Any 10 ga people out there that use Hevi-Shot?

F

FangFace

New member
I got a Browning pump in 10ga Mag. Want to use #T Hevi-Shot and can't find any load data anywhere. About to just start experimenting with handloads but wonder if anyone has seen or developed a load. I like this gun, but about ready to trade for an 870 Express if I can't get a load developed.

DrDan
 
Loads are by weight. Since Hevi-shot is 10% more dense than lead, you're going to load ~10% fewer pellets than an equivalent lead shell. You ought to be able to interchange equal weights of shot without problems and use available data. Hevi-shot DC is buffered, so you may even be able to use the same wad.

Most of us who use Hevi-shot do so not because it's that much better than lead, but because lead shot in BB, BBB, and T size is unavailable for 10 ga or 3.5 12 ga. I don't like #4. I've used a lot of it. I have to ask - If you're going to reload for varmints, why don't you use lead? Lead BB's work great and throw a really good pattern from a big shotgun.

The only ammo I've found commercially available recently for shotgunning predators is HSDC, Federal Tungsten 3.5" BB, and 3" lead BB. If someone has seen lead BB, BBB, or T shotshells in either 10 ga or 3.5 12 ga for sale by catalog or internet and deliverable by UPS, please PM me.
 
Hers my thing with the hevishot and 10 gauges-Its the same load weight and speed as the 12 3.5 mag. What a bummer. I cant use hevishot in my 10 ga H&R long range sportsman (fixed full choke), so I reload for it with lead no 4 buck and think its the berries.
I will attest however, that out of the 12 gauge, the single b goose loads are quite devastating on an assortment of critters.
 
Get in touch with Ballistics Products. Do a Google search,
and you will find their website. They have THE BEST data
for the "Mighty 10", as they call it. I have 1 7/8 oz
#5 Hevishot loads, using their special wads, that are death
to turkeys, and waterfowl, at ranges that are very
impressive. The last two Tom's I have taken were over
50 yards, and both were bang, flop, flop, flop, stop.
These same rounds are just awesome at finishing off
crippled ducks, at distances well beyond the ranges of
steel, or bismuth, shot.

Squeeze
 
FangFace,
Go to www.ballisticproducts.com, everything you need for reloading your big ten is available there. Load manual, shot, wads, even hulls. Lyman's 4th edition shotshell reloading book has loads for 10 gauge, lead BB, and #4 buckshot.If you need more help, give a shout.
Gary
 
One caution on reloading hevi-shot in anything...make sure you buy the special wads and line them with mylar wraps, hevi-shot is harder than any barrel made and any contact of a pellet with the bore will scratch the hell out of it. I have a 10 ga. Browning gold and also found that the Wadwizard brand chokes work the best. Do a search on google, they have a website. Also, 10 gauge loads are not the same as 12 ga 3 1/2" I doubt you can get 2 1/2 ounces of payload in a 12 ga. They dont call it the mighty 10 for nothing. Good shooting.
 
Man, I am so glad you gave me this information. To tell you the truth, I'm in love with this Browning. It has the 28" barrel which is a little heft to move quick with, but I doubt if I will shorten it. I had thought of sending it to Briley and have them bring it down to 22 to 24" but it may make it unbearable as far as recoil is concerned. Right now it is quite managable. I will order these books (Hevi-Shot and Mighty 10) and get ready to reload. From what I have read, if you want to deliver a big payload the 10 is where it's at. I had a 12 ga 3 1/2" Mag but got rid of it. Whenever I tried to get the payload up to 2 1/4 oz the pattern started opening up. Not so with the 10... It seems to deliver 2 1/4 oz and still hold a nice tight pattern.

Thanks again - you've saved my "Mighty Ten" and made me a happy person again.

Fang
 
For what its worth.

A quick call to Ballistic products will get you any load recipes that they have via fax or email. Ive got most of their data for ten gauge at no charge this way. However, I do purchase most of my shotshell reloading tools, ten gauge hulls, wads and buckshot thru them simply to offset the money they lost, and knew they would btw, by giving me free data. Its a hell of a nice company to do business with, and they have a ton of cool stuff for the 10 thats not really availible anywhere else.
Ive been happily doing business with them for over 15 years and they have never disapointed me.
 
If there is any chance of scratching the barrel with Hevi-Shot I think I will also go to lead buckshot. Hate to ruin the barrel. I like the gun - very smooth action.
 
FangFace,
When you get the Hevishot manual you will see loads for the 10, just like msinc said in above post on this Hevishot will scratch the barrel if you don't use the right wad that is recommended along with the mylar wrap. The manual explains this fully, BE SURE AND FOLLOW THE RECIPE EXACTLY, Hevishot is like loading for steel shot it does not compress like lead and a change in any component of the load can cause a phenomenal pressure spike and possibly blow the gun and even you, scratching the barrel could be the least damage suffered! Be safe and good luck!
Gary
 
I wouldn't shy away from Hevi-shot because of possibly scratching a barrel that can be replaced. Personally I would rather scratch the hell out of a barrel than watch duck after duck fly away untouched by steel. Waterfowl is too expensive to hunt{so are predators/turkey for that matter!!} to have them get away because of inferior shot. Even though BPI comes right out and says "its not a matter of if it is going to happen, its when so reload at your own risk." I have put over 400 rounds of HS down the barrel of my Browning and never got a scratch yet. Also, a place called Bucks Run Sports {they have a web page, just google it} is the cheapest place to buy Hevi-shot for reloading. It seems expensive and I guess it is but no where near as bad as buying it by the box of ten from Remington. Good shooting.
 
Ok next question.... I have decided to invest in dies and a press to reload #4 Buck and maybe later some #T Hevi-Shot. Like I say, "I like the gun" and since shells are unavailable there is no other choice. What do you guys use for a press and dies? I've reloaded 12 ga trap loads with a MEC Hydraulic press but for the number of shells I'll reload for this gun a manual press will be great. What are ya using?

Thanks
Fang
 
Personally, I use a roll crimper on a drill press.
How I started out with the ten was I bought 50 new primed hulls, wads, buffer, over shot cards and the roll crimper. When I got low on shells I bought the mec super sizer to resize my hulls. I deprime/prime/load them by hand and then put another roll crimp on to hold stuff in place.

Granted, I only use the 10 for predators and turkeys, so the 50 new primed lasted me quite a while, and all of this time intensive hand loading is worth it to me. If you are into waterfowl, it might be worth while to go with a mec 600 jr.. Loading will be a lot faster if that fits the bill.
 
I use 10 gauge Mec Steelmaster, although a Mec 600 in 10 gauge will work also. These are single stage presses. Since you will be loading shot larger than #2 you will end up counting out your shot as it will not meter through bar. Easiest way to count pellets is take rifle primer tray and count how many holes in tray are needed for load and tape over the ones not needed and dip tray into bowl of shot. The load will fill the empty holes, then pour load of pellets through funnel into shell. Kind of tedious, but lots cheaper than $20.00 box for commercial shells.
Gary
 
I used Federals version of tripple B tougsten iron with devistating results. I haave called Heavy shot and dont think they are planning on making any dead coyote shot any time soon so i have been sticking with #4 buck and copper plated BB shot for now.
 
I used Federals version of tripple B tougsten iron out of my Browning NWFT Editon 10 guage Gold with devistating results. I haave called Heavy shot and dont think they are planning on making any dead coyote shot any time soon so i have been sticking with #4 buck and copper plated BB shot for now.
 
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