Question for M Koneski-8ga reloading

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Craig Larter

I sent off a 8ga load to Tom yesterday for testing and will post the results. Win Hull, 24gr Clays, 1/8" 8ga nitro card over powder, 1/2" fiber wad 8ga, Gualandi Hi-Capacity, 1 1/2oz 7 1/2 lead, fold crimp.

You might have to use a hard fiber wad under the Gualandi. We found that with lower pressure loads we needed the hard wads to keep the pressure from being too low. That said, we’ve been loading 23.8g of Clays in the 1.5 oz loads with great results so your 24g test loads should work well.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

You might have to use a hard fiber wad under the Gualandi. We found that with lower pressure loads we needed the hard wads to keep the pressure from being too low. That said, we’ve been loading 23.8g of Clays in the 1.5 oz loads with great results so your 24g test loads should work well.

No leading or minimal leading ? Or are you using the paper sleeve around the shot as well ?

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

No leading or minimal leading ? Or are you using the paper sleeve around the shot as well ?

Not concerned with leading. If I load for longer shots I use a plastic sleeve inside the wad and around the shot to hold it together a split second longer for a tighter pattern at distance.

[Mike of the Mountain]

FYI folks, I have 12 new loads with different powders and fold crimps all chronograph tested and ready to send to Tom. One load has the 8g Nitro Card and 8g 1/4” fiber wad UNDER the Gualandi wad to hold more of the shot inside the petals. I also have 4 loads to send that are roll crimped. They should be in the Part II article in the Fall issue of Parker Pages. That is all for now. Stay tuned. Same bat time, same bat channel.

[Craig Larter]

Mike I really appreciate you taking on the project to develop many reloading recipes for the big 8's. My hope is more shooters of vintage guns will consider the 8ga not just as an collecting oddity but a fun and interesting obsolete gun to shoot. Anyone who is familiar with shotgun shell reloading would have a easy time loading 8ga shells.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Thanks Craig! It isn’t difficult to reload them. As you know there’s the extra step on the first time we reload those commercial shells where they need to have the “ring” removed so they fit in our guns.

There is more good news for 8g reloaders that will also be revealed in the upcoming article.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Public Service Announcement, 13 fold crimp loads with different powders and 4 roll crimp loads went to Tom A on Wednesday. He said he’d test them all next week. My testing over the chronograph all had excellent velocities. Article part II will be in the Fall issue of Parker Pages.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Update, David also sent in another load with American Select so we'll have 18 new loads to publish in the Fall Parker Pages. I have also been in contact with another 8g fan who has had 1 1/4 oz loads tested by Tom that he graciously allowed me to add to the Fall article. He gave me six loads total.