Square Loads = Better Performance?

Southpaw · 02-23-2018, 08:26 AM

Just wondering what the consensus thought was regarding square loads and pattern performance. Factory loads are one thing buy years ago when I was reloading I had read that the British were a firm believer of square loads to try and eliminate stringing issues. This was when lead shot was used for everything and before steel shot was mandated for waterfowl.

I thought there is something to it and always tried to square the loads when reloading but was not thoroughly convinced. I figured rightly or wrongly more shot in pattern was good no matter if it was a stationary target or moving target. Giving it some thought more shot in pattern for a turkey is probably a great thing. I also think that it is not too bad an issue on shot stringing for targets going away like trap or flushing game. Shot stringing is maybe a real issue for moving crossing targets but I have yet to see a modern study relating to squaring the loads as a partial cure for shot stringing. This article makes sense but as it states it still is against mainstream factory load thinking.

http://www.sidebysideshotgun.com/art...s_article.html

Here is also a video of shot stringing by gun nuts.

https://www2.bing.com/videos/search?...F71D&FORM=VIRE

Kirk Mckinney · 02-23-2018, 02:26 PM

I like the concept....I watched the video and read the article. Wow... I had no ideal that some pellets went faster than others in the same shot...well maybe a little but 13 ft....thats a lot isnt it ??

Bruce Day · 02-23-2018, 04:00 PM

Bob Brister The Art and Science of Shotgun shooting remains the premier work on the subject.

Several things I have concluded with much shooting.
1. The best performing loads for each gauge are the nominal ones; 1 1/8 for 12, 1 for 16, 7/8 for 20, etc.

2. The concept of a true square load is that the height of the shot column equals its diameter. I know of no real evidence that this concept means a better load nor does it make sense to me that it would. It just sounds nice.

3. The best velocities are from about 1150 to 1200 for the nicest pattern.

4. Overloading shot beyond optimum for the gauge results in stringing, which may be beneficial in a crossing target. For a straight away target I don’t think it makes any difference.

5. Underloading shot results in holes in the pattern.

6. Too much velocity , much above 1200, can result in a hole in the center of the pattern.

You asked about a square load. I said what is really meant by that term, and to reiterate, I think it’s something the writers in the shooting magazines talk about without showing test results and that is without basis.

Southpaw · 02-23-2018, 05:39 PM

I guess its a chicken and egg discussion.

Found this article that backs up some of what you are saying Bruce. However it talks about stringing caused by choke patterns, shot deformation due to charges and soft material. I find it hard to correlate that load shape like the British discuss in squaring the loads. Would object of squaring the load suffice regardless of choke patterns, charges and material in itself make things pattern better, or does addressing the those issues just get close to a square load. Btw Bruce does Brister mention square loads.

https://shotgunreport.com/2014/04/29/shot-string-2/

Pa SxS · 02-23-2018, 07:02 PM

What Bruce said!

Southpaw · 02-23-2018, 09:23 PM

Oh Lawdy. Did a little more perusing and came across this thread in shotgunworld forum from about 10 years ago talking about square loads. Lots of good debate and them boys played rough with one another.

Again nothing definitive but I did like the discussion about how well 16 ga and 28 ga perform at 1 oz and respective 3/4 oz loads as these two gauges seem pattern well and have less shot string. Anyway. Sounds like it is a healthy debate and you can read their discussion if so inclined. I swear if some of those guys would have been in same room it would have come to fisticuffs if they talked that way in person.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...03c80&start=20

J.B. Books · 02-24-2018, 04:44 AM

Whether they are square or not I really like light loads. In 12ga I like to shoot clays with 7/8 ounce of shot at about 1200. At the 16 yard line in trap I have not seen a change in my score but there is a big change in felt recoil and a bag of shot goes a lot further. For crow shooting 1 ounce in 12ga and 1 1/8 in 10ga will knock the tall ones down nicely with a tight choke. A 1 1/4 ounce load of bismuth in a short ten will flatten any duck to 40 yards and little more. I have been sold on light loads for quite awhile.

William Davis · 02-24-2018, 07:38 AM

Agree with Pete, advantages of light shot loads loads are significant and easily demonstrated, “square” am not so sure.

William

Double Lab · 02-24-2018, 08:44 AM

Same here Pete. Being a handloader like you I've gone to 3/4oz. loads in 12, 16, 20 and of course 28 and have been very pleased at the performance on birds and clays. Are they for everyone? Probably not because of the mindset that exists in the American shooter; you know... bigger is better. I believe that the loads that Parker suggested for the various gauges were at a time when they needed more shot in a load to perform on the pattern plate. The components available to us now are far superior and lighter loads perform so efficiently especially with tight chokes.
A few years back at Hausmann's I was talking with Morris Baker of RST fame and we were talking light loads. He reached into his pocket and handed me a few of his newest loads, 3/4oz 12 ga. which were in the development stage at that time. I reached into my vest and handed him a couple of my 3/4oz. 12 ga. loads which were also in development. Coincidence I guess but his claim was that he has'nt found a target that he could'nt break with it. I agree.

Southpaw · 02-24-2018, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daryl Corona

Same here Pete. Being a handloader like you I've gone to 3/4oz. loads in 12, 16, 20 and of course 28 and have been very pleased at the performance on birds and clays. Are they for everyone? Probably not because of the mindset that exists in the American shooter; you know... bigger is better. I believe that the loads that Parker suggested for the various gauges were at a time when they needed more shot in a load to perform on the pattern plate. The components available to us now are far superior and lighter loads perform so efficiently especially with tight chokes.
A few years back at Hausmann's I was talking with Morris Baker of RST fame and we were talking light loads. He reached into his pocket and handed me a few of his newest loads, 3/4oz 12 ga. which were in the development stage at that time. I reached into my vest and handed him a couple of my 3/4oz. 12 ga. loads which were also in development. Coincidence I guess but his claim was that he has'nt found a target that he could'nt break with it. I agree.

Very interesting. I read in some discussions regarding the physics of load columns. Seems it was understood that taller load shot columns on softer lead shot caused more shot deformity at hence more shot stringing. Which suggests it might not even be a square load issue but a mass issue, hence why 28 gauge even at 3/4 oz load is suppose to perform extremely well.

Agree with the US issue to solve certain problems, which obviously has mixed results. I love the old IBM commercial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZmHDEa0Y20