rainy cold crummy range day

[finstr]

I braved the +2c rain and sleet today to try out the new slug loads and see what kind of groups I get. So I loaded up some shells with 700x and used a few tricks I learned from Longbow and Ajay. The Claybuster wads had nicks in the gas seal molded from the factory so I put a little wrap of paper around those. That did the trick in sealing them and stopping the blown seal

218324.

Blue Magics for the foster slugs and Fed GM for the finstr sabots

218325

Went out to the pit and set up. Looking for minute of crow at 50yds. [smilie=s:

218322

The hardware; Rem 1100 with Hastings Paradox rifled barrel. Custom camo by me. I used a nylon strap to remotely pull the trigger while I hid behind the truck in case parts flew LOL. I'm a chicken- sue me. :oops:
I couldn't set my chronograph up due to the rain so I've no idea of the speed.

218327 218330

Anyway since the first couple shots didn't sound too bad and ejected decently I braved the other two shots by shouldering the gun.

218331

Not exactly a great group. Will work on these.
The next up is the finstr sabot slugs.

218332

The slugs looked to fly straight and not key hole. Not a great group either. But workable maybe. I could only find 2 of the aluminum sabot halves even though I looked for a long time. I wanted to see if the slug carried them thru the target. I could only find 2 of the 50cal slugs in the bank.

218333

[finstr]

I noticed that a couple of the red wad bases from the foster slugs were blown through

218334

and also the wad was trying to push up inside the hollow base. Next time going to get filled.

218335

218336

The Claybuster wads from the sabot rounds didn't look too bad

218337

[finstr]

For some reason I've been having a heck of a time posting the pics on here today. Some pics are way bigger than others and I'm not savvy enough to figure them out. Sorry if they're too small now. Frustrating!

218338. 218339

Maybe this is better....

218340. 218341

[longbow]

Are those blown seal Winchester AA Red wad/gas seals? I can't quite tell from the pic but look like it. I've had very poor results using Win AA Red wads for either wad slugs or even just using the cut off gas seal. They seem to be soft plastic and haven't done well for me.

+1 on filling the hollow cavity! I fill all my HB slugs now. I've had too many failures without filling. Mostly wads push into the cavity but I've also have weird belling of the skirt... I'm guessing the wads push in and bulge forcing the bottom edge of the skirt to bell outwards. That may be a combination of wad pushing into the cavity and somewhat undersize slug.

Welcome to the wonderful world of reloading shotgun slugs!

Longbow

[finstr]

Yes those are blown red WW wads. I've had great waterfowl loads with them in the past with 571 and 540 powder. Maybe the 700x is too fast for them?
I'll make some changes and give it another go.

[jdfoxinc]

But still better than the best day at work.

[longbow]

Absolutely better than the best day at work! I am so looking forward to retirement... coming soon!

As for those Win AA Red wads. I was given a bag of them so being the frugal lad I am decided to use them for slugs. No good results at all! Didn't matter the slug or load, recovered wads for wad slugs had sheared petals and many had blown gas seals. They were particularly bad with RB's where petals sheared even with free sliding fits. I thought maybe too tight but nope! Didn't matter, the petals sheared.

The AA Red is a much softer plastic than the other Winchester wads I have so possibly that is the issue? I'd think the solid base of a slug would be easier on the gas seal than under a load of shot but maybe they are designed for certain pressure levels? Whatever, I gave up using them.

I had a bunch of Pacific Verelite that were great for slugs and now am using Winchester 1 oz. and 1 1/8 oz. wads. They are much tougher plastic than the AA Red and do well. I'd like to try the Federal wads but locally no supply. As usual, I'll have to order in.

Longbow

[finstr]

But still better than the best day at work.

Truer words were never spoken!

I'd like to order in some BPI gas seals, felt and cork bases with some nitro cards and do away with shot wads altogether, but that might be going way out there in terms of pressure testing.
Darn it! I need a test bed pressure gun.
Maybe a cheapie single shot and a blast shield.....hmmm....

[Skunk1]

How about sunny 80+ degrees yesterday and 30 degrees and snow today. Can you say “temperature swing”.