Doubleg
03-16-2024, 03:45 PM
For 2 months I have researched and tested these loads. I had a lot of help from former member Ajay Madan. For anyone that has a Savage 220 rifled bbl shotgun - this load is sweet!. I will chronograph it next week when I get my hands on the chrono. According to data, the velocity is 1685 (Universal) and 1722 FPS (Longshot) respectively. Here is the medicine that works and pressure seems to be good. Highly accurate for me!
Fiocchi 3" w/ 616 primer with 25.0 grains of Universal or 31.0 grains of Longshot with Fed 209A primer followed by:
20 Gauge Obturator gas seal on top of powder. Both powders work well and are very accurate.
Next is the wad configuration: BPI #020TC20 Commander Wad - One 28 GA .125 NC card in the gas seal of the wad and two 28 GA NC cards in the wad cup followed by the round ball with the sprue cut facing up. Sometimes there is a small injection nib in the gas cup of the wad and I use a Dremel tool with a small grinder head to eliminate this so the 28 GA .125 NC card will seat well. Use a 3/8" socket to snap in place the first NC card in the very bottom of the shot cup followed by a second 28 GA NC card. The Commander wad has the perfect dimensions for the 28 GA NC cards and it holds the .575" round ball snugly. After examining the fired wads I can see the rifling marks on the wad so I know it's got a good spin. DO NOT use any OS cards on top of the ball under the crimp. This can affect accuracy.
Use very slight wad compression just to seat the wad assy and the obturator seal on the powder charge
Adjust final crimp station for 6 Point fold and you are good to go
Picture shows a typical 3 shot group average 1.25" at 98 yards exactly. I was amazed.
324642
324643
Special thanks to Ajay for all the help and guidance. He has put in a lot of expense and hours in testing these loads. I cast my round balls using soft lead, 5-6 BHN. I think the softer alloy will obturate just slightly enough to provide a little better positive seal for the rifled bore. It looks like I can make these for 0.25 cents each if you don't have to buy the lead. Beats paying $20.00 + for Remmy Accutips. Looking for Federal 209 primers.... anyone know where I can find them?
324672
324688
As you can see, roll crimps are not necessary for this load. The crimp forms great on top of the ball. I originally started with an overshot card but the card will deform and can mess up accuracy really bad. Just be sure to use a marker on the brass to label them. I’d hate to accidentally use one of these at a dove shoot. This is a very deadly sabot round!
Fiocchi 3" w/ 616 primer with 25.0 grains of Universal or 31.0 grains of Longshot with Fed 209A primer followed by:
20 Gauge Obturator gas seal on top of powder. Both powders work well and are very accurate.
Next is the wad configuration: BPI #020TC20 Commander Wad - One 28 GA .125 NC card in the gas seal of the wad and two 28 GA NC cards in the wad cup followed by the round ball with the sprue cut facing up. Sometimes there is a small injection nib in the gas cup of the wad and I use a Dremel tool with a small grinder head to eliminate this so the 28 GA .125 NC card will seat well. Use a 3/8" socket to snap in place the first NC card in the very bottom of the shot cup followed by a second 28 GA NC card. The Commander wad has the perfect dimensions for the 28 GA NC cards and it holds the .575" round ball snugly. After examining the fired wads I can see the rifling marks on the wad so I know it's got a good spin. DO NOT use any OS cards on top of the ball under the crimp. This can affect accuracy.
Use very slight wad compression just to seat the wad assy and the obturator seal on the powder charge
Adjust final crimp station for 6 Point fold and you are good to go
Picture shows a typical 3 shot group average 1.25" at 98 yards exactly. I was amazed.
324642
324643
Special thanks to Ajay for all the help and guidance. He has put in a lot of expense and hours in testing these loads. I cast my round balls using soft lead, 5-6 BHN. I think the softer alloy will obturate just slightly enough to provide a little better positive seal for the rifled bore. It looks like I can make these for 0.25 cents each if you don't have to buy the lead. Beats paying $20.00 + for Remmy Accutips. Looking for Federal 209 primers.... anyone know where I can find them?
324672
324688
As you can see, roll crimps are not necessary for this load. The crimp forms great on top of the ball. I originally started with an overshot card but the card will deform and can mess up accuracy really bad. Just be sure to use a marker on the brass to label them. I’d hate to accidentally use one of these at a dove shoot. This is a very deadly sabot round!