If you're going ahead with the 2 1/2" shells, fiber wads can be used for the shorter stack height. Precision REloading and BPI both carry them. Order the 1/2" cushion wads and you can cut them with a thumb nail if necessary. Years ago when plastic wads first came out and all data was given for fiber wads, the reloading manuals said to go down 10% if using plastic wads. They sealed better. No one even worried about what kind of plastic wad it was or who made it. So much different than today.
I once wanted to make some 2 1/2" shells using Claybusters wads. So I called them stating what I wanted to do with data for around 7500psi. I ask if I could just use one of their shorter wads, like one for 1 3/8oz of shot instead of the 7/8oz. He said without testing he couldn't say for sure, but using the same manufacture and the same base, [ only the cushion height was different ] he said he wouldn't be afraid in the least. I'm only saying this because reloading shotgun shells at the lower pressures than say pistol or rifle, if using a little common sense it's pretty hard to screw things up. If you reload at the 5 to 7000psi range you're giving yourself a couple thousand psi safety factor. Good luck.
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Paul Harm
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