Sherman Bell's 10 Gauge Loads

[Richard Flanders]

I have the Sherman Bell loads and have settled on load #79 with some variations for all my 10ga needs. I use that load with lead, KTM, and bismuth shot. I've increased the powder charge in small increments, used different under shot cards(felt and nitro cards of different thicknesses) and loaded between 1oz and 1-1/4oz lead or KTM and 1-1/8oz bismuth using shot sizes of BB, #1, #2, #6 and #7-1/2, and have not been able to detect one whit of difference in them when I took them all out and shot them in one session. They all burned clean and the same and seemed to shoot just fine. It's a good all around load that uses simple components. You just have to get the shot charge figured out so you don't overfill the shell and get a good crimp. Varying your shot card can do that. It has made loading 10ga very simple for me.

[Harry Collins]

Richard,

I have been using #76 & #80. For you fellows that do not have the chart, Richards #79 load is with Federal Hulls, 32 gr IMR 7625, SP10 Wad & 16 ga .070 card, WW209 primer and 1 1/4 oz of shot. #76 is a 1 1/8 oz load & 30 gr of 7625 and #80 is a 1 1/4 oz load with & 35 gr of 4756. The biggest variable on reloading these is the Federal 3 1/2" hull. The inside card varies in height so when triming to 2 7/8" some will end up longer than that. I have had to trim them twice. I used #5 nice shot last ear and on the odd goose it wasn't killing them unless I was on the neck and head. Going to use #2 shot this year.

Harry

[DDowner]

Harry, I've been using #4 Nice shot with very good results on ducks and geese, I like them because it fits the bill on either.