10g. Reloading question
 

Using 2 7/8" Federal and Chedite hulls and the SP-10 wad with 1 1/8 oz lead shot I need to fill the wad to get a good crimp. I have been experimenting one or two or even three 1/8" fiber wads to fill the bottom of the wad to raise the shot to get a good crimp. I have varied the number of fiber cards and adjusted with a 3 to five Cheerios. I can get a good crimp. Playing around I tried 4 red kidney beans in the bottom of the SP10 wad, 1 1/8 shot on top and got the best crimp. I am concerned it might affect the pattern. It is too cold right now to go out and test it and it is perfect weather to spend time reloading.

I am hoping someone has tried beans as a filler at the bottom of the shot cup and will chime in with their experience with their pattern or effectiveness. It is certainly less expensive and since they easily fall down past the wad fingers it is actually easier to use.

10 G I get good crimps with about 1/2 inch 16g fiber, cut down from larger wad. Some hulls need 5/8 inch. The trick is vary the amout of fiber to suit load. Stack height can be very different depending on Hull Shot or Powder charge, my press bushings could throw more or less than yours. The fiber gives the ablity to adjust. It has a little spring, bit too much causes no problems.

16 2 3/4 I used to use Cheerios but found at times they crush, causing the crimp to collapse & leak shot. I went to a navy bean, solved the crimp problem but never patterned the load. My guess is the hard bean does affect the pattern. When Hodgdon published 2 1/2 inch 16 data switched to it don’t need fillers anymore,& did not persue the bean filler.

Willam

the only way to know is pattern that bean load then shoot a load with out the beans to see which one is the best pattern....in my way of thinking i dont believe the beans will affect the pattern ...charlie

Charlie is probably right. Besides 1 1/8 oz shot on clay targets can probably stand a few pattern holes and be sucessfull. Sucessfull for fun Shooting . Real competition another thing.

Willam

I get a great six point crimp with two 1/8" fiber discs under the shot and 3 or 4 cheerios over the shot. This is what I would use for competition. It is easier and a lot faster to use 4 beans that slide in easily through the wad fingers. The hole is big enough for them. The weather is supposed to warm up so I am heading out to PA on Sunday to test them. I sure hope the beans work. It is a labor intensive procedure to load 10 gauge on my little MEC 600. It takes a long time to make 125 to have enough for a round of clays. Thanks for your thoughts and if you have any other suggestions my ears are open.

BTW, the beans seem to be very brittle. Maybe they will shatter up ignition.

I use three 1/8th inch 16ga card wads and one .070 16ga card wad in the bottom of the sp 10. Perfect crimp every time.

That is a great load Craig. Thanks for developing and testing it. I am just playing around working with what I have on hand while the weather keeps me inside.

I sure hope the pheasant are doing well in this weather in South Dakota. Are you planning on hunting this year with us?

I break off a piece of polish packing peanut that I think is of the right size and drop it on top of the shot charge right before crimp starting. It works. Doesn't affect patterns and if it is a little too much it just compresses.

Jack Kuzepski

Seems to me with my 1 1/8 ounce loads I use three of the 16 gauge 1/8” card wads in the bottom and a 10 gauge overshot card even though I use a folded crimp . Incidentally there’s 18.6 grains of Red Dot beneath the SP-10 wad . This rather light load rolls up skeet and trap targets with ease . It also does a good job on dove .