Loading the Short Ten by Pete Lester
 

What you need to get into shooting and reloading the (2 7/8") short ten by PGCA member Pete Lester:

A good single stage press - MEC is the most economical.

A short kit for loading 2 7/8" shells.

A hull trimmer - easily made

A hull skivver - optional but handy.

A roll crimper - Ballistic products sells one that goes into a electric drill.

A hull vise - To hold shells while applying a roll crimp

10ga hulls - harder to find and pricier than 12ga

10ga wads - Remington SP10 or BP Decimax/VP100

Filler wads - Fiber is good and economical, 16ga fits nicely in SP10 wad, 1/2" fiber wads are easily split with finger nail if shorter is needed.

Overshot cards - If using a roll crimp.

Recipe's - See Pete Lester's spreadsheet (posted on 5/3/12 at this link) http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthr...rt+spreadsheet

The process of loading the 2 7/8" 10ga is the same as loading any other gauge with the addition of hull trimming and use of a filler wad. It's a pretty simple process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owXs4Eg__BE[/quote]

Let's not forget a very important item, the scale. Powder charges need to be verified. BP's or Precision Reloading both sell the new digital scales rather cheap.

great advise. i found most of my MEC bushings significantly off for SR7625 according to the chart.

short 10 loads
 

When I started loading for the short 10 I used a roll crimp. I have since switched to a 6 point fold crimp and I am able to get many more loads per hull, and as we know, 10 gauge Federal or Remington hulls are expensive.

since Remington hulls are in such short supply, and Federal are harder to find than Sasquatch - has anyone tried the Cheddite 10 gauge hulls-
of course new low pressure 2 7/8 loads would need to be worked up for them

10 ga Cheddite hulls
 

I am not familiar with the 10 ga Cheddite hull. Maybe Ballistic Products has a supply of them. They are my source for Federal and Remington.

Cheddit 10 ga hulls from Bp are 30.99 per 100.

yes they are - that is why I asked if any one had experience with them.

the question remains

Attached is an update to my Short Ten reloading spreadsheet. It has been a long time since I have come across any new to me data. Last night I found a copy of the First Edition of the Lyman Shotshell Handbook from 1969. I have added 11 new published loads from that book. All of them use discontinued/obsolete hulls. What I found interesting was this is the first time I have found recipes calling for "2 3/4" 10ga hulls. The old recipes also show us again that SR7625 and PB can be good choices for 1 1/4 ounce 10ga loads.

The newest loads are the last ones on page 3 of the spreadsheet.

Pete
Today i set out 20 Remington cases to load the three HS 6 loads with the BPD wad that is in your spread sheet. I Have a cheap Crony for the velocity stats. I have new paper for the pattern board. BPD wads can yield some very good patterns.

I do enjoy your work and enthusiasm with the short ten shotgun, and the loading and shooting of the guns. I have shot these guns for a few years, and I still like to try new loads. I have shot a lot of HS 6 In Alcan brass cases, but mostly heavy loads ((3 and 1/2 IN guns))… I would like to find some data for Win 571 or HS 7 ((ball Powders)) for the short ten.

I have a Charles Daly Linder (( Krupp Barrels)) that the chambers are exactly 2 and 3/4 In. long I cut the shells to fit the chamber length. I roll crimp and load like 2 and 7/8 In. shells. I also shoot gauge mates with 12 Ga. shells. I think maybe it is a uncommon chamber size??? Thanks again for your effort, and information…
David

canuck use to sell the 2 3/4 inch shells...i ve seen a few boxes on auction sites but they go to high to shoot... charlie

i just loaded up a box of short ten s in the 19 grain red dot loads and 1 1/8 ounce of lead gona try a few shots oin doves tommorrow with the 1894 remy..let you know how the load and gun does...charlie

Spread Sheet
 

Pete
Chris came home to watch the Indian relay races at the Idaho State fair in blackfoot Idaho. Grandson Hayden also came from college,,Soooo i had some help in bench shooting the 10 Ga. hand loads. I loaded more loads and we went shooting.

