Testing Reloads

[Jeff S.]

Thanks to all of you that helped me contact Tom Armbrust. I shipped 9 shells to him on Monday, April 23rd and received his results in the mail today (Tuesday, May 2nd). I consider that outstanding customer service. Kudos to Tom for his fast service.

Now, for the rest of the story. I now understand the importance of “testing”. If I learn something (factual), I’ll share it. My results were not what I had hoped. On 16ga.com I found a posting that said, “For 3/4 and 7/8 oz. loads, Green Dot is hard to beat. It has the perfect burning rate and pressure range for these light loads and the recoil is very mild.”

Okay, don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Also, that post was dated 4/20/2005. Based on this and a few other documents, I purchased a keg of Green Dot.

Since then, I have found posts on 16ga.com indicating that the manufacturing process for Green Dot has changed and it appears to be “hotter” than it was. That’s a little vague. I then found where a guy had posted his actual test results. He said that using a Cheddite hull, CH209 primer, 16 gr of GD, DR16 wad and 7/8 of shot. He posted test results of velocity: 1196 and pressure: 7837.

I used SG16 wads. Then I tried to load them with charges of Green Dot: 15.2 gr., 15.8 gr., and 16.2 gr. WOW! My test results were a lot different!!! Way too hot. The lowest of my test samples (15.2 gr) had velocity of 1200 and pressure in the 10,000 - 11,000. To put this in perspective, a 16 ga. shell with 7/8 of lead from RST has pressure in the 5400 - 6000.

Well, it back to the drawing board. I’ve heard people say that they like “Universal” and “Hodgdon 2028” for 16 ga. shells. I’ll try to find one of these next. Do any of you have a preference? I hope that someone else finds this information beneficial. Sincerely, Jeff

[Mike of the Mountain]

Steggy, might want to drop your powder charge to maybe the 13.5 to 14g range and have it tested?