Picked up an old LC Smith 10 ga double gun with 2 7/8 in chambers a while back. Couldn't find any 2 7/8 in cases so I started gathering up components. Had an old Mec press and picked up enough die parts to convert it to 10 ga 2 7/8 inch. Had to Mc Giver a couple things but got it working pretty good. Cut down 3 1/2 cases to 2 7/8 in and started loading up some test loads. A lot of low pressure data for the 2 7/8 in case uses a roll crimp which I find to be a pain in the ass. There is a little data out there that uses a folded crimp. Tried a few loads and one that worked the best used SR 4756. Then I find out that powder is being discontinued. Then I found a new 5 lb keg of 4756. Anyway Win polyformed cases cut down, W 209 primers, 35 grs 4756,Rem sp10 wad, 1 1/2 ozs lead shot and a folded crimp. Pressure is quite low and this load patterns great in this old gun. Dumped some crows with this load. This old gun is just a hoot to shoot.

I have an Ithaca Lewis 10 gauge 2 7/8" and love the old gun.

I have a most of a 5 pounder of 4756 and use it for my loads. Once it's gone I'll have to look at other powders.

I never found roll crimping to be a problem and roll crimp for all my short ten loads as well as 2 1/2" 12 gauge. My drill press has a very positive adjustable depth stop on it and makes roll crimping easy and repeatable. I have a MEC set up for short tens but have fought with it a bunch trying to get good crimps which is why I went to roll crimping.

Those old tens are a lot of fun. Here's mine doing what it was designed for. The load was 1 1/4 ounce of bismuth 6's.

Mart Nice gun. What charge of 4756 are you using with the 1 1/4 oz of Bismuth? and what wads are you using? I would like to get some bismuth loads made up for this fall and use mine on some ducks.

I'm at the airport on my way to my two weeks on the slope for work so I don't have my load data in front of me. It seems like it was about 34 grains and a Ballistics Products wad. I'll have to check when I get home. The load was from thier bismuth manual or thier 10 gauge book.

www.RSTSHELLS.com

This company produces 2-7/8" 10ga shells with a star crimp. I bought 20 boxes-10ea of 1-1/4oz 7.5 and 6 @1175fps. Not a fullhouse 10ga load but for doves they are almost as much as shooting with a 28ga.

I am not set up to load 10ga and have been using the empties to bribe an FFL friend every time I need a transfer. He has one of the Winchester lever guns in 10ga 2-7/8"

Andy B