Russian 20 gauge pellet slug

[Ginsing]

Hey fellas
I recieved a Svarog 20 gauge pellet slug mold a few weeks ago. I just casted some up today, the mold works very well. Only got 2 or 3 rejects before it started casting keepers.
I weighed a few and to my surprise they are only 285 grains or so. Lighter than I thought.
My question to you guys is where to start for loading these. There isn't much out there for 5/8 oz data.
Anyone have any luck with these slugs?
I'm going to be shooting these through a smoothbore.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated

[gpidaho]

Ginsing: The BPI Advantage Manual has about twenty 5/8th oz. 20ga. shot loads, They should be mild for a slug load. Pm me if you'd like these. Gp

[Hogtamer]

The lyman version I think runs about 350 grs. What are the dimensions?

[Ginsing]

I would like that for sure.
Mild is good, also hoping to try some faster loads as well.
I don't have much in the way of wads. Have federal wads and some Remington 1 oz wads. I have mostly federal hulls, a few cheddite and a few gun club hulls.

[gpidaho]

I just weighed my Lyman pellet slug and filled with hot glue it weighed 351gr. with soft lead. Gp

[Ginsing]

Mine are .550" diameter at the front, .530" diameter at the skirt and .658" long

[gpidaho]

Ok Ginsing I'll P.M. you some BPI loads. They of course are trying to sell there products so the loads will with BPI components but should give you an idea of where to start. Gp

[gpidaho]

The Lyman slugs measure .578 front, .557 skirt X .918 length.

[Ginsing]

These Russian pellet slugs are much shorter. Sitting in a 20s1 wad they will need some fillers in the wad to bring the height up. It seems a nice snug fit in my improved modified choke tube. Works out well that is the tube that is always in my shotgun for grouse and general farm duties.
I get great patterns with my #4 buckshot load in this tube. Still trying to get a .311" buckshot load to behave

[Ginsing]

Gpidaho
Your help is much appreciated.
Hopefully these loads will work for a .575" ball as well. I have been wanting to try these on their own as well. I tried loading 3 #4 buck with the ball on top to get the payload heavier.
I'm just not sure about using very light payloads with heavier load data. Lighter payload coupled with less pressure generated with slugs, just not sure how the loads will perform

[gpidaho]

Ginsing: Your welcome. I'm having some luck with the .562 RBs in the Trap Commander wads. Gp

[Ginsing]

Are you using the same BPI data for the .562" ball?

[gpidaho]

Ginsing Just went to look and I do have some .575s loaded up with 24.5gr of Longshot. Haven't sent them yet though. The .562s I've been using 16gr. of Green Dot in WAAF1 wads with nitro cards in the base of the wad and in the wad to fit. Gp

[Ginsing]

What hull, wad and primer are you loaded up with for your .575" ball?
I do like longshot in 20 gauge. My 20 pellet #4 buckshot load I use 20 gr longshot or 18.5 gr universal clays.
I think I'm gonna have to start playing with 20 gauge loads more. Makes a heavy day at the range much more pleasant than a day testing heavy 12 gauge loads.

[gpidaho]

New Rio 2 3/4 hull. 24.5 Longshot .125 nitro card TC20 (trap commander) 2- .125 nitro cards in the wad fold crimp. I haven't sent these yet so don't follow my lead with out checking data for comparable load weight. I'll let you know how they do when I get to the range. Gp Edit: The nitro cards are 28ga. and the new hull is primed with a Rio primer.

[Ginsing]

Sounds about right with using 7/8 oz data
Yes please do let me know how they work out for you.
I think over the Holliday I'm going to get some 20 gauge stuff loaded myself and hit the range. I'm very anxious to try this new pellet slug.
If I remember correctly Bloodtrail has had some luck with it. Be interested in what works for him with this slug. I recall him using a rifled barrel however.
When I get around to testing I will post my results if anyone is interested

[gpidaho]

I'm interested. Please let us know. The more people we have working on this the more chance we have of stumbling on a load that works well. My 20ga. smooth bore is just a Rossi break barrel fixed modified but I do have a rifled 20ga. 11-87 with a Vortex Strike Fire dot scope to play with. Gp

[toallmy]

I have been holding out for a 20 gage slug mold group buy , but I don't think there was enough interest .
So I'm watching this thread with interest .:popcorn:

[Petander]

Following.

I have one of those molds coming in the mail.

[SuperBlazingSabots]

Good morning Ginsing, Merry Christmas to you. First thing please post a few pictures of the slug, mold and how much did you pay. Secondly since you have a smooth bore put the slug in every wad that you have and try pushing it backwards from the muzzle to see which one has a fiction fit around 6 to 10 lbs push. It would be nice if you measure your gun barrel OD at muzzle for safety sake.
Don't worry about loads, yet ! !
Then let the fun begin, great fun.
Best regards,
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

[Ginsing]

232651232652232653
I'll get a picture of the mold when I get to my casting shed. I believe I payed $48 USD for the mold. Ordered it directly from Svarog in Perm Russia.
As for wad fit, I only have 2 types of wads. The fit in the remington wad is not good because of the ribs in the petals. With the federal 20s1 wad it fits nicely in my I.M. choke and a slip fit in my modified choke. Those are my 2 most used choke tubes anyway.

