Federal 7/8 loads?

[J. A. EARLY]

Gary,

A couple of years ago I wrote to Federal complaining that they had dropped their most popular buckshot size for both the 3.5" 10 gauge and 12 gauge, that being the Premium Number 1s. Stores were always sold out of this size but always had an abundance of 00 Buck. Everyone I know used this size, 27 pellets compared to the 18 in a 00. Shooting at running deer, it made a big difference.

They never felt I was a worthy enough customer, so they never responded. So I load my own now and they don't cost over $2 a shell like the Federals. They apparently just do not care what the customers think. You would think a company that made just ammo would try to be better than their competition.

[charlie cleveland]

jerry i would like to have your recipe for those 10 ga no 1 buck shells... i shoot the 7/8 ounce federal shells in the 20 ga damascus barrels all the time.. charlie

[J. A. EARLY]

Originally Posted by charlie cleveland

jerry i would like to have your recipe for those 10 ga no 1 buck shells... i shoot the 7/8 ounce federal shells in the 20 ga damascus barrels all the time.. charlie

Charlie,

From the Alliant Powder Reloaders' Guide page 8 (an old one)

Remington SP 10 gauge 3.5 inch Hull

2.25 ounces of lead (I weigh them out, use nickel plated number 1s. Sometimes 27, sometimes 26) I also make a nice duplex load with number 1s and number 4s.

41 grains Blue Dot

Win 209 primer

SP10 wad

1165 fps

10,500 psi

A deer killer.

[charlie cleveland]

thanks jerry i will load this load up soon got to get me some no 1 buck shoti m out at the moment... will this load work good to 50 yards on medium size deer... charlie

[J. A. EARLY]

Charlie,

If it shoots a tight enough pattern I would say yes to 50 yards. But it is not a fast load at 1165 fps. A big old deer, probably no.

[Gary]

Federal called back...
the nice man on the phone said sorry it took so long to get back to me, but he had to go to balistics to get that information.. so here it is..

The 7/8 #8 1200fps Loads, number TG12EL have between 7500-8000 "max" presure.

He said thats quite a bit "lower" than their "normal" loads that are around 10,500 pressures. I think hes probably talking about the 1 1/8oz loads.. around the same FPS..

So there ya have it.. its a bit higher than i was hoping for.. what do you guys think..?
I know for steel barrels they are ok, what about Damascus?
I think the 7500 is probably ok... not so sure about 8000..
Gary

[Kensal Rise]

You should be just fine. Imagine how much of that 10,500 stuff has been shot in old doubles so far!

[Paul Harm]

Reloaders like to shoot for something under 7 to 7500psi. Don't know where that number came from. I try to keep under 7000psi - why - guess because it sounds good , or maybe because I shoot them so much it's less strain on the action and old wood. Kensal said it all, how many shells went through those old guns that were " magnums " and didn't blow up. I'm not saying to tempt fate, but 7500 to 8000psi isn't high. I'm sure you'll be fine. But you know Gary, we are on the reloading forum, so there's a easy way to fix your problem - start reloading and quite worrying about factory ammo.

[Bill Murphy]

The new Federal 7/8 ounce loads at 1200fps, now that Federal proclaims that they are 7500 to 8000 PSI, are the greatest thing we have found to shoot in any gun for high volume 12 gauge shooting. For everything else, RST is the thing to use. By the way, the Federal load is not exactly new. They have made a low velocity 7/8 ounce load for cowboy action shooting for years. However, it has been about impossible to find on the wholesale market. By the way, have you ever heard of a cowboy gun blowing up because of use with store bought shells?

[Mark Garrett]

There is one way to know for sure exactly what they are .send them in to be tested , Probably cost you about $50.00 bucks . If where me and I wanted to shoot them all the time , Thats what I'd do .There is only one problem with that if Federal decides to change their load you will not know it .

Like Paul said the only way to know for sure is to reload.