Rock Knocker
Well-known member
So a wad with 4 shallow cuts caused pressure when a wad with 4 deep cuts didnt cause problems?
Thats the kind of stuff im going to need to learn.
Shotshell components???
- Thread starter Rock Knocker
- Start date
Thats the kind of stuff im going to need to learn.
Dultimatpredator
Well-known member
Yes. Didnt expect it to happen myself till i tried it. Used the load off of shotgun scientists youtube channel. They recived the load data from a Saltcreek customs that loads custom 10 gauge heavy payload shells. He loaded some up with 3oz loads on youtube himself. They use the same powder and charge with both 2.5oz and 3oz payloads using 45 grains of Lil Gun. Ive tried a 3oz payload (without buffer or a felpeo cork gasket cushion wad inside my wad like i tested the 2.5 oz loads) but the pattern blew after 25 yards. The buffered 2.5 oz load goes right to the top of my tuff wad so im guessing thats why the pattern holds better vs the overflow of 3oz loading.
...anyways, i used a BPI unslit tough wad. I tested woth cuting down to the rings that they put around them. There are 5 rings from way up top to almost all the way to the base of wad. Four slits down to the 3rd ring(shalllowest cut) i blew out my primer, the gim recoiled alot harder, and my POA was a foot higher at 55 yards. Four cuts down to the 4th and 5 th rings no pressure signs
Also no pressure signs with only 2 slits down to the 5th ring.
Saved my wads from the test as well. The 2 slit was open wider but folded back in. The shallow high pressure round was 2nd from the left. It didnt really open the wad up much.
These are my patterns at 55 yards with the 2.5 oz #5 lead loads. The first target below is the high pressure load that patterned high...that also kicked like a mule compaird to the rest of the loads and also blew out my primer.
The rest all hit hit pretty much POA at 55 yards...
I liked how even the 4 slits to the 4th ring patterned even though i had more hits with 4 cuts to the 5th ring at 55 yards....It just had donut holes in the pattern. Im sure they would all tip over a turkey but figured the 4th ring down would be more forgiving with a more even pattern. Also like the the looks of the folded pedals the best with the load.
...anyways, i used a BPI unslit tough wad. I tested woth cuting down to the rings that they put around them. There are 5 rings from way up top to almost all the way to the base of wad. Four slits down to the 3rd ring(shalllowest cut) i blew out my primer, the gim recoiled alot harder, and my POA was a foot higher at 55 yards. Four cuts down to the 4th and 5 th rings no pressure signs
Also no pressure signs with only 2 slits down to the 5th ring.
Saved my wads from the test as well. The 2 slit was open wider but folded back in. The shallow high pressure round was 2nd from the left. It didnt really open the wad up much.
These are my patterns at 55 yards with the 2.5 oz #5 lead loads. The first target below is the high pressure load that patterned high...that also kicked like a mule compaird to the rest of the loads and also blew out my primer.
The rest all hit hit pretty much POA at 55 yards...
I liked how even the 4 slits to the 4th ring patterned even though i had more hits with 4 cuts to the 5th ring at 55 yards....It just had donut holes in the pattern. Im sure they would all tip over a turkey but figured the 4th ring down would be more forgiving with a more even pattern. Also like the the looks of the folded pedals the best with the load.
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Rock Knocker
Well-known member
Those are some good looking turkeys! Do you have an idea of what would cause that load to have pressure problems? Can wads "bind up" in the barrel or cause them to stick more or is it more a problem with the choke and constriction at the muzzle?
For shotgun loading is there a "working the load up" phase, or ladder test, stepping up the load in increments watching for pressure? And I assume if there is a phase of working the charge up then that needs to be restarted from the lightest charge if components like wads or shot is changed?
Again, im going to get curious about this and im going to tinker around. What I really want is a home rolled 3" flight control wad 4buck and 2 3/4" flight control wad #2 TSS. Ive got a bunch of manuals on the way and Im going to be reading, improvising wont be the first thing I do but I need to learn all about this.
