Low-pressure Factory Shells

[randallro]

i've shot a bunch of mini shells just to get started. 5/8 ounce. they break clays. 1904 VH. 12 G. i guess it's time to move up a bit.

[BarronB]

@John Dallas, chokes are Mod/Full. Is there a certain choke that works for non-tox? Is steel the only non-tox that would be a problem... I believe Bismuth / Tungsten are softer?

@Everyone else, thank you. Great feedback. Going shopping for shells

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Barron Brittingham

@John Dallas, chokes are Mod/Full. Is there a certain choke that works for non-tox? Is steel the only non-tox that would be a problem... I believe Bismuth / Tungsten are softer?

@Everyone else, thank you. Great feedback. Going shopping for shells

It has always been my understanding that even with modern guns you do not want to shoot steel with anything tighter than Mod. Tungsten is not softer than steel. It is harder and even more dense than lead. That said we shoot tungsten shells in turkey guns choked F/XF and in a BSS choked LM/IM. The bismuth, matrix, ITX are good non-tox to shoot in vintage guns. For the little bit of waterfowl shooting I do, ITX is on the bench to load. I do have TSS too but usually load that for turkeys.

[Mike of the Mountain]

As for what shells to use for clays or upland in your VH? I use Fiocchi, Nobel, Remington, B&P, Federal, RST..... 1 oz and 1200 FPS or less for clays. Keep the velocity reasonable and payload no more than 1 1/8 oz for hunting and you'll be just fine with that gun.

[ArtS]

Originally Posted by randall rosenthal

i've shot a bunch of mini shells just to get started. 5/8 ounce. they break clays. 1904 VH. 12 G. i guess it's time to move up a bit.

This came up not long ago. The mini shells as a general rule are not low pressure at all. I remeber when they came out and the intent was to get the max number of rounds in a Rambo shotgun with extended magazine. They load them about to the max to keep from losing too much performance. I don't think they are a good idea in older guns.

I do load some in short shells to avoid fillers and multiple wads with light loads.

[randallro]

Originally Posted by Arthur Shaffer

This came up not long ago. The mini shells as a general rule are not low pressure at all. I remeber when they came out and the intent was to get the max number of rounds in a Rambo shotgun with extended magazine. They load them about to the max to keep from losing too much performance. I don't think they are a good idea in older guns.

I do load some in short shells to avoid fillers and multiple wads with light loads.

thanks.....iv'e shot a bunch of them with no problem but ill rethink it. almost no recoil. after reading this thread i shot a few heavier loads last week...also with no problem. i guess it's time to start loading my own. i was aware of the more in the magazine aspect but not the pressure. i have heard there are shotguns they won't cycle. thanks again.

[John Davis]

Originally Posted by randall rosenthal

thanks.....iv'e shot a bunch of them with no problem but ill rethink it. almost no recoil. after reading this thread i shot a few heavier loads last week...also with no problem. i guess it's time to start loading my own. i was aware of the more in the magazine aspect but not the pressure. i have heard there are shotguns they won't cycle. thanks again.

The problem I've had with reloading over the last couple of years is finding components. Everything generally but especially the primers I like.

[ArtS]

Originally Posted by randall rosenthal

thanks.....iv'e shot a bunch of them with no problem but ill rethink it. almost no recoil. after reading this thread i shot a few heavier loads last week...also with no problem. i guess it's time to start loading my own. i was aware of the more in the magazine aspect but not the pressure. i have heard there are shotguns they won't cycle. thanks again.

From things I have read, the problem with cycling is more a physical handling problem due to the mismatch between the very short shells and the stroke cycle travel length with auto's and pumps. The actions just simply don't handle the short dumpy shells well.