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.