The way I see it, Ive got a 20" cylinder barrel I want tight patterns from, thats probably going to need chokes but I can test some stuff first. A dirt cheap local 12ga i could buy for $150 and strap to a tree stump and pull the trigger with a string.... It will cost me over $300 to drill my barrel for chokes and buy two chokes to start.... I can test and learn a lot more with the old tree stump gun, if I make a homemade flight control wad I really like, I can work up loads and even finish off by greasing the shells in the trash gun and if the gun survives that my beefy BPSs should be fine. Thats an idea for down the road but I really do like the idea of $150 on a trash gun and start experimenting compared to $300-$400 just for chokes.
For shotgun loading is there a "working the load up" phase, or ladder test, stepping up the load in increments watching for pressure? And I assume if there is a phase of working the charge up then that needs to be restarted from the lightest charge if components like wads or shot is changed?
Again, im going to get curious about this and im going to tinker around. What I really want is a home rolled 3" flight control wad 4buck and 2 3/4" flight control wad #2 TSS. Ive got a bunch of manuals on the way and Im going to be reading, improvising wont be the first thing I do but I need to learn all about this.
The way I see it, Ive got a 20" cylinder barrel I want tight patterns from, thats probably going to need chokes but I can test some stuff first. A dirt cheap local 12ga i could buy for $150 and strap to a tree stump and pull the trigger with a string.... It will cost me over $300 to drill my barrel for chokes and buy two chokes to start.... I can test and learn a lot more with the old tree stump gun, if I make a homemade flight control wad I really like, I can work up loads and even finish off by greasing the shells in the trash gun and if the gun survives that my beefy BPSs should be fine. Thats an idea for down the road but I really do like the idea of $150 on a trash gun and start experimenting compared to $300-$400 just for chokes.
Check out Mike Orlen in Amherst Mass. for choke work. If interested I'll pm you with a price list, much cheaper than Briley and fast turn around.
Now copper is just a wash. I use Nickel Plated from BPI, others have told me NP for m Precision Reloading is better but the BPI i use works fine. I don't load for extended range predator loads as most of my predator shotgun loads go into drillings and can't mbo guns so I have the rifle barrel for longer shots.
I just bought a few bags of wads here in the PM classifieds. I was surprised to see everything I use in the batch. I do load al my own trap, skeet and waterfowl loads as I have a number of 2.5" chambered shotguns and ones old enough to need Bismuth for waterfowl.
Now copper is just a wash. I use Nickel Plated from BPI, others have told me NP for m Precision Reloading is better but the BPI i use works fine. I don't load for extended range predator loads as most of my predator shotgun loads go into drillings and can't mbo guns so I have the rifle barrel for longer shots.
I just bought a few bags of wads here in the PM classifieds. I was surprised to see everything I use in the batch. I do load al my own trap, skeet and waterfowl loads as I have a number of 2.5" chambered shotguns and ones old enough to need Bismuth for waterfowl.
derbyacresbob
Well-known member
Most shotguns that blow up never show any pressure signs before they blow up. Back in the old days I used some old BPI Hevi-Shot, Steel powder data with the newer Steel powder. I shot well over 100 loads with no problems. When I had those loads tested by Precision they were just over 14,800 psi or about 3,300 psi over MAX pressure.
Below is a link to my old post.
www.predatormasters.com
Below is a link to my old post.
Warning on older Alliant Steel Powder Shotgun reloading data!
Not to long ago I found out that many of my 12 ga coyote and goose loads that I reloaded using BPI's Handloading Hevi-Shot Fourth Edition manual have way to high of pressures. I sent off some 12 ga 2-3/4" 1-3/8 oz loads to have tested. I based these loads off of BPI and RSI's Hevi-Shot and...
www.predatormasters.com
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Dultimatpredator
Well-known member
I load a cut down 2 7/8" 10 gauge hull for my 1873 damascus charles daly SxS with 1 5/8 oz BPI nickel plated shot along with a 100 grai s of FG. Pattern never seems consistent whatever load i've tried in the old gun. I can tell you my copper plated chilled lead and un coated plain old magnum lead shot is way harder than the junky BPI nickel plated shot. I got suckered in to buying some to improve patterns was was harder alloy to increase pentration and TKO value. Nope, the BPI nickel plated shot is super soft vs my magnum bare lead shot and every copper plated shot i have laying around. Easy test. Saw a guy on youtube do it to give credit to. Just set one shot on another and slowly sweeze in a pliers. The BPI nickel plated shot flattens first every time.