Hi Folks,
Adam604 here again,
I had some time over the weekend to load up some .735 round ball loads.
Well, after reading some more and reading your reply's I decided to load up some rounds and give them a go.
Loads that I am trying this time:
Load #1:
Federal target hull
Federal 209A Primers
23 Grains Unique
Federal 12S3 wads (pink)
20 gauge card wad
7/8 oz. Lee Key Drive Slug
Crimp with a 8 segment fold
Load #2
Winchester hull (target hull)
Federal 209A primer
22.9 grains of UNIQUE (2.5cc LEE scoop)
Federal wad (12S3) with the pedals trimmed to .2 past the cup to hold the Ball
Cream of wheat filler in wad cup to hold ball Lee 1.3 cc scoop
.732 ball (Lyman mold) water dropped Wheel Weight ( ~18 BHN) with a coating LEE alox
8 segment Star crimp
Load #3
Active 12 gauge hull
Federal 209A primer
32.4 grains of BLUEDOT (2.8cc LEE scoop)
Federal wad (12S3) with the pedals trimmed to .2 past the cup to hold the Ball
Cream of wheat filler in wad cup to hold ball Lee 1.3 cc scoop
.732 ball (Lyman mold) water dropped Wheel Weight ( ~18 BHN) with a coating LEE alox
8 segment Star crimp
I made a wad trim tool. I trimmed a deprimed used 12 gauge hull to height so that when I pushed in a Federal wad 12S3 and held it in place with a wood dowel plug I could use a box cutter to trim to the right length. They come out trimmed very neatly and repeatable. It works pretty good and I can trim several of them per minute.
I used a Lee Load All press for all this. ( 2ND time use, lots quicker than my Lee Loader)
After I got to the range and set up to shoot from a bench rest I checked all of my loads. Some of the loads were starting to open up the crimp. I think the Federal wad (12S3) may be a bit too long with a .735 ball
I shot from a bench rest with a sandbag firm under the Mossberg butt and the front rest adjusted to place the scope cross hairs on target. Pulled the butt firmly into my shoulder and pulled down and back on the pump slide. Sunny and no wind.
The scope is set for shooting 7/8 oz LEE slugs at 50 yards.
I test fired load #2 and #3 with a screw in cylinder choke tube first
Recoil for load #2 was heaver than load #1 , no ejection problems, no indications of overpressure on the hull or primer pocket.
Recoil for load #3 was heaver than load #1 & 2 but not as much as factory slugs , no ejection problems, no indications of overpressure on the hull or primer pocket.
I had bought 2 chokes for my shotgun, a screw in cylinder choke and a screw in rifled choke tube (both Browning)
I tested the Lee 7/8 oz slug through three choke tubes. Cylinder choke, Improved Cylinder and a screw in rifled choke tube
I tested Load #2 round ball through two choke tubes. Cylinder choke, screw in rifled choke tube
I tested Load #3 round ball through the screw in rifled choke tube (I'll need to use a strap wrench to remove the rifled choke it was really torqued down by the round balls) I was not able to remove the rifled choke tube at the range to test the Cylinder choke tube.
RESULTS: 3-5 SHOTS EACH CHOKE
LEE 7/8 OZ SLUG 50 YARDS
Cylinder choke:
The shots impacted about point of aim at 50 yards, spread about 7 inches
Improved Cylinder choke:
The shots impacted about point of aim at 50 yards, 1 1/2 inches left, 2 inches high, Spread 2 1/2 inches
Screw in rifled choke tube:
The shots impacted near point of aim at 50 yards, 5 inches left, 2 inches high, Spread 2 inches (5 shots)
Screw in rifled choke tube:
The shots impacted near point of aim at 100 yards, 5 inches left , 5 inches low, spread 8 inches (9 shots)
.735 Round Ball Load #2
Cylinder choke:
The shots impacted about point of aim at 50 yards, 2 inches right, 4 inches low, Spread 3 1/2 inches (5 shots)
Improved Cylinder choke:
The shots impacted about point of aim at 50 yards, .5 inches right, 4 inches low, Spread 3 1/2 inches (5 shots)
Screw in rifled choke tube:
The shots impacted near point of aim at 50 yards, .5 inches right , 4 inches low, Spread 2 inches (5 shots)
Screw in rifled choke tube:
The shots impacted near point of aim at 100 yards, .5 inches right , 16 inches low, Spread 3 inches (5 shots)
.735 Round Ball Load #3 (stuck choke tube rifle choke only)
Screw in rifled choke tube:
The shots impacted near point of aim at 50 yards, .5 inches right , 4 inches low, Spread 2 inches (5 shots)
Screw in rifled choke tube:
The shots impacted near point of aim at 100 yards, 4 inches right , 12 inches low, spread 1.5 inches (5 shots)
The rifled choke really improved the groups at both 50 and 100 yards with the round ball. The Lee slug did not shoot as well as the naked .735 round ball!
I will do some more load development and see what happens.
Adam604