Range results with the 10 and 8 ga

[Milton C Starr]

Just got back from spending 4hrs at the range and doing some pattern testing with the 8 and 10 gauge. I may be forget some things but anyhow first the heat treated Ts not much of a pattern there but they penetrate well I think, they went straight through the 1/4" ply wood and I recovered some in the 100 yard clay berm and they had no deformation. One picture shows what is either lead #4s or the bismuth #2s stuck in the plywood and you can see the holes where the Ts went straight through. My 8 ga has no choke so perhaps they would perform better if it did? I think the large shot would be more suitable for maybe a 2 1/4oz buffered load. I also decided to test some bismuth 2s in the 8 ga out of curiosity, with this load I wrapped it in masking tape because I have been getting alot of powder burns on my 8 ga cases. Some of the Winchesters have a red sticker partially around them and that protects the cases from powder burns. So I tried masking tape and yep that seams to work.
I patterned some RST 10 ga loads as well and a bismuth handload with a fiber wad. Im probably forgetting some details its been a tiresome day and im about to take me a old man afternoon nap. I ordered some BPI nickel plated 5s last week so im curious to see how well those do and I finally ordered nitro cards for the 10 and 8 ga. Oh on the 10 ga bismuth handload I shot low and to the left, it was the last round I fired and after 4hrs I was ready to pack it up.

[Milton C Starr]

Heres the recovered T shot I heat treated and found at the 100 yard berm and the 8 ga shell I was testing the masking tape on. I noticed the 8 ga has loose chambers compared to my Parker 10s so perhaps thats why im getting scorch marks on the cases. I cant tell if the pellets imbedded in the plywood is the lead 4s or bismuth 2s but you can see where the Ts sailed through.

[charlie cleveland]

looks like you gave them guns and loads a good work out...them t shot would kill at 100 yards if they hit something...I shot a load of lead bb s at a coyote at about 100 yards it did not kill him dead at the moment but it made him run side ways and it went in a hole in the ground I m pretty sure it died later...I wish I had some of those tss no 2 and bb shot to try out....interesting stuff your doing....charlie

[edgarspencer]

Apologies because I know you've said it before, but what powder are you using in the 8ga?

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Apologies because I know you've said it before, but what powder are you using in the 8ga?

Bluedot for the 8 and 10 ga.

[10 bore]

The lead 4s pattern looks good and i think the bismuth 2s too if i see it pic correctly.

[charlie cleveland]

bluedot is good powder for the 8 and 10 ga heavy loads...I use it in my guns....charlie

[Milton C Starr]

I noticed with the bismuth the pellet fracturing doesn't appear to be as bad as I've heard. I counted maybe 4 or 5 pellet fractures per shell in the pattern with the bismuth. Just got the shipping notice this morning for my #5 shot from BPI I guess they are getting caught up on their shipping times. I've always had good results with #5s in any gauge. I think with that 8 gauge T pattern I counted 38 hits out of 56 pellets which should be 67% percent. I don't know if this is anyone else's case but for me Bluedot is a pretty dirty powder.

[Keith Doty]

I shoot #5 bismuth for ducks in both 12 ga. and 10 ga. Wicked effective, much better at long range than steel.

[Milton C Starr]

Im going to pattern these 2 1/4oz of nickel plated 5s next and I have some
1 3/8oz loaded for the 10 gauge.