2 7/8" 10ga Reloading Data

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Do not use Hevi Shot instead of another type of non-toxic listed in the loading data. The hardness of the shot affects pressure. In general the harder the shot the higher the peak pressure. Hevi Shot is harder than most other non-toxic shot types.

[Bill Murphy]

Pete, (and others) the published loads with 44 or 45 grains of Herco don't sound right because they are ridiculous loads, not because of a misprint or a change in the character of the powder over the years. The velocity of those loads is 1350 and up. No one needs such a load, either in a fluid steel gun or a Damascus gun. Pete, thanks for publishing the spreadsheet, but maybe we shouldn't include every published load, certainly not the ones mentioned.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Pete, (and others) the published loads with 44 or 45 grains of Herco don't sound right because they are ridiculous loads, not because of a misprint or a change in the character of the powder over the years. The velocity of those loads is 1350 and up. No one needs such a load, either in a fluid steel gun or a Damascus gun. Pete, thanks for publishing the spreadsheet, but maybe we shouldn't include every published load, certainly not the ones mentioned.

Bill, I agree you with you that I would not use that much Herco and shoot it in any gun. As far as the spreadsheet goes my goal was to find and record in a single place all published loads for the 2 7/8" 10 gauge. As you can see from the attached scan these loads were published in the 1968 Hercules "Smokeless Powder Guide". The benefit here is that if these loads were published then they would have been within SAAMI standards for pressure at the time, which does not mean they are suitable for composite barrels. Although some of the components are no longer available it allows reloaders who wildcat to make better educated decisions about their reloads. I agree 44/45 grains of Herco is too much, but a 25% reduction to 32/33 grains may be a nice load, and that is the value of the spreadsheet as I see it.