10 gauge reload Issues

[Randy Roberts]

That looks great Craig. I'm thinking I have a tad bit to much material and may need to back off the pre crimp a little. Waiting for some more knowledgeable than me to chime in. Is that hull in your pic new or possibly once fired?

[Craig Larter]

once fired

[Randy Roberts]

Probably a little easier to work with I'd assume. I want to get one of those Super Crimp starters from BP for these new hulls if they ever get any in stock.

[Keith Doty]

Randy it's kinda hard to tell from the photo angle but you might benefit from raising the load height just a bit, "tightening" the crimp. Try a few with a 16 ga. 1/8" cork in the bottom of the shot cup or a 1/16" 10 ga. card over the shot. I've tortured myself for many years with different loads looking for that consistently perfect crimp! Different things work with different loads without constantly adjusting dies. I keep careful notes and when changing loads in the same gauge I don't mess with the setup, the simple addition of a card or cork can make a world of difference and they're CHEAP! A slightly different wad sometimes is the answer. You can make yourself crazy adjusting dies for each load, bismuth vs. lead, etc.

[Randy Roberts]

Keith I had to use a 1/4" and an 1/8" cork wad under the shot already to get enough stack height. I'm gonna play with the pre crimp a little and then I can try your suggestion. Thanks.

[Keith Doty]

No shame there. I use a Remington SP10 wad and a 1/2" non treated fiber wad in the shot cup in some of my 1 1/4 oz. lead shot loads. Loads nicely and shoots great, clays and doves hate'em! Appears that big, soft fiber wad also absorbs some of the acceleration and lowers pressures slightly as well.

[Keith Doty]

This is a nice one to shoot. Not sure why I have such a variation, suspicious I was inconsistent with seating pressure, gotta work on that and test again. These were specifically for a damascus gun, 1888 vintage Parker hammerless.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Keith Doty

No shame there. I use a Remington SP10 wad and a 1/2" non treated fiber wad in the shot cup in some of my 1 1/4 oz. lead shot loads. Loads nicely and shoots great, clays and doves hate'em! Appears that big, soft fiber wad also absorbs some of the acceleration and lowers pressures slightly as well.

Same here Keith. That 1/2" fiber wad is 16g, so it drops into the shot cup really nice. I use Unique, but nice to know Longshot is an option.

[Keith Doty]

Exactly what I do.
On the Longshot, I was looking for low pressures for Damascus guns and powder availability being what it is I bought some because I could. Actually pretty impressed, have had very good results in 10 ga. AND, still fooling with it but 20 ga. as well. Kinda doesn't sound likely but test results don't lie.

[Randy Roberts]

Keith that's the load I'm working with except I had the powder down to 29 grains. I was going to send it off for testing but now I don't have to. Thanks. I like those low pressures.