W & C Scott and Sons 12ga

[sureshot375]

I made a little bit of an impulse buy in guns international. I was wanting a SxS shotgun with double triggers to build muscle memory for hunting with a double.

I picked up a W&C Scott and Sons 12 ga. 30 inch barrels with Full/Full chokes. Seller said it was made in 1900. Gun looks to be in good shape for its age. I don’t think it’s been refinished.

I want to hunt pheasants with this gun. The seller said it will handle 1 & 1/4 oz loads. What are everyone’s thought ion using 1 & 1/4 is heavy pheasant loads in this gun? I’ve included the best photos I can get of the proof marks.

 

[375er]

Why beat it up? Looks to be in good shape. I am sure you could find lower pressure loads if you search around a bit.

 

[WAB]

I have not pulled up the proof reference, but I would almost bet that shotgun was built for 1 1/16 oz loads.

 

[Firebird]

RST makes modern shotshells for vintage shotguns-

 

[flatwater bill]

I always check the chamber length in guns of this vintage..............and perhaps a lighter load would still kill pheasants? Best of luck with your new gun...........it is really a nice find........FWB

 

[sureshot375]

I have not pulled up the proof reference, but I would almost bet that shotgun was built for 1 1/16 oz loads.

I’m not sure. It seems like it’s a pigeon gun, which I understand were built for heavier loads. I’m just really out of my element here. Lots to learn.

 

[sureshot375]

I always check the chamber length in guns of this vintage..............and perhaps a lighter load would still kill pheasants? Best of luck with your new gun...........it is really a nice find........FWB

I believe it has 3” chambers.

 

[WAB]

I’m not sure. It seems like it’s a pigeon gun, which I understand were built for heavier loads. I’m just really out of my element here. Lots to learn.

Very possible. A little work on Google should sort it out. Beautiful gun.

 

[sureshot375]

Why beat it up? Looks to be in good shape. I am sure you could find lower pressure loads if you search around a bit.

Not unreasonable advice.

 

[Wahoo]

Congrats! I’ll follow this with interest as I also recently made a similar impulse purchase of a nice vintage 12 ga. Although with 2.5” chambers. I’m learning how much I don’t know and that ammo is a precious commodity. Taking it to SD next week for pheasants with 1 oz loads of 5’s and 6’s. For what it’s worth RST has been out of stock for a while it seems.

 

[sureshot375]

On a side note and part of what lead to my impulse buy, Hemingway had a W&C Scott and Sons with full chokes and 30in barrels that he used extensively for everything from pigeon shooting to his African safaris. Also, it seems to be the gun he used to end his life.

 

[sureshot375]

Congrats! I’ll follow this with interest as I also recently made a similar impulse purchase of a nice vintage 12 ga. Although with 2.5” chambers. I’m learning how much I don’t know and that ammo is a precious commodity. Taking it to SD next week for pheasants with 1 oz loads of 5’s and 6’s. For what it’s worth RST has been out of stock for a while it seems.

Where are you hunting? We will be in Gregory for the opening weekend.

You know I have shotshell reloading equipment. I could probably cook up some lighter loads if i could
Get some # 5 or 6 shot in time.

 

[Wahoo]

We are going to be in Faulkton SD. I have zero reloading experience but that sounds like might be a viable option.

 

[Sika98k]

With barrels of 30”, 3” chambers, choked full and full my thoughts are pointing towards a live pigeon gun. Weight maybe getting up to 7 lbs.
11/4 ounces is pretty poky in my opinion. I’m a recoil wimp !
you could have the chokes opened out. No reason not to try lighter loads.
nice gun by the way.

 

[BourbonTrail]

For help aging it.

The WC Scott guns were made in Birmingham, so should be looking at right side of table. It looks like it might be older (1887-1896), and I believe it’s a blackpowder rated gun. Might wanna go easy on it.

 

[zephyr]

should have more proof marks
on the Barrel flats

 

[flatwater bill]

@sureshot375 I like your sense of history with Hemmingway. I have 3 guns that I use on pheasants, last day of the hunt scenario. One is a 1887 (about) Baker Batavia , another an 1894 Wm Evans refurbished to new by Purdey, and the last a 1902 WJ Jeffery. I use Win AA Heavy Trap 7 1/2's in these hunts. Before you scoff at this load, remember, companies have their reputations riding on their target loads. Win AA Heavy (formerly WAAM12, now desig WW12AAP) cleanly takes Ringnecks at 40 yards in all of these guns. The shot is hard, round, and patterns well. Peak pressure of this load is said to be only 9600. I won't generally recommend this for mandrel wrapped guns, but my Baker hasn't unwound yet. I see that your's has fluid steel bbls and assume it is tight on the face, so probably digest anything......have a great pheasant season......................FWB

 

[baxterb]

On a side note and part of what lead to my impulse buy, Hemingway had a W&C Scott and Sons with full chokes and 30in barrels that he used extensively for everything from pigeon shooting to his African safaris. Also, it seems to be the gun he used to end his life. View attachment 493346View attachment 493347

was going to mention this. It is damn near identical. Very neat shotgun.

 

[rookhawk]

I have one important question:

is it an automatic resetting safety. Since I can’t measure the gun to determine if it’s a live pigeon gun, that will help me determine if it might be.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Your shotgun was definitely one of these (taken from Webley’s 1914 catalog). I’ll need a photo of the third bite and a full photo of the shotgun’s proof marks to narrow it down to the precise model. The shotgun I’m holding is a Webley & Scott Unique sidelock model.

British 1 1/4 ounce proofs (as seen on the shotgun which I’m holding) are for cartridges holding up to 36 grams in shot weight and which don’t generate a service pressure more than 9682 PSI or 668 BAR (or 740 BAR MAXIMUM). With this in mind, I’d say stick to standard CIP shotgun shells which are loaded with up to 36 grams of shot and don’t generate greater pressure than 740 BAR. Rottweil Weidmannsheil, Sellier & Bellot Fortuna, Eley VIP Game… all of these are safe to use. Avoid any of those American or European shells which have “MAX 1050 BAR” (like Winchester, Remington, Federal, Fiocchi, R.C) etched on them. They’ll make the gun go off-face prematurely.