Non toxic options

[jsd245]

What's everyone who doesn't hand load doing for non toxic shot right now? Really want to get the GH out this year. I called rio bismuth and they told me their 2 3/4 inch shells average 10,700 psi (740 bar). That pressure combined with the 2 3/4 she'll in my 2.5 " chambers gives me pause. Even though the barrels on this gun have been checked out by brad Bachelder and are quite stout on this 2 frame gun.

[OH Osthaus]

May just be time to start reloading That is the only option I see for my short tens, or 2 1/2 12s for that matter

[Randy Zimmer]

Has anyone used the old Bismuth Cartridge Co 12ga 2 1/2" at 3 1/4 dram equivalent (1200 fps, I think), in a 1 1/2 frame damascus GH? I have read that these pressures are about what RST loads in 2 1/2 shells. When I have used these up, if they can be used, I will try ITX I just received, using one of these recipes from BP, unless I can find a recipe using Federal Paper hulls.

ballistic products inc
The Reloading Curmudgeon's
"Load of the Week"

LOAD OF THE WEEK- 2011/04/18
ITX 12/16 2.50” LOW PSI LOADS

C- For my older double shotguns I need NON-TOXIC ITX shells and a short chamber length ROLL-CRIMPED loads for 12 & 16 gauge. These are field loads for upland birds and possible decoyed ducks. Low pressures and good speeds please!

Ah, a conundrum for the Curmudgeon. Low pressure loads ride the teeter-totter. If the weight goes up, then the velocity goes down. If the generated pressure of a load remains low, then to create a (live bird) LEATHAL load, we must keep the shot weight - low. But then, when taking birds only a few pellets are required to strike the bird. A bird stuck by more than four pellets too often becomes unfit for the table.

ROLL CRIMPING: The art and science of roll-crimping in logical and forthright. Most the plastic hulls today can be roll-crimped. Now and then we find a hull plastic having the same crimping resistance as rhinoceros hide. Pass on these hulls. The good news is hull length should never be a problem. But the roll-crimp requires almost the same amount of free hull space to roll a sound crimp as does the fold crimp.

C favors a slightly thicker card (.070”) used as the overshot card. In the 12-gauge a clear (made of styrene and shatters into tiny fragments) overshot disk may placed on shot before roll-crimping. In other gauges (and in the 12-ga.) a thin nitro card can be used to top the load. (The thin [.030”] overshot cards of various gauges are most often used to solidify fold crimps when the reloader finds a fold-crimp load that is a bit too deep down to provide a floor for a solid fold-crimp.) The value in a firm overshot card in roll-crimped loads arises when the load is about to be crimped. But hold on, for a first class roll-crimp load we need to add other elements to complete our physics lesson. Our roll-crimp load needs some internal elasticity. Cork has an amazing “spring” quality. C places a cork wad (20ga inside a 12 or 16 gauge plastic shotcup or the same gauge cork outside a plastic shotcup) over the gas seal or inside the shotcup. If there is room, he then sets a felt wad on the cork to support the shot. After the shot is placed in the load then the (thick) overshot card is inserted. The load is then “squeezed” by placing the hull in the reloader under the shot drop tube. Begin nudging the components down in the hull with at least three firm nudges. NOW, roll-crimp the load before the components spring back. Your load should be firm with a minimum of tell-tale “rattle.” Remember, many roll-crimped loads are also low pressure loads. Low pressures and week crimps make for “pooff” loads.


Load# 110418-2961
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR 800X 23.0 Grains
WAD: SSW [Short Shell Wad](Mica dust the wad) +1/8cork20+1/8felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8700 FPS 1310

Load# 110418-2962
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR 800X 25.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8900 FPS 1390

Load# 110418-2963
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: HODGDON UNIVERSAL CLAYS 18.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 7300 FPS 1000

Load# 110418-2964
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: HODGDON UNIVERSAL CLAYS 20.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 7700 FPS 1130

Load# 110418-2965
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR PB 22.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8000 FPS 1270

Load# 110418-2966
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR PB 24.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8300 FPS 1335

Load# 110418-2967
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR PB 24.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8900 FPS 1425