Alternative Shotgun Shell loads

[85MikeTPI]

All in fun, we've all probably seen some of the videos that use to be available on YT,etc. of people loading nails, tacks, batteries, spent primers, COx cartridges, etc. Since 99% of my shooting is for fun I've been temped, but never imbibed..

Now that I've been casting my own slugs and buckshot, I just happened upon a comment left on a review of the Lee buckshot molds, which talked about leaving the "triples" intact for loading.. It piqued my interest enough that I made some sample loads for patterning, next time I'm at camp. Just curious if anyone has done anything like that and just how crazy it is.

I've attached a pic of the "triples" #00 and #4 that I've cast, along with some of the slugs.

 

[E.Shell]

How to you expect to 'stack' your #00 intact triples, when each layer of 3 gets staggered?

 

[85MikeTPI]

How to you expect to 'stack' your #00 intact triples, when each layer of 3 gets staggered?

The #00 has been challenging, as you surmise. Using different wads (steel shot) I've been able to get 10x #4 triples, but the #00 has only gone in without pedals or cut into doubles and stacked 5x2. I'm experimenting with various wads for the slugs also, so it's just a lot of fun testing right now. (1.5oz load data)

 

[Biggfoot44]

Attatched buckshot intuitively sounds like a great concept , but usually either goes funky , or at best is similar to a good conventional Buck load .

( Since you are inherently speaking of handloads ) Extra tight patterning Buckshot IS a thing . Check out Bubba Roundtree on you tube . He's in SC where Buckshot deer hunting is the required method , and they're serious about it .

Think tight 80 yard patterns .

Watch the vids for specifics, but over simplified:

Steel Shot wads
Hard , powder coated pellets
Buffering
Slow powder
Medium velocities

 

[85MikeTPI]

Been watching the BRO channel, very good info. Have been testing several of my loads this weekend at camp. The “heavy” loads (12x #00, 30x #4, etc) really rock my shoulder, so I’ll be staying away from them in the future. I started seeing some pressure signs in the #4 loads. My 1/2 slit CSD wads weren’t opening up enough, so like Bubba I’ll stick with a 3/4 slit from now on. My test mules (Springfield Pump and Winchester mod50 semi ) are both full choke so that’s another variable I need to deal with. I tried using some old Walnut tumbling media I was throwing out, as a buffer test. It patterned worse than no buffer, so much for that.

- The “barbell” buck loads actually stayed linear and didn’t tumble like I expected. They have very good patterns but the 1/2 slits had half staying in the wad and acting slug-like

- The claybuster slug wads work great with the “pellet” sabot slugs. The full chokes ripped off all four pedals but the slugs were hitting my 100yd steel

- The foster (Lee keyslot) did not like the slug wads. I had to stack them up off the raised wad base and only 1 or 2 pedals were ripping causing flight skew and a 2’ pattern at 50yds. They should do better without a full choke or without wad pedals on a full.. more testing

- The WAA12R clones also worked better than the old PatternControl brand wads that came with my used press. The thicker cup base prevented the buck from breaking thru the bottom like they were on the PC wads.

In all I’ve got good data and will move forward with:
- CSD wads 3/4 split for all buckshot
- CB slug wads for all slug loads
- CB Waa12r clones for everything else

I have enough data now to move on to testing with my Browning and not feel like I’m risking messing up a good Shottie..

I still have #O buck, 50cal sabot and full bore slugs to test in the mules, once I get them straight and casting done..

 

[85MikeTPI]

 

[85MikeTPI]

I had my rifled browning at camp this weekend, after proofing my loads in my test mule. I couldn’t get my MP 640gr full bore slugs to group worth a damn, but I have enough data to narrow down a load and make a bunch more. The 525gr wad slugs patterned great at 100yds in the rifled barrel, they also do well in a full choke smoothbore, so I’ll bulk load them for the future needs.

I patterned some buck & ball loads, came out fun at 25yds using 5x #4 buck and a Lee 1oz foster. Not sure why I’d need any but for fun.

The 50cal sabots for 12ga worked OK, but patterned wide like the full bore. I found all but 1 sabot in the snow and think I can reuse them. (And at 40cpr, it’s a good thing you can reuse them ). Next time I’ll try them in the rifled barrel.

I need to get a good roll crimping tool. I borrowed one that I think he got off EBay and it shows..

I went thru about 100 rounds testing and had a blast. Onto some blackout and PCC testing tomorrow

 

[85MikeTPI]

New Beretta 1301

Buckshot

Buck&Ball

Full Bore Slug, low POI at 75yds and 100yds with this charge

 

[85MikeTPI]

3x 160gr .308 cast fit perfectly in these hulls, but they shot like crap and started tumbling almost immediately.. not sure why the FPS were so low, wad not sealing properly maybe ?
I will try one more time with a better wad and maybe hotter charge