Short Ten Green Dot Loads: Test Results
 

I just received test results for two Green Dot waterfowl loads (using bismuth). Both loads have: (1) a 10 gauge Remington (green) hull (cut to 2 7/8''); (2) a Winchester 209 primer; (3) an SP-10 wad; (4) 1/4'' 16 gauge fiber filler in the wad cup; (5) 1.25 ounces of #4 bismuth; and (6) a 6 point fold crimp. Load #1 has 27.0 grains of Green Dot, while Load #2 has 28.5 grains of Green Dot. As you will see, both loads are hot (1,322 fps and 1,373 fps, respectively) with relatively high pressure (10,250 psi and 11,485 psi, respectively).

The results took me by surprise. I regularly shoot this load through my Damascus-barreled 10 gauge Parkers, but with 1.25 ounces of lead, and never got the impression it was so hot. Anyway, back to the drawing board. I think I will next try 24.0 grains and 25.5 grains of Green Dot (all else the same, as it loads very nicely).

-Victor

It would be really beneficial to see the difference in that 27 grain load using lead. Use of Federal hull would most likely drop pressure by a few hundred psi. I would expect velocity to be around 1200 fps with 24 grains and pressure to be 9500 psi + or -. I am thinking a switch to Unique would give better pressures in this load. There is a tested load using the Remington hull, 24 grains Unique and the SP10 wad with 1 3/8 ounce of bismuth, it produced a velocity of 1188 and pressure of 8800 psi.

I tested Green Dot 26 and 27 Grs 1 1/4 oz lead. Too much recoil for me or my Parkers. Crono was about 1350 as I recall don't need to go that fast. Dropped down to 23 grs and it's a useful Hunting load, Going to switch Clay shooting to 19 Grs Read Dot & 1 1/8 oz use the 23 GR 1 1/14 load for Crows.

William

I don't hunt, shoot only clay birds. My 10ga load is 23grs of GD and 1oz of shot. There's still a little recoil, but not bad. But then I'm used to shooting 12ga with 3/4oz of shot - about no recoil. I would think with 1 1/4oz of shot you're going to have some recoil, especially with the DAH our old guns have.

Paul what I found with my GD Crow load 27 Grs and 1 1/4 oz Lead burns clean but has more velocity than needed with too much recoil. Drop the load to 23 grs & 1 1/4 oz velocity comes down to the just under 1200 I want and recoil is reasonable. It does burn dirty but that's not a big issue, go to 1 1/8 oz shot it gets very dirty. 23 Green Dot & 1 1/4 is just right for me.

Not finished testing but looks like 19 of Red Dot and 1 or 1 1/8 oz is going to be my Clay's load. I have two short 10's than might pattern fine with 1 oz. 3rd gun with less choke needs 1 1/8 to fill out patterns. Probably settle on 1 1/8 oz for all Red Dot target loads to keep it simple.

This all seat of the pants testing, Paper and my Cronograph.

William

you will not beat the 19 grains of red dot for an all around load its easy on the shoulder and on the gun with fairly clean burn... charlie

Today I sent out for testing 24.0 gr and 25.5 gr Green Dot loads. These two additional tests should shed good light on the useful range of Green Dot with 1.25 ounce loads.

Also, after reviewing the powder burn rate chart, decided to test a Blue Dot load and a Longshot load. Thought the relatively slower burn rates (and hopefully lower pressures) might make these two powders good candidates for short-ten waterfowl loads. Will post results when received.

-Victor

Pete:

I agree. If I had enough new hulls, I would have sent a lead load in for testing. I am curious to see if lead versus bismuth (all else the same) makes any difference. My speculation is there would be no difference, but I am well aware of the powder manufacturers' warnings against swapping metals, hence my curiosity.

-Victor

Victor, appreciate your work on GD loads

William

Victor, your loads from the original post would settle down quite a bit if you used Unique. I don't believe you have to go as slow as Blue Dot with a 1 1/4 ounce load, but obviously, Green Dot is too fast and creates too high a pressure.

Here are the results for 24.0 gr and 25.5 gr:

Here is a graphical summary of Green Dot's performance in a 1.25 ounce bismuth load:

-Victor

It looks like 23 to 23.5 grains would be the sweet spot for 1 1/4 ounce of Bismuth using Green Dot. Thank you for taking the time to share this information.

Yeah, the original weights of Green Dot were ridiculous. Lighter loads made more sense. What would make even more sense would be to use a slower powder like Unique.

For my shooting 23 grs of GD and 1 1/4 oz is the sweet spot for sure. Thanks for having the load tested.

William

I plan to run some tests with Unique in the future. Will post results, of course.

-Victor

Following up on this thread, I highly recommended 23.5 grains of Green Dot for a 1.25 ounce bismuth load. I use a #38 bushing and 138 charge bar for #4 bismuth shot. (See original post for all components.)

I loaded up 250 rounds for this past duck season and shot almost 200 of the 250. I was VERY pleased with the result. Plenty of killing power to drop dead both puddlers and late-season divers, with no noticeable loss of performance as temperatures dropped into the teens. And I emphasize “drop dead.” This was my first steel-free duck season. However, I hunted with steel shooters, which allowed me to truly appreciate the effectiveness of this load. While the steel shooters were waterswatting their downed and diving birds, my dog (Drake) was out retrieving belly-up birds felled by the Green Dot-propelled bismuth. Give it a try. I think you, too, will be impressed.

-Victor

Victor have you noticed any shot bridging with these #4 shot loads. I noticed you do not use a buffer. Is the Remington SP10 wad showing any sighs of shot rub through? My short 10's have no or very slight choke. Both have laminated barrels and I wonder if 22.0 -22.5 grains of Green dot would be in the 1150 fps range at about 8000 psi? Thank you for having these loads tested.

I think that 22 grains will get you some where between 1100- 1150 fps and well below 8000psi

There is a point when Green Dot in light charges will not give complete and consistent burn. I don’t know were that point is. My experience 22.5 or 23 & 1 1/4 oz shot burns well. Lower powder charge weight or lighter shot load not sure it will.

I switch to Red Dot and 1 1/8 oz when lighter is needed

William

Eric:

No bridging with #4. Loaded up some #1 bismuth and had bridging on a few, but nothing a little whack upside the MEC could not solve.

Not sure what you mean re “shot rub through.” Have not inspected any wads after shooting, if that’s where such a thing would be observed.

-Victor

I doubt that you will get any rub through with Bismuth , it is pretty soft , compatible to lead . It wouldn't hurt anything if it did .

Thank's Victor and Mark. I was concerned with shot bridging in the barrel using large shot without a buffer and the chance of large shot rubbing through the standard lead shot cup. I am interested in low pressure 1200 fps 12 and 10 gauge bismuth hunting loads.

I had posted earlier that I was using 23grs of GD for clay birds. Actually I'm using 21.5grs of GD and 1 ounce of shot with the SP-10 wad, 16ga filler wads, and Cheddite primers. Don't remember how dirty the barrels get, but they smoke the clay birds very well. When it warms up a bit, I'll get the 10's out again and check the barrels when I'm done. In the 12ga, GD is used with 7/8oz loads, so hopefully 1oz loads in the 10 should be fine.