Question for M Koneski-8ga reloading

[Craig Larter]

Mike thanks for the article on 8ga reloading. Question, page 33 shows a Winchester hull between two black Remington hulls. The Winchester is roll crimped. From powder to shot the stack appears to be 1/8" 8ga over powder card wad, 1/2" 8 ga Fiber wad, Gualandi Hi-Cap, shot. Am I seeing that correct and was that shell tested? If so what is the recipe and results?
I like the concept since much of the shot is contained in the plastic wad cup and should result in greatly reduced leading. Thank Craig

[Mike Koneski]

I have to check when I get back. All shells had been tested. I’ll get back to you Tuesday. Thanks for asking. 👍🏻

[Mike Koneski]

FYI, I’ll have probably 12-14 more loads in most likely the Fall issue. I tested them on the chronograph and have to bump the powder up 1 or 2 bushings in four loads and retest. Then they’ll all be sent to Tom A for him to pressure test. All it takes is time and $$. BWAHAHAHAHA!

[Craig Larter]

One think I have learned is the material used to take up stack height makes a difference in pressure. In one load I used four 1/8" 10ga nitro cards as filler, in another, the same except I used a 1/2" fiber wad. The nitro card load averaged 8200PSI, the fiber wad load average 6833psi. Velocities were similar at 1130fps. It must be that the fiber wad is softer and compresses on ignition.

[CraigThompson]

One think I have learned is the material used to take up stack height makes a difference in pressure. In one load I used four 1/8" 10ga nitro cards as filler, in another, the same except I used a 1/2" fiber wad. The nitro card load averaged 8200PSI, the fiber wad load average 6833psi. Velocities were similar at 1130fps. It must be that the fiber wad is softer and compresses on ignition.

Red beans ! Red beans are the ticket :rotf::rotf:

[Mike Koneski]

One think I have learned is the material used to take up stack height makes a difference in pressure. In one load I used four 1/8" 10ga nitro cards as filler, in another, the same except I used a 1/2" fiber wad. The nitro card load averaged 8200PSI, the fiber wad load average 6833psi. Velocities were similar at 1130fps. It must be that the fiber wad is softer and compresses on ignition.

Yes, fiber wads result in lower pressure. That’s why when pressures are too low we use the hard fiber wads.

[Mike Koneski]

Mike thanks for the article on 8ga reloading. Question, page 33 shows a Winchester hull between two black Remington hulls. The Winchester is roll crimped. From powder to shot the stack appears to be 1/8" 8ga over powder card wad, 1/2" 8 ga Fiber wad, Gualandi Hi-Cap, shot. Am I seeing that correct and was that shell tested? If so what is the recipe and results?
I like the concept since much of the shot is contained in the plastic wad cup and should result in greatly reduced leading. Thank Craig

Craig, I haven’t tested that load yet. The shells in the photo were just an example of big 8 reloads. That load will be tested but with the 8g NC beneath the 8g 1/2” fiber wad. You will get more shot inside of the wad petals that way as you said. 👍🏻

[Mike Koneski]

FYI, I have empty hulls ready to reload with my chronographed test loads. I’m going to send over a dozen new, never published loads to Tom for pressure testing. We’ll both be busy.

[Craig Larter]

I sent off a 8ga load to Tom yesterday for testing and will post the results. Win Hull, 24gr Clays, 1/8" 8ga nitro card over powder, 1/2" fiber wad 8ga, Gualandi Hi-Capacity, 1 1/2oz 7 1/2 lead, fold crimp.

[CraigThompson]

I sent off a 8ga load to Tom yesterday for testing and will post the results. Win Hull, 24gr Clays, 1/8" 8ga nitro card over powder, 1/2" fiber wad 8ga, Gualandi Hi-Capacity, 1 1/2oz 7 1/2 lead, fold crimp.

You put 5/8” of wads under the plastic Gualandi wad if I’m reading this correctly ? I tried something similar with hopes of cutting down on the leading with questionable results .

[Mike Koneski]

I sent off a 8ga load to Tom yesterday for testing and will post the results. Win Hull, 24gr Clays, 1/8" 8ga nitro card over powder, 1/2" fiber wad 8ga, Gualandi Hi-Capacity, 1 1/2oz 7 1/2 lead, fold crimp.

You might have to use a hard fiber wad under the Gualandi. We found that with lower pressure loads we needed the hard wads to keep the pressure from being too low. That said, we’ve been loading 23.8g of Clays in the 1.5 oz loads with great results so your 24g test loads should work well.

[CraigThompson]

You might have to use a hard fiber wad under the Gualandi. We found that with lower pressure loads we needed the hard wads to keep the pressure from being too low. That said, we’ve been loading 23.8g of Clays in the 1.5 oz loads with great results so your 24g test loads should work well.

No leading or minimal leading ? Or are you using the paper sleeve around the shot as well ?

[Mike Koneski]

No leading or minimal leading ? Or are you using the paper sleeve around the shot as well ?

Not concerned with leading. If I load for longer shots I use a plastic sleeve inside the wad and around the shot to hold it together a split second longer for a tighter pattern at distance.

[Mike Koneski]

FYI folks, I have 12 new loads with different powders and fold crimps all chronograph tested and ready to send to Tom. One load has the 8g Nitro Card and 8g 1/4” fiber wad UNDER the Gualandi wad to hold more of the shot inside the petals. I also have 4 loads to send that are roll crimped. They should be in the Part II article in the Fall issue of Parker Pages. That is all for now. Stay tuned. Same bat time, same bat channel.

[Craig Larter]

Mike I really appreciate you taking on the project to develop many reloading recipes for the big 8's. My hope is more shooters of vintage guns will consider the 8ga not just as an collecting oddity but a fun and interesting obsolete gun to shoot. Anyone who is familiar with shotgun shell reloading would have a easy time loading 8ga shells.

[Mike Koneski]

Thanks Craig! It isn’t difficult to reload them. As you know there’s the extra step on the first time we reload those commercial shells where they need to have the “ring” removed so they fit in our guns.

There is more good news for 8g reloaders that will also be revealed in the upcoming article.

[Mike Koneski]

Public Service Announcement, 13 fold crimp loads with different powders and 4 roll crimp loads went to Tom A on Wednesday. He said he’d test them all next week. My testing over the chronograph all had excellent velocities. Article part II will be in the Fall issue of Parker Pages.

[Mike Koneski]

Update, David also sent in another load with American Select so we'll have 18 new loads to publish in the Fall Parker Pages. I have also been in contact with another 8g fan who has had 1 1/4 oz loads tested by Tom that he graciously allowed me to add to the Fall article. He gave me six loads total. :clap: