light 8 ga. loads

[Bill Murphy]

The reason you will have trouble with the eight and not with the ten with identical loads is that the pressure is higher in the ten for an identical load, but probably just marginally acceptable. In the eight, it is probably low enough to cause bloopers in cold weather or with poorly sealing wads. 42 or 43 grains of Blue Dot in the ten gauge behind two ounces of shot barely makes 10,000 PSI. Your little load of 30 grains of Blue Dot behind 1 1/2 ounces of shot in the big eight gauge hole probably doesn't make 6000 PSI. Now, I don't know that, but I do think you would get better results either using a tested load or going to a faster powder like maybe Herco if you prefer the Alliant line of powders. I would rather use Bell's recommendations than create my own loads, though, since he pressure tests. However, 35 grains of Herco under 1 1/2 ounces of shot in an eight gauge isn't going to blow up any gun and the boom will sound better than the anemic loads you have been loading.

[charlie cleveland]

bill i have used some differant wads in some loads i loaded tonite. have put them in deep freeze.will test them tomorrow. will let you know how they work out.thanks charlie

[Bill Murphy]

Charlie, any wads that show friction in the side of the shell should seal well enough to avoid problems. However, don't use soft fiber filler wads down against the powder. You must use either a plastic wad or a hard card wad over the powder. The card wad should have some friction against the wall of the shell. If you use brass shells, you may have to buy 7 gauge card wads from Circle Fly to seal the powder. I have not tried my 8 gauge wads in my RMC brass shells. I had planned to use one piece plastic in them, but they may be too loose.

[charlie cleveland]

bill finally got a chance to shoot those 8 ga shells i put in freezer.they stayed in freezer 48 hours only put 4 of them in there. all 4 shells fired ok. i used a hard card wad like you advised me to.then put plastic wad over hard card wad.30 grains blue dot 1 1/2 ounce shot.all 4 shells had a loud report. like you said shellsare probably 6000 or under in pressure.this is what i wanted was alow pressure load. iwill try your recommendations on the 1 1/4 ounce loads before long. ps the sp8 gage wads are tighter fit than italian made wads. thanks charlie