10 Gauge 2 5/8" Bismuth and Lead Load Results
 

I received results for a couple of new loads I sent in to have tested. The Bismuth 1 1/4oz Remington hull load I sent in that I'm wanting to use for goose hunting came back with faster velocity and 1000 psi less than the same load sent in using a Cheddite Hull. That was the results I was hoping for. The other load I sent in is just a recipe for shooting clay pigeons with 1 1/8oz shot and that came back with real low psi. I think I could increase the powder slightly to get a little more velocity.

Your WSF waterfowl load is right on target. I used the same load this past duck season.

Your WSH target load needs to be bumped up to 21.5 grains. See this: http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23364.

-Victor

Victor, not sure where you're putting the two 16ga OS cards. I've always tried to keep any card over the shot as thin as possible. Even in my old [ 1905 ] Sears catalog, in the reloading section they recommend just one thin OS card . I found out the same as they recommend, that too thick a OS card produces a hole in the pattern. I know other guys here claim it doesn't hurt, but why take a chance if the space can be taken up with thicker cushion wads ? Years back I was at a out of state SxS Shoot and was using brass shells, BP, and thick [ .062 ] OS cards. I was using them because it was advertised you didn't have to glue them in. The first half of the shoot I couldn't hit anything. I meant 0 or 1 for 8 at a station. My buddies were looking at me funny. After lunch I switched to regular shells and didn't have any more problems. The next day I went to the pattern board with them . That's when I found out what the thick card did. A big hole right in the middle.
It sounds like you just need to adjust your crimp stations to close up a hole in the middle of the crimp, or a little more wad in the cushion area. Just some ideas. Thanks to both of you guys for getting loads tested.

Paul:

I agree with you. I do not like using overshot cards (or anything else over the shot). When I ran the first WSF test, I used two overshot cards to get a good crimp. Then, for subsequent tests, I used two overshot cards for consistency. Much better to place the overshot cards in the bottom of the wad cup (with the fiber wad). In practice, I do not use any overshot cards for this load. Instead, I just use a thicker fiber wad in the bottom of the wad cup.

-Victor

I had a chance to pattern my bismuth #2 load today and at 40 yards I ended up with a 71% pattern with my 10 gauge Parker Lifter choked full. It looks like it is going to make a good goose load if I can manage to put the pattern on the goose which is sometime easier said then done for me. Geese Beware.