Loading the Short Ten by Pete Lester

[Carvel]

I shot 100 reloaded RST (federal) shells at the southern side by side and all seemed fine. They were loaded with 31.5 gr 7625 and 1 1/8 #8 shot. 1044 wad with 1 , felt 1/2 in 16 ga wad in the shot cup and a 6 point crimp. Carvel

[William Davis]

Carvel

What kind of press did you use to get the crimp ?

William

[jim garrett]

William, I use a Mec single stage for the short 10. I use a Ballistic Products metal crimp starter and it gives the crimp folds very good definition.I have used roll crimps before but the case life is too short with roll crimps...at least for me they are. Jim

[Carvel]

William, I use a mec 600 jr with the short kit and the brass crimp starter. Works great. Carvel

[William Davis]

Components together start loading soon. Have two lots of new primed Cheddite hulls that I will trim back to 2 7/8 then Roll Crimp. Follow the advice posted, add a filler wad bottom of the shot cup. 1 1/8 of 7 1/2 Red dot or Unique from the spreadsheet. Looking for about 1150 fps

Also have a fair amount of RST empties Cheddite hulls 2 7/8 inches that were fold crimped. Folds don't roll all that well, best if they are trimmed back to fresh plastic then roll the crimp in. Case will end up about 2 1/2. That what I do with 20's and 12's cut the crimp away, fired case is a bit shorter than 2 1/2 inches depending on the hull brand. Not a problem use appropriate wad for the light shot loads I am using. Those gauges use the rolled shells for spreaders makes it simple to identify

10's components not as easy, Remington wads hold a lot more shot than the 1 1/8 I plan on loading. All advice is to add a filler. I cut one of the wads petals back about 3/16 inch, shortened it holds 1 1/8 oz nice and makes a good fit in the shorter cut back case.

Anybody cut the wad shorter to suit the case size ? I would do it for spreader loads only and to use up the fired RST's Seems OK thought I would ask first.

William

[William Davis]

Further to my short 10 post. Loaded up a dummy this afternoon. Cut the 2 7/8 inch RST empty down to 2 1/2 inches removed all trace of the crimp. Threw 19.4 of Red Dot then seated the Remington SP 10 wad on top of the powder.

Dropped a 28 G nitro card wad in the bottom of the Remington wad threw 1 1/8 oz #7 1/2. on top. Still not full to the wads top or enough to fill the 2 1/2 inch case. Added a 12 G Nitro card on top then roll crimped. Nice crimp, shake no noise and the shell finished at 2 1/4 inches

I guess my basic question is which way to go

Fill the wad with nitro cards to make up the stack. 16 G will fill better than 28's, and use a fairly thick overshot or Polywad spreader disk. Or cut the Hull and Wad even shorter. I don't want to use over about 19 of Red Dot or 1 1/8 shot. Pattern is probably the only way to tell. However thought there might be some advice out there.

PS I could go to Unique about 30 grs and up the shot charge to 1 1/4 that will probably make a higher stack in the hull. However have very little Unique and don't need 1 1/4 oz for clay targets

William

[J.B. Books]

William, filler under the shot is the way to go. 16 and 20ga work the best. Any filler over the shot will blow the pattern having the effect of a spreader. Stick with the thin over the shot cards to keep your pattern, unless of course you want a spreader shell.

If you can get your hands on some SR7625 about 30 t0 32 grains of it is a good for 1 1/8 and it will take up more room than the 19.4 gr of Red Dot.

If your shot column is just a little bit short try adding a 1/2 or a whole cheerio as needed between the shot and filler wad you are using. Cheerios are plentiful and cheap, they last longer if you don't eat them while you are loading shells :-)

[William Davis]

That's good advice. Will get some 16 G filler wads. Wish I could find 7625 but none to be had. Have Unique though will made up a dummy with30 grs see how much filler wad it needs. I have 10g thin o/s wads already.

William

[Carvel]

William, I use 16ga 1/2 in fiber wads split to the thickness needed to take up the space for a good crimp. It also cushions the shot.
Carvel

[William Davis]

Carvel that's the one I have in mind. Split the wad to suit.

William