The velocity checked out good and even on the cheep Crony. About as published, I settled on the 1 5/8 Oz Load.. With two long slits in the BPD Wad. The 40 Yd. patterns were 99% at 40 yards. with a good tight core. With four long slits in the wad and ""Suponski style spreaders"" the patterns opened up to a loose modified. Loads seemed about average in the 8 LB. Super ten, and were a pleasure in the 10 LB Ithaca magnum, 10 Lb Zepher Honker and Neumann tens. I think I will like this load a lot. I feel that I can shoot a few boxes in a day and not get beat up, as is the case with heavier loads in the ten Mags. A guy has to sissies up a little when over 40.:)

I like pass shooting Crows and this will be my go to load this year. I did load a couple of duplex loads 5s and 3s, and they did look very good on paper. No ""Doctor Pepper"" can so the jury is still out. I have shot 4756 and 7625 in the past short ten loads, some times cold sensitive, and varying velocities.
Thanks again for the tip on the load.. I think the load is going to work out just fine.
David

I load Remington and Cheddite in the "Short 10". I have a bunch of the RST hulls, which are Cheddite. I played "Hull Whore" at a SxS shoot and scrounged every 10g I could find. Most were 2 7/8" and were calling my name!

dove load
 

the 19 grains of reddot and 1 1/8 ounce of shot is a good dove load..i shot 5 times and killed 2 doves..really not enough testing but i know enough about the load that its fine on doves...charlie

Charlie and Dave, my friend Claudio Opacek, the outstanding Ontario gunsmith and NAVHDA judge, gave me two boxes of the rare Canuck 2 3/4" tens after I told him I collect ten gauge shells. Strange that Charlie would mention these shells since no one I know has ever heard of them. One box is 1 1/4 ounce BB. How rare is that? Some day I will root out the other box. They are beautiful dark orange varnished paper shells, roll crimped with the load information on the top wad. They are about the nicest 10 gauge shells I own. Watch the obituaries.

Sorry, I thought all Morris' RST shells were made with Cheddite hulls. I was informed today the 10g are Federal made hulls. I learned something today, it was worthwhile waking up!!!!! :rotf:

I was speaking with an employee of RST very recently about their 10ga offering. They are now using a Spanish imported powder with very similar characteristics to 7625. The powder is not available to reloaders yet. I also believe they are considering the10gas cheddite hull.

Murphy
I have seen the 10 Ga. shells that you have. You are right, those shells are "prettier than girls." Me thinks you could kill a coyote with the 1 1/4 Oz. load of BBs. inside of 50 Yds.

I contacted RST yesterday and they said at times they use a Federal hull, but right now they are using Cheddite. Looks like my source and I were both correct. Hope that clears it all up.

David, my 1882 Remington has the 2 3/4" chamber. Don't think there were many at that length.

A Vintager friend of mine was chatting with Morris I think at the Vintage cup last month . Anyway he told me Morris told him that he had a couple tons of whatever this new powder is coming as we speak !

He also implied to me Morris planned to use the new powder the same as I use SR7625 , by that I mean in most all moderate loads for the 10 , 12 , 16 , 20 and possibly 28 gauge .

If what was implied to me is correct and this new powder becomes available I see myself switching over to it once my supply of SR7625 runs out .

What is the name of this "new" powder?

I shot 100 reloaded RST (federal) shells at the southern side by side and all seemed fine. They were loaded with 31.5 gr 7625 and 1 1/8 #8 shot. 1044 wad with 1 , felt 1/2 in 16 ga wad in the shot cup and a 6 point crimp. Carvel

Carvel

What kind of press did you use to get the crimp ?

William

press for short ten
 

William, I use a Mec single stage for the short 10. I use a Ballistic Products metal crimp starter and it gives the crimp folds very good definition.I have used roll crimps before but the case life is too short with roll crimps...at least for me they are. Jim

Dunno , everything I was told I put in the post above .

