Of beans and things...fillers
 

The reloading thing is very new to me. Some of the recipes I have tried, with the limited materials I can get and limited primers, don't quite work out, and since I'm loading #9 or #8 sometimes my shot is a little short and crimping is tough. I'm assuming I can use felt or cork in the shot cup or over shot cards to correct this without causing major problems? The issue is finding these in stock. Do folks put a "bean" in the bottom of the cup or Cheerio? Are any other materials used, and finally, when does anyone use a Nitro card to adjust the shot column up? I have some of those but haven't used them. Thanks for the hand holding on this. I picked a really crappy time to learn to load shot shells!

Not being able to get my preferred wad, I'm using another which puts the shot just a hair low in the hull for a good crimp. A single overshot card is all it took. No difference in pattern.

Adjusting the crimp best solution, overshot wad next best. I have used a dry bean as a quick fix too. Lot of guys use a Cheerio, I find they often crush on crimping and allow excess space. Overshot has no effect on pattern can’t say what a dry bean does to patterns

My 10 G shells need a lot of filler using the SP10 wad. 16G Fiber wad split with a knife to size & depending on shot charge bottom of the shot cup works best.

William

Ok so it sounds like I’m doing nothing wrong. But it sure slows me down doing all that stuff!

I don't disagree, William, however, the only available wad leaves too much hull to fold into a nice Pie crimp. If adding an overshot card to bring the total charge up to get a nice crimp, 6 slices of pie,(now i'm hungry) then I consider the press properly adjusted.
I know people use cheerios, but once its crushes into powder, and migrates into the voids around the shot pellets, There's going to be a loose charge, without good compaction. I see random patterns in that scenario.

I have a set of punches from Harbor Freight ( cheap) that i use to make under shot fillers from various materials to get the crimp i want. Some of the things i have used are cardboard, felt carpet padding, foam, foam meat trays, you get the idea. Find the thing that is light and the right thickness, takes a little time but i have a liking for light shot charges on clay targets.

I appreciate the feedback and I'm going to Harbor Freight today as luck has it. I'm using once fired Rio blue, again all I can find while I accumulate my once fired RST and Nitro's. No matter how I adjust it, it won't crimp unless I do an under shot pad or over shot card. Then it crimps pretty nicely. I never thought a cheerio sounded smart. I read on one forum a dude was using lentils but counting out lentils sounds like too much work.

Andy:

I prefer these fiber wads from Ballistic Products. They have 16 ga (for loading 10 ga) in stock. Not sure what size you need, but check them out.

-Victor

wads and cards if you need to fill more than a little - circle fly is also a good source
lots of recipes - especially light 10ga loads list them

I do use cheerios when only a little fill is needed - even used bamboo curls from rod planning a few times

A bag of dried beans also works. Jacob’s Cattle for more filler, Yellow Eye for less.

Cheerios have always worked fine for me, 1 before I drop the shot, or if I forget, drop it on top of the shot, either way worked fine for me. As a bonus my setters will gather around as I reload and toss Cheerios out to them.
What gauges are you reloading, just 12?

I never thought of the doggie benefits Harold : ) I'm loading 12 and 20, a 28 press is on the way. This is mostly 12 for clays in my C. Guerini. I have yet to grab a short kit for my VH to load for that. I have a MEC 600jr that is new, but just bought a Grabber for CHEAP from a guy who no longer uses it (he got a PW). My novice take is that Rio hulls suck. The RST and Nitro's just seem much easier to use. I have a whole pile of used 2 1/2" RST hulls I'm waiting to use when I can get wads and such. I have enough to keep me busy and learning but now that trout and turkey seasons are here it's tougher to fit it all in (oh..and work...).

Andy, next time you are here you can hull whore on the cvourse all you want. Take them all, I don't care! I can also give you a lesson on reloading. You have much to learn Grasshopper.

Andy, I have a VH, VHE, and PH 20--all with fluid steel barrels. I dont bother to load 2 1/2" for them. I either shoot factory 2 3/4" 7/8 oz game loads, or my 3/4 oz reloads thru them. Claybuster 1075 for 3/4, and Claybuster 1078 for 7/8 oz , are much cheaper and available then some of the other wads, plus made in the USA. I have also used them in 2 1/2" cheddite/RST 20's that I shoot in my Belgian damascus 20. 3/4 oz loads are just sweet in a 20 ga, and I never hesitate to use them on grouse and woodcock. I've been looking for a 28 ga Mec 600 .

Mike I may be down tomorrow. Gia got her first "clays" gun, a 24" Savage 555 28g O/U. At 12 she wants to bust clays and I love it. Yes Mike, I have a lot to learn. If I'm grasshopper are you the blind old dude (Master Po) wearing the smock? My favorite show growing up : )

I’ll second that I’ve got a pair of VHE and a DHE all 20’s all fluid steel and all get 2 3/4” shells . 7/8 ounce handloads or factory . Also used some 1 ounce factory for pheasents a year or two ago .

Thanks Craig and Harold, I think I'm sticking with that, so much easier.

I shoot about 2700 20's a year. I use only one brand of hulls and have enough to last a year. I load the 2700 in the winter when things are slow and do not load again till the following year. My current run of hulls are all STS that I scrounged and they are on their 9th loading and ready to retire. So, over the last 9 years I have scrounged another 2700 STS hulls that I will load next year. It does not matter which hull you choose to accumulate although I feel the STS, Gun Club, and AA are the best. Gun Clubs are generally the easiest to find.

The point here is to simplify your reloading life by using one hull, finding a load that suits, buy the components in bulk to save few bucks. Same load and components all the time.

Gary,
All I load are STS and Gold Nitros all in 12 ga. Some I have loaded as many as 20 times. As long as they crimp they are good to go. When the folds start to crack and they get charcoal looking then I discard them.

In the 20 I’ve had good luck with the STS and AA’s and I’ll run them thru one after the other same components etc .

Do the new AAHS have the same risks of blowing a wad like other hulls of that design?

of beans and things...fillers
 

Go to Michael's or any other hobby store or on-line and buy a sheet of cork w the thickness you need and use your punches of the correct diameter to cut out all the filler wads you need. Lots cheaper than buying from Ballistic Productsc and others. Works for me, like a charm.

I haven't gotten there yet but I heard they have large punches too. I tried Cheerios and damn if they don't work better than I expected :bowdown: