LOW PRESSURE LOADS

[VH20]

Originally Posted by Harry Collins

Most of my reloads are in the 5000 psi range.

After Sherman Bell blew up my VH, I felt much as you do about these guns being able to handle anything. However, out of deference to the old wood, steel and me, I try to keep the pressures and recoil to a minimum.

Harry

Me, too Harry. My target load is Sherman's "pet" load. It is a 7/8 oz. load around 5400 psi. It uses Clays powder (in very small amounts - 18gr.) and Claybuster replacement wads for the Fed 12SO. It uses the Fed. promo hull with the fiber base wad. These can be obtained in mass quantities at the range for free. All in all, this is about the cheapest load to shoot I can think of, and it is very easy on old guns. I don't think I notice much difference in score between 7/8 vs. 1 oz. of shot.

Jim

[Bill Murphy]

Jim, I hit the "thanks" button because you not only gave us the anecdote about welding the pinhole in a barrel, but you introduced our readers to the Federal SO wad and the knockoff of that wad. They are wonderful wads, much more resistent to tipping in the loader than are the Winchester wads made for the same light loads. Tipping is a big problem for consistent loads and should be eliminated as much as possible. Just one look at the Federal SO wad or its knockoffs will show you that it is much stronger and resistent to tipping than is the Winchester wad. I have been using the SO for 7/8 ounce loads for many years and continue to use it today.

[Pa SxS]

I've been using the components Jim talks about for years but within the last 2 years I've switched from Clays to Clay Dot due to it being a little cheaper.

If you look at the Alliant web site for a 1oz load, you'll notice that load using Clay Dot, produces 5,850psi. Checking the Hodgdon's web site, the same load produces 7.700psi. A difference of almost 1,000psi. This data is for the Gold Medal Plastic hull but I would think substituting a Top Gun or Estate hull would be similar.

Since Alliant says Clay Dot is similar to Clay's, I e-mailed Alliant to make sure their data was correct per the psi. According to their reply, the data is correct.

I usually stay at 17.5 grains of Clay Dot in the Estate hull whether or not I use 1oz or 7/8oz of shot however in the winter I stay with 1oz due to incomplete burning and some off sounding loads when using 7/8 oz in real cold weather

[Pittypatdugan]

I mostly shoot trap with 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2's in the low pressure loads. Most of you seem to shoot mostly 1 oz. An I wasting the 1/8 oz extra in shot?
I shoot an 1879 Twist underlifter with 28 in uncut barrels with IM in both barrels.

thanks in advance for the information

PDD

[Harry Collins]

Pat,

I shoot 1 oz at clays and feather from a 12 gauge, 7/8 oz from 16 & 20 gauge, 3/4 oz from the 28 and 1/2 from the .410 and all at about 1150 fps. These loads kill very well with 7 1/2 shot and they don't beat me up. I will step up in weight of load if the game dictates, but I keep the velocity at 1150 even for waterfoul.
Harry