20 gauge 2.5"
 

Does anyone have a load that would mimic the polywad vintager 2.5" What wads should I use and where can I get them?

RST produces a number of very nice 2.5" 20 ga. loads.

I'll second Dean's recommendation of RST. Excellent products made by a company easy to deal with.

Yes they do, I have some of their product as well. I am personally not an advocate for either company however, I am looking for a good low pressure load..

Sorry... you're looking for reloading recipies. I was a bit sleepy when I first responded to your question.

You can go to any of the powder company websites and get low pressure data.

2 1/2" 20 gauge reloading recipes
 

I searched my old reloading material going back to the 60s and don't find any 20 gauge 2.5" reloads. As I understand the difference, the light 2 3/4" loads recipes with lo pressure might be suitable for use in the shorter shells. The difference between the 2 1/2" shells and the 2 3/4" shells is that the ammo makers, when going to a folded crimp from the historic rolled crimp, simply added a 1/4" to the hull length because the old hull would not fold crimp due to a lack of material in the hulls they had to work with.

There are some smarter folks on this site than I am and others may have some really ancient reloading material that includes data for you. Good luck.

I needed a 16 gauge 1 ounce load for new 2.5 inch Cheddite hulls and Gualandi wads that I bought from Precision Reloading and Keith was kind enough to work up a load and test three of them and give me the pressure. Using Longshot the three rounds averaged 7270 p.s.i. at 1200 f.p.s.

That kind of personal service makes me buy more items from Keith. Maybe he already has or will work up a load for you. I would be interested in it also.

Precision Reloading: 1 800 223-0900

http://www.precisionreloading.com/

p.s. I loaded them with new components for half the cost of factory 2.5 inch ammo. When I need more or a different shot size I have them right at hand now.

I'm looking at data from Claybuster 12ga loads with the CB0175 made for 3/4oz loads and the CB4100 for the 7/8 or 1oz load. Using 17grs of Red Dot pressure goes from 8000 to 6350. They also make a 3/4oz 20ga wad. It would seem to me you could use their 1 or 7/8oz wad but only load 3/4oz and lower pressure and save enough room to load 2 1/2' shells. Just a thought.

Looking at some data - even though it's for 2 3/4 you may be able to use it. In a Rem hull with a Rem primer and either 9.5grs of Nitro 100 or 10.5 of Solo 1000 gives 7500psi at 1030fps. They use a WAA wad with a .135 hard card inside. I assume it's because only a 3/4oz load is in it. I'm guessing, but think without the .135 card everything would fit in a 2 1/2" shell. In a Fed hull they show 11grs of Solo and a Fed primer - same wad combo. Good luck - Paul