Federal paper hulls (and WAA CF hulls) that are cut short and roll-crimped.

I have also used Winchester SuperLite 2-3/4" ammo in both my Dickson and my Atkin. The LENGTH of the fired cartridge is not nearly as critical as the pressure the load develops. The Atkin is proofed for 1-1/8 oz. loads, so I stay under 8,000 psi. 7625 is a good powder to use in the lighter loads... if you can find it.

Before anyone starts throwing rocks, do some research.

AT

Here's a bunch of brands by Ballistics Products. I use RST in my Charles Osbourne boxlock.

https://www.ballisticproducts....Shells/products/188/

Another vote for RST. They will mix loads and shot sizes in the flat if you like. They are good people and very supportive of the vintage gun shoots.

Another thumbs up for RST, good people and good 2-1/2" ammo.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny reb:
I’ve had good luck with Baschieri & pellagri. I have also used the rst. B&P have good prices and you can get free shipping most of the time.

The high-velocity Hi-Pheasant 2.5" 1 1/16 oz load was head and shoulders above the rest of the field - insofar as killing stuff at distance was concerned. It was a bit much for even 2.5" vintage guns like my VH, IMO. Great in 21s or even 391s.

The 1160 fps 1 oz version was a pussycat, and almost as effective on birds.

Seems they've been discontinued? Couldn't find them on the Aerostar website.

Nothing negative to say about RST and Polywad, tho.

There may be some loads that are only ran certain times of the year. Aerostar is very easy to work with and the prices are very good. Shipping is usually free which is nice if you have several cases headed you’re way.

Ray

I like RST ammo and shoot it in my Dickson and Atkin. You can buy a number of short 12 gauge loads in plastic or paper hulls.

They also offer a variety of short loads for 16 and 20 gauge guns.

Good stuff and not too expensive.

I use RST ammo in my pre war Purdey and in my Stephen Grant 1878 vintage hammer gun. The 1oz light loads work great in my damascus barreled Grant, and the low pressure of these loads make shooting them very safe in this BP proofed gun. For my pre war Purdey, which is choked M/F, I use the paper RST 1 1/16 oz loads in #5 shot. These knock the snot out of pheasants, both preserve and wild. I also use the RST spreader loads in 7 ½ shot for quail and chukars, and this essentially opens up my patterns to IC/M.
Overall, the RST shells perform really well.

Definitely use RST. Call them on anything you want to buy. They will tell you pressure of their loads.

+1 on RST... 10 boxes of #8 plus 4 boxes of #5 for my Parker Trojan 12 ga...

Actually, the overall length of most 12 gauge 2-3/4" and 2-1/2" are within about 1/16" of each other. And Sherman Bell did real world pressure testing comparing pressures of both 2-1/2" and 2-3/4" ammunition in 2-1/2" chambered guns. There was a very slight difference in pressure in the same load in both cartridge lengths.

It is NOT the difference in HULL LENGTH that matters - it is the HIGHER LOAD PRESSURE of most 2-3/4" factory cartridges that matters.

I frequently shoot low pressure loads in Win AA hulls in my 2-1/2" twelves. Absolutely no problems. FWIW.

It's only like 200psi difference shooting 2 3/4" in 2 1/2" chambered shotguns.

Modern loaded ammo pressure is the factor in old guns and it more often affects the old wood.

RsT.

Have you looked at RSTs online inventory lately?

RST has 12 bore 2 1/2" 1 oz lite loads in 7 1/2 and 8 shot available now. $180 per case.

Out of stock now. Sold out in 1 day.

Polywad sells 2 1/2 inch loads out of Georgia.

I've started loading my own again. Same with 16GA. Fortunately I have a lot of components. For years I used bags of shot as weights for gluing my woodworking projects. Now I'm shooting them.