How Did I Do?

[Michael J. Spangler]

First loads for 12 gauge

AA Hulls
17 Grains Red Dot
CB1118 Wad
3X3 00 Buck from a lee mould
Fold Crimp
Cheddite Primers

How does the wad look? Is this ok or is it too beat up? I didn't pattern the load but tossed almost a box at the 50 yard berm and they looked to be decent enough considering the short barrel and cylinder bore.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll105/MJSpangler/Casting/F99E105B-7E94-48D0-9D6F-B613BBEE7B0B_zpspw2qymhl.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/MJSpangler/media/Casting/F99E105B-7E94-48D0-9D6F-B613BBEE7B0B_zpspw2qymhl.jpg.html)

[Spudgunr]

00 fits in a trio WITHOUT a wad, it doesn't really fit in a wad properly. In stacks of 3, the circle the shot will fit in is 2.155 times the diameter. If you have true .33" 00 buck, that is .711". A 12ga bore is .729 (cylinder bore, choke is obviously smaller), your wad is about .02" thick per side. So even if you have cylinder bore, you have (.711+.04=.751) over .020 of interference, more with a choke.

Try again, double stack in the wad (and you can have 3 outside the wad). That said, many of my wads look the same without it being an interference fit (though that is mostly true in the high velocity loads >1400 fps). For stacks of 3 in a wad you have to get down to .305" or smaller to not have interference fit.


First loads for 12 gauge

AA Hulls
17 Grains Red Dot
CB1118 Wad
3X3 00 Buck from a lee mould
Fold Crimp
Cheddite Primers

How does the wad look? Is this ok or is it too beat up? I didn't pattern the load but tossed almost a box at the 50 yard berm and they looked to be decent enough considering the short barrel and cylinder bore.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll105/MJSpangler/Casting/F99E105B-7E94-48D0-9D6F-B613BBEE7B0B_zpspw2qymhl.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/MJSpangler/media/Casting/F99E105B-7E94-48D0-9D6F-B613BBEE7B0B_zpspw2qymhl.jpg.html)

[maxreloader]

you did great! Did you ship my molds? :bigsmyl2:

[Michael J. Spangler]

Yes! Yesterday. Should be seeing them tomorrow I guess


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[maxreloader]

Sweet! thank you sir!

[RMc]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?307365-Buckshot-pellets-per-layer

[Michael J. Spangler]

So what are the drawbacks to being slightly larger? More deformation as it makes it's trip down the bore?
Which of course causes bad patterns.

[victorfox]

Im loading 2x4 inside a shotcup, crimps nicely didn't shoot yet

[runfiverun]

bridging in the choke.
it looks like there may be some spots where the shot rubbed through the wads.

[Spudgunr]

I have made a tool for my own use, so my apologies in that it isn't the most user friendly tool in the world. That can be found here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wVM29MAvbVy5WhyGdj2EWZt4FYvOkoDGj4LZHufrBpM/edit?usp=sharing). At the bottom left is the diameter of circle a given number of smaller circles will fit into (that is where I got the 2.155 times). On the top right is the height of that stack. So top row is 2 pellets per layer, 4 layers high is 2.5D (so 2.5 times the diameter of the pellet). If using .330, then X2.5=.825" tall buckshot stack.

I made a table with 12ga and 20ga using a .020" wad thickness as my guide and highlighted the most dense packing. I also have a calculator so I can figure out how many pellets will fit in a load, this was made specifically for duplex loads. I can type in that I have 6 pellets of #1 buck and then see how many pellets of #4 I can use for the rest of the load. However, this was made for home cast buckshot from wheel weights, if using pure lead or commercial pure lead buckshot your shot charge WILL weigh more.

[Hogtamer]

How did you do? You didn't use the one thing that would tell you - a target. By the look of the wads I can guess though, not too good. A target never lies.

[dverna]

Without a target it is a guess. I would not care how beat up the wad was if the load patterned. I have not used a CB wad in over 5 years but they were not the best. I hear the new ones are better.

Patterning is a pain but it is the only way to know. Different barrels/chokes will affect the pattern. BTW, when you get a load that looks good, shoot a few to see if the pattern is consistent.

[Michael J. Spangler]

So I guess I'm going to load up a couple more like this and Load up some more with the same load but petals cut off the wad to see how they do.
I have a BPI buckshot manual and a BPI slug manual on the way.

I figured I might as well read them over a couple times before I go ordering components I might not even need.
Thanks for the insight guys.
I'll post some target pictures hopefully next Wednesday night.

[runfiverun]

if you happen to find the lyman shotshell book it's worth grabbing too.
it shows buckshot/slug loads with normal wads and powders like unique.
but just as useful is the pictures of the wads and the different hulls available.

[Michael J. Spangler]

I have an older copy of that. Third edition. I think. 1984 maybe


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[Michael J. Spangler]

All targets shot at 25 yards.
19.5" barrel. Cylinder bore.
Same load as in the opening post.

This piece of paper was 24" wide give or take.
One shot with the petals cut off the wad.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll105/MJSpangler/Casting/F4EC92E9-4C12-43A9-B005-B5A925B48891_zpsgd76ymxq.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/MJSpangler/media/Casting/F4EC92E9-4C12-43A9-B005-B5A925B48891_zpsgd76ymxq.jpg.html)

Second shot on the same target with the petals still on the wad.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll105/MJSpangler/Casting/374763E0-9DA7-4C42-BFD9-78640702F609_zpsdwdnvcuy.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/MJSpangler/media/Casting/374763E0-9DA7-4C42-BFD9-78640702F609_zpsdwdnvcuy.jpg.html)

Guessing this paper was about 18" or 20" wide.
3 shots with the petals still on.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll105/MJSpangler/Casting/173D3852-94C8-49A0-8003-CA7C3672064C_zpsudm4lxyq.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/MJSpangler/media/Casting/173D3852-94C8-49A0-8003-CA7C3672064C_zpsudm4lxyq.jpg.html)

Looks like they did pretty well. I'm not planning on hunting with these though I will give them a try with a longer barrel and choke next time.

I don't think the patterns are all that bad for an up close and personal load.


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[Hogtamer]

Now you're doing good...you have a mental picture of what to expect. NOT a 30 yd + hunting load but that's not what you're after. For an around the house defense load you can stop there and practice 10 - 20 yd shots max and grow confident in your capabilities. But always shoot at something, even if it's a coffee can within your range.

[Michael J. Spangler]

Thanks man.
I was really looking for a basic easy and fun load to work with. Something with readily available components to get me started.
Now that I have the bug and some good manuals on the way I'm sure I'll be looking to do more.
By the way your threads are very informative on slugs and buckshot loads. Thank you for contributing to this site.


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[koehlerrk]

I'll second that, Hogtamer does one incredible job with his tests. Very informative.

[leeggen]

I like you siloute target, did you feel bad for the guy?LOL I don't want to be infront of that load.
CD