Okay then I'll have to try that load and see what happens. I also have to "recalibrate" my loading. The wads I was using are gone now (old Pacific Verelite) and they were thicker than the Winchester and Claybuster wads I have now so my slugs and round balls don't fit as snuggley. This came up last spring when I went out to the range having used same reloading data and slugs/balls but in the Winchester and Claybuster wads. Well, accuracy wasn't what it had been. There were a few other issues too plus relearning a thing or two (got sloppy with roll crimps) to get accuracy back.
I read with interest your comment on patching with pillow ticking. I have cloth patches 0.662" RB's into shotcups already in hulls and paper patched both near bore size slugs and wad slugs to get proper fit. In fact it takes one wrap (tube) of printer paper to make my 0.678" RB's a snug fit in the Winchester wads I have now. They were a perfect fit in the Pacific Verelite wads.
Your RB accuracy at 50 yards mirrors mine. I can generally keep good loads under 4" at 50 yards. In fact my choice for "slug" is generally round ball for moderate ranges from smoothbore. It is that elusive 100 yard accuracy I struggle to get.
Thanks for sharing.
On the gun front I believe I will be ordering the Mossberg 500 Slugster. It seems like a decent deal and the shop has been very responsive to my questions. Shipping is about $40 so not bad. I just hope it isn't sold by the time I order.
Longbow