Goose/Crane Loads

[Scott Chapman]

I have recently acquired a 1926 Trojan 12 gauge with 30" barrels.

I had it inspected by Kirk Merrington and he pronounced her to be tight on face, choked IM and F, chambers are 2 5/8" and minimum wall thickness over 0.040" on both barrels.

After pouring over old threads and scouring the interwebs, I am still looking for the "right" loads to try for lesser Canadas and Sandhill Cranes.

It seems that the Hevi-shot Classic Doubles 12 gauge 2 3/4" #2 offerings are $61.00 per 10 rounds from Bass Pro.

RST is out of stock of 2 1/2" #2 Nice Shot.

I can't find max dram equivalent loads with bismuth larger than #4 or Kent Tungsten Matrix larger than #3. I was trying to steer away from max dram loads to save the stock and my shoulder!

So I am leaning towards trying to load my own. I have found #2, #1, and BB Bismuth loose shot available from Rotometals, as well as, #2 and BB ITX shot from Ballistic Products.

I have zero experience loading anything other than AA trap loads.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Ideas about a good duck load would be helpful as well.

Thanks!!

[charlie cleveland]

they load the same as your trap loads just differant recipes for loading...you should have no trouble loading them....charlie

[OH Osthaus]

one point of order Scott

weigh the non-tox shot for the loads - do not use the charge bar - those are designed for lead and the density of bismuth - of all non-tox for that matter, is different

[Scott Chapman]

Thank you for the tip. Has anyone used the Ballistic Products ITX components where you get everything but powder? I guess I will have to get the ITX manual and see what the loads look like.

I figured with all the short Ten info out there on this site that someone surely had some data for 12.