10 gauge shotguns

[hunterednate]

I found this article from Joe Genzel comparing the 10 ga and the 12 ga very helpful:

https://www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/10-gauge/

[callturner]

For my 10 gauge load I shoot RSI #100 it is an one and 3/8 ounce of steel shot which is equivalent pellet count to 1 7/8 oz of lead. This load shoots at 1595 feet per second. The same size load going through a 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge shoots at 1400 feet per second. I do not shoot factory loaded ammunition other than some 12 gauge bb that I bought a case of a while back. I'm really not into factory ammunition and I get excellent patterns from this 10 gauge load.

[h2ofowlr]

For my 10 gauge load I shoot RSI #100 it is an one and 3/8 ounce of steel shot which is equivalent pellet count to 1 7/8 oz of lead. This load shoots at 1595 feet per second. The same size load going through a 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge shoots at 1400 feet per second. I do not shoot factory loaded ammunition other than some 12 gauge bb that I bought a case of a while back. I'm really not into factory ammunition and I get excellent patterns from this 10 gauge load.

Typically the bigger the bore, the lower the alllowable working pressure of a shotgun.  Here are the SAAMI specs for Shotshell Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) in PSI.
10 gauge 11,000
12 gauge 11,500 (except 3-1/2")
12 gauge 3-1/2" 14,000
How close are you to over pressuring the chamber of your 10?  To get 1,595 fps.  The equivalent in a 12 would probably exceed 1,700 fps.

[M_59]

Most , if not all of my 12 ga 3.5" 1 1/2 oz factory loads are 1500 fps.

[BigGoonTuna]

I had a Remington sp10 for several years.

It was sort of an impulse buy like several others I’ve done over the years, more to satisfy my own curiosity than anything else. It was very pleasant to shoot, and folded ducks and geese like you’d expect. The big downside is the availability and cost of shells, as well as lack of parts. They like to eat bolt buffers, and Remington discontinued all parts production when they stopped manufacturing the gun. I think somebody was making them for the aftermarket but it’s been a while.

I owned mine in the “golden days”(pre covid) when there were deals to be had on shells. I think I bought a case for about $140 at one point (around 2014). Expect to pay around $40-50 a box now, judging by what I’ve seen(3 1/2” 12 gauge isn’t much better now for that matter either…)

Ended up selling it to buy a rifle I really wanted, I do miss that shotgun sometimes but I certainly don’t regret it either. The novelty just kind of wore off and I didn’t use it much any more.

[callturner]

RSI load 100 states that it is 11,000 PSI. Shooting the same amount of shot through a smaller tube such as a 12 gauge should actually create more back pressure I would think, I do not shoot 3 1/2 inch twelves. But all of those that I have shot that other people own kicked like a mule. I do have a load for 12 gauge active hulls for an ounce and an eighth of steel that shoots 1800 feet per second.

[h2ofowlr]

RSI load 100 states that it is 11,000 PSI. Shooting the same amount of shot through a smaller tube such as a 12 gauge should actually create more back pressure I would think, I do not shoot 3 1/2 inch twelves. But all of those that I have shot that other people own kicked like a mule. I do have a load for 12 gauge active hulls for an ounce and an eighth of steel that shoots 1800 feet per second.

Hypersonics at 1,700fps kick hard and noticibly louder.  I had purchased a case and they were breaking parts in my autoloader, so I sold the remainder of the case.  The one benefit to the shell was a shorter lead.  You start getting above 1,700 fps and you really have to match a wad or you get poor patterns.  You can work on some of this with choke performance, but you really have to dial it in.  I have gone to hot and blew up an action, blew off the end of a barrel at the start of the thread, and i seized a bolt.  It wouldn't be fun shooting 1,800 fps unless you had a heavier gun or a recoil reducing system in the gun.  Mercury tubes, a hydraulic recoil system or EZ system installed.

[Rob]

Not to crash your thread with an ad.... 
https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,284676.msg3873619.html#msg3873619

I still have this SP-10 for sale with 4 boxes of ammo.  Given your location we would need to factor shipping into the sale.  Might be able to get it to an FFL in Woodinville for you if you venture that way from time to time.