William, I use a mec 600 jr with the short kit and the brass crimp starter. Works great. Carvel

Components together start loading soon. Have two lots of new primed Cheddite hulls that I will trim back to 2 7/8 then Roll Crimp. Follow the advice posted, add a filler wad bottom of the shot cup. 1 1/8 of 7 1/2 Red dot or Unique from the spreadsheet. Looking for about 1150 fps

Also have a fair amount of RST empties Cheddite hulls 2 7/8 inches that were fold crimped. Folds don't roll all that well, best if they are trimmed back to fresh plastic then roll the crimp in. Case will end up about 2 1/2. That what I do with 20's and 12's cut the crimp away, fired case is a bit shorter than 2 1/2 inches depending on the hull brand. Not a problem use appropriate wad for the light shot loads I am using. Those gauges use the rolled shells for spreaders makes it simple to identify

10's components not as easy, Remington wads hold a lot more shot than the 1 1/8 I plan on loading. All advice is to add a filler. I cut one of the wads petals back about 3/16 inch, shortened it holds 1 1/8 oz nice and makes a good fit in the shorter cut back case.

Anybody cut the wad shorter to suit the case size ? I would do it for spreader loads only and to use up the fired RST's Seems OK thought I would ask first.

William

Further to my short 10 post. Loaded up a dummy this afternoon. Cut the 2 7/8 inch RST empty down to 2 1/2 inches removed all trace of the crimp. Threw 19.4 of Red Dot then seated the Remington SP 10 wad on top of the powder.

Dropped a 28 G nitro card wad in the bottom of the Remington wad threw 1 1/8 oz #7 1/2. on top. Still not full to the wads top or enough to fill the 2 1/2 inch case. Added a 12 G Nitro card on top then roll crimped. Nice crimp, shake no noise and the shell finished at 2 1/4 inches

I guess my basic question is which way to go

Fill the wad with nitro cards to make up the stack. 16 G will fill better than 28's, and use a fairly thick overshot or Polywad spreader disk. Or cut the Hull and Wad even shorter. I don't want to use over about 19 of Red Dot or 1 1/8 shot. Pattern is probably the only way to tell. However thought there might be some advice out there.

PS I could go to Unique about 30 grs and up the shot charge to 1 1/4 that will probably make a higher stack in the hull. However have very little Unique and don't need 1 1/4 oz for clay targets

William

William, filler under the shot is the way to go. 16 and 20ga work the best. Any filler over the shot will blow the pattern having the effect of a spreader. Stick with the thin over the shot cards to keep your pattern, unless of course you want a spreader shell.

If you can get your hands on some SR7625 about 30 t0 32 grains of it is a good for 1 1/8 and it will take up more room than the 19.4 gr of Red Dot.

If your shot column is just a little bit short try adding a 1/2 or a whole cheerio as needed between the shot and filler wad you are using. Cheerios are plentiful and cheap, they last longer if you don't eat them while you are loading shells :-)

That's good advice. Will get some 16 G filler wads. Wish I could find 7625 but none to be had. Have Unique though will made up a dummy with30 grs see how much filler wad it needs. I have 10g thin o/s wads already.

William

William, I use 16ga 1/2 in fiber wads split to the thickness needed to take up the space for a good crimp. It also cushions the shot.
Carvel

Carvel that's the one I have in mind. Split the wad to suit.

William

seen several differant brands of powder on gunbroker...charlie

brass loading data
 

Hi i just bought a brand X [American Arms Whitmoure] it came with 25 brass Parker hulls. Does any one have any data on loads using shotcups and smokeless powder

You'll more likely than not need to use fiber wads for a good fit.

10 Ga. Powder
 

Hi,
Now that Solo 1250, Sr4756, and Sr 7625 have been discontinued and Clays is unavailable, what is the best powder for 10 Ga loads in Damascus barrels?
Longshot?
Regards
Preston C

Preston, I was able to get a good supply of SR7625 just for 10 gauge so I haven't looked for an alternate powder. I will start looking to see what is available. I read that Rio is in production in Texas and will be selling their powder to reloaders so maybe they will have something that will work. Hogdon certainly needs some competition. Jim

19 grains of red dot or 21 grains of green dot will push a load of 1 1/8 ounce of lead in a ten ga hull real good not much recoil and will take squirls out at 45 yards real good..look on pete lesters loads for the ten ga...it is the best loading sheet for the short ten that there is....charlie