[SuperBlazingSabots]

That sounds very nice, now remember you want 6 to 10 lbs push through your choke part of the barrel.
I was very happy to hear that the slug wt was 285 gr only. Order .125 nitro cards from Circle Fly of 28 ga, this nitro card goes under the slug in wad to give it a solid platform at launch ! !
Why Circle Fly because we use to get more than double the quantity, yet cheaper pricing, Today I do not know if things have changed.
What all powder selection do you have on hand?
Do you have Fiocchi hulls on hand 2 3/4 inch and 3 inch?
Do you have Fed 209 A magnum primers?

Waiting for your reply then we will proceed.
https://i.imgur.com/7uUhqsj.jpg
You will need a depth gauge so if you do not already have one then go to a Dollar store for a set of " O " rings
https://i.imgur.com/xvf8KPn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/l6JRnKc.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8rfw5i6.jpg
Best regards,
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

[Ginsing]

I punch my own cards for under the slug. I use a 13mm punch so I can make whatever wad I like. I have federal hulls both 2 3/4" and 3".
Suitable powder for 20 gauge would be universal, blue dot and longshot.
I have winchester 209, cci 209m, and federal 209a primers.

[Ginsing]

Oh I do have some 2 3/4" cheddite hulls as well

[SuperBlazingSabots]

Those Federal hulls are the best for hunting and to set up newer loads I prefer Fiocchi hull. I'll give you the loads but you will have to adjust the wad column to see if you need one , two or three .125 inch nitro cards below the slug to do a fold crimp. You decide !
Watch it brother, they are indeed hot and will kill anything in North America:
https://i.imgur.com/4IPllGa.jpg
Cut down the powder charge by 10 % and load one load at a time by increasing the charge by 1/2 gr at a time using Newer Fiocchi hulls.
Please do not forget to measure your barrel OD at the muzzle, its important for your safety too. There are plenty of guns out there that have paper thin barrels ! !
We come here to help but not get anyone of your friends hurt, indeed we are playing with fire ! !
Best regards,
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

[Ginsing]

Those are indeed hot loads Ajay.
Thanks for your guidance, you are indeed a pioneer in this field. My outside diameter is .790" at the muzzle.
I don't suppose you have any 2 3/4" loads up your sleeve.
The majority of hulls I have are 2 3/4" and buying hulls is not much of an option where I live.

[SuperBlazingSabots]

Hello Ginsing, by the time you reduce the charge by 10% and charge one hull then slide in the wad with slug and measure how much hull space you have left for crimp.
Never know your 2 3/4 hull just might fit in.
Try and find out.
I do not have that slug or that mold.

I'm on stand-by if you need further help from me.

Best regards,
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

[Ginsing]

I'll give it a try likely boxing day.
I'll report my progress
Thanks for all your help everyone

[Petander]

Got my Svarog 20 gauge pellet mold today. It's built like a tank.

No complaints at all, easy casting, good results. Fits snug in a thick wall tungsten shot cup.

I wanted a Lyman but nobody ships them internationally anymore. This is a good mold, I have a very good Lyman in 12 gauge. Lee 575 ball in the pic,too. Such a fragile mold this Lee.

232846

[Ginsing]

The molds are built well, and cast very well. With the 20 gauge one I only got 3 rejects before it started casting keepers

[Petander]

232989

[SuperBlazingSabots]

Greetings Petander, looks good, what are your load charges and wad. Is it for smoothbore or rifled barrel?

Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

[Ginsing]

Update:
Got out and shot some round balls and pellet slugs.
My loads were mild but shot very well.
I used federal 2 3/4" hulls
For the round balls 18 gr universal, winchester 209 primers, federal 20s1 wad, 2 hand punched card wads under the ball (3/16" total), 8 point crimp. Put 5 balls into a palm size group at 45 paces. No fliers, wads held out fine shot from a kneeling position with a bead sight, modified choke. All shots were 6" right and 4" high to POA.
Loads for pellet slug were 23 grains longshot, winchester 209 primer, federal 20s1 wad with 2 card wad under the slug, base of the slug was filled with got glue, 8 point crimp.
Shot same distance, same gun.
Groups were more centered and lower. Still a few inches high. It was 4 of the slugs in about a 4" groups with 1 about 3" low. I'm not sure if it was me or a wad failure I only recovered 2 wads from these shots. The longshot loads felt more powerful and I'm sure I can improve my accuracy with them when I'm more comfortable. I was getting a bit chilly by then from kneeling in the snow haha.
Overall I'm impressed with both loads. Surprised they both shot so well right out of the gates.
I'll load up more and report back, maybe I will borrow a heavier gun. I'm just shooting these through a single shot Turkish gun that is extremely light, I would be surprised if this thing weighs 5 pounds.