16ga Handloads - Pressure Test Results

[Brett Trimble]

Gentlemen,

I’ve attached results from pressure/velocity testing I received today.

My intent is to find a good non-toxic, low pressure load using 2 1/2 in cases and 7/8oz of shot for quail/dove and another for Chukar/Pheasant using around 1oz of larger shot.

These are for use in a Lefever 16ga made in 1903.

Please have a look at the results and give me your thoughts.

Best,
Brett

[Bob Brown]

Wow, those longshot pressures on the last page are amazing low. I didn't know you could get those velocities with such low pressures. I've got a couple of old English 16 gauge hammer guns I'll try them in.

[Brett Trimble]

There’s more variation in that last Longshot load than I’d like to see. I would be a little worried about ignition in cold weather too. A little more powder might help those, I think.

I measured the powder and shot charges individually with an accurate powder scale. Generally, I’m a little surprised by the variation in some of these loads. But… this is the first time I’ve had loads tested!

[Randy G Roberts]

Nice results. All of these are roll crimp. How does the roll crimp fare against a 6 or 8 point crimp in terms of pressure, more, less, about the same ?

[Brett Trimble]

Randy, I haven’t had star crimped loads tested. I’m told roll crimped loads have slightly lower pressure.

[Jeff Elder]

You used a nitro card over your powder? I’m not saying this condescending, I’m asking.

[Brett Trimble]

Jeff, I did. I read that one or the other powder could migrate with one or the other hull/powder combo. The card is a solution..

[Jeff Elder]

Thank you

[john pulis]

Thanks for posting. Is Longshot a fine or dense powder when compared with Greendot and Unique. I am thinking of stack height with folded rather than roll ramps and the SG wad in Cheddite/RST hulls.

[Jeff Elder]

Thanks for posting. Is Longshot a fine or dense powder when compared with Greendot and Unique. I am thinking of stack height with folded rather than roll ramps and the SG wad in Cheddite/RST hulls.


Compared to green dot it is. I was using long shot on a 2 3/4 low pressure load for my 16. I was using two over shot cards and a cheerio. Cut the hull shorter and it worked perfect.

[keavin nelson]

The Longshot load is surprisingly low pressure. But I have never used overpowder card wads to stop powder migration. I have used wads to take up stack height.
A tested load (from another member) using same hull with a 6 petal crimp, using Chedd CX-2000 primers, only 18.4grn Longshot, produced slightly faster velocity but the pressure was over 6200, so a significant gap. Perhaps the primer is that much hotter??

[Aaron Beck]

To add to that last idea, There were some green dot loads recently which were also much hotter with a fold crimp. I wouldnt assume these very appealing results could be had with the fold crimp substitution. Thanks for posting these.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Brett, thanks for posting your results. I do believe I'll use some of those loads. But star crimp them ,pressure will increase just slightly. Now I've got to order some bismuth 5s and 7s..
Is there a royalty fee for every bird I shoot with them?

[Brett Trimble]

Harold,

I plagiarized these loads. Hope I don’t have to pay a royalty… on all the birds I’ll MISS with them. :)

Best,
Brett

[Aaron Beck]

Brett
just curious if the greendot container has a green or black lid?

[Keith Doty]

Brett, I've been shooting 2 1/2" 7/8oz. loads of bismuth out of several of my 16s with Longshot for a while. I use SG16 wads and a 6 point crimp, pressures slightly higher than yours but still sub 6K and with good variations, quicker and easier than roll crimping. Easy on wood and shooters alike. I discovered this fall my Browning Sweet 16 cycles them perfectly as well with the bushing set for "light" loads (was shooting 7/8 oz. lead at doves, my 16 ga. quail load). I also use the Longshot in my Damascus 10s and 12s for the low pressure and 1200 fps velocity.

[Mike Koneski]

I use Unique and Longshot for my 16g loads with good results for both. One thing I do is cut a 16g fiber wad in 1/3 and seat that under my SG16 wad to build up the column and give me a nice fold crimp. Those Longshot loads that you posted and that John Davis posted are very low pressure but they break clays and kill birds rather easily.

[Keith Doty]

I'm a believer that good shot patterns is what kills, not necessarily how fast it went. At any reasonable velocity if the bird and shot is at the same place at the same time he's gonna meet a Lab. My goal is to get all the loads I shoot from the 12 or 15 shotguns I shoot year around to 1200 FPS with as low a pressure as I can and maintain consistency. My thought here is simply it makes me a better shot when the leads are the same, less thinking required! More bird on the plate! I've been through many yards of butcher paper clipped to fence wire over the years in search of the perfect pattern. Interesting, having patterned a number of the newer "super velocity" shells, particularly nontoxic waterfowl loads with friends, the patterns disappoint, some just plain ragged and ugly. Now, come off the 2D paper and stretch that mess out in 3 dimensions as a shot string, I think the bird is getting an advantage and more crips result, more clays fly thru the holes.

[Mike Koneski]

I'm with you. Speed doesn't kill when it comes to shotguns. I prefer 1600-1800 FPS, but I can live with 1200-1220 in some loads. You actually need a difference of 150 FPS or more to have any notable change of lead due to speed and then you're only talking 6"-8" of change of impact.

[Keith Doty]

Mike, I'm a much better shot without the thinking part, just react. I can talk myself out of nearly any shot any day!

[Mark Landskov]

I have never assembled loads with non-toxic shot. Do you weigh each charge of shot, or do you use a 7/8 ounce bushing to meter by volume?

[Brett Trimble]

I bought an adjustable charge bar. One way to skin the cat..

[Keith Doty]

I discovered my 1 oz. # 7 1/2 shot bushing throws perfect 7/8 oz loads of #5 bismuth. If it hadn't I was going to get another 7/8 oz bushing and turn the ID until I got the weight I was looking for. Did that for my 1 1/4 oz. 10 ga. loads. Bushings are cheap and easy to bore out to any custom size needed. I don't want to have to weigh each shot load out.

[Brett Trimble]

Someone asked about the color of the Green Dot caps
.. they’re green. :)

[Mike Koneski]

Mike, I'm a much better shot without the thinking part, just react. I can talk myself out of nearly any shot any day!

Keith, I never missed a bird or a clay due to the speed of my shotshells. When I miss it's always by 8".:whistle: