16ga Handloads - Pressure Test Results

[john pulis]

Thanks for posting. Is Longshot a fine or dense powder when compared with Greendot and Unique. I am thinking of stack height with folded rather than roll ramps and the SG wad in Cheddite/RST hulls.

[Jeff Elder]

Originally Posted by john pulis

Thanks for posting. Is Longshot a fine or dense powder when compared with Greendot and Unique. I am thinking of stack height with folded rather than roll ramps and the SG wad in Cheddite/RST hulls.

Compared to green dot it is. I was using long shot on a 2 3/4 low pressure load for my 16. I was using two over shot cards and a cheerio. Cut the hull shorter and it worked perfect.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I use Unique and Longshot for my 16g loads with good results for both. One thing I do is cut a 16g fiber wad in 1/3 and seat that under my SG16 wad to build up the column and give me a nice fold crimp. Those Longshot loads that you posted and that John Davis posted are very low pressure but they break clays and kill birds rather easily.

[Keith Doty]

I'm a believer that good shot patterns is what kills, not necessarily how fast it went. At any reasonable velocity if the bird and shot is at the same place at the same time he's gonna meet a Lab. My goal is to get all the loads I shoot from the 12 or 15 shotguns I shoot year around to 1200 FPS with as low a pressure as I can and maintain consistency. My thought here is simply it makes me a better shot when the leads are the same, less thinking required! More bird on the plate! I've been through many yards of butcher paper clipped to fence wire over the years in search of the perfect pattern. Interesting, having patterned a number of the newer "super velocity" shells, particularly nontoxic waterfowl loads with friends, the patterns disappoint, some just plain ragged and ugly. Now, come off the 2D paper and stretch that mess out in 3 dimensions as a shot string, I think the bird is getting an advantage and more crips result, more clays fly thru the holes.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I'm with you. Speed doesn't kill when it comes to shotguns. I prefer 1600-1800 FPS, but I can live with 1200-1220 in some loads. You actually need a difference of 150 FPS or more to have any notable change of lead due to speed and then you're only talking 6"-8" of change of impact.

[Keith Doty]

Mike, I'm a much better shot without the thinking part, just react. I can talk myself out of nearly any shot any day!

[Roundsworth]

I have never assembled loads with non-toxic shot. Do you weigh each charge of shot, or do you use a 7/8 ounce bushing to meter by volume?

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Keith Doty

Mike, I'm a much better shot without the thinking part, just react. I can talk myself out of nearly any shot any day!

Keith, I never missed a bird or a clay due to the speed of my shotshells. When I miss it's always by 8".