doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The Square Load

Another Hogwarts dropout
Ballistic coefficient inside a barrel?
Stability??? Oh, puhleeeze

"For those who prefer simpler math, I've seen many vintage writers tout the 16 based on the fact that the standard 1 oz load is the same as the weight of a solid lead ball that will fit in the barrel."

Which is simply a coincidence based on the specific gravity of lead, and nothing further.

It is very likely that the square load theory was developed by a mathematician and not a shooter. Equal length and width of a charge is a reference point for optimum stability. While stability may be poor, it is still better than any other. If it is not, point out the superior relationship.

It is just as easy to say that a solid lead wadcutter bullet has set back, deforms, and acts as a FLUID while moving down the length of a smoothbore barrel. It still has a predetermined weight and a balanced center of mass. All of the other factors offered are external... particularly choke coning.

Unlike others here, I never watched Harry Potter. But if you have a fluid charge or a solid charge that is more stable than square, this is the time to trot it out.

I seem to shoot better with green shells.

While I still shoot poorly with green shells, green shells are still better than any other.

If they are not, point out the superior color.

True. But probably as valid, as far as the effects of that simple math on the efficiency of the load, as more complicated formulae.

For those interested in the math the volume of a sphere is Pi x D cube / 6.
For a cylinder having a length equal to its diameter it is Pi x D cube / 4.
The cylinder thus has 1� times the volume of the sphere.
"However" the sphere is solid with no air space, the cylinder filled with shot has a lot of air space around the individual pellets. It works out the normal "Square Load", dependant upon exact shot size & alloy, but still talking predominantly lead, has a weight of around 75% - 80% that of the pure lead sphere by which the gauge was determined.
There has never been a shotgun built, regardless of gauge, in which the round ball equivelent & the "Square Load" were of identical weight. It is essentially impossible with any shot size of a useful nature.Not sure how small one would have to go, but likely even smaller than the #12's used in some .22LR "Rat Loads".

Mike,
Makes perfect sense in an A5. Thanks for the clarification. I have but one 16 remaining, and while few would refer to a Nitro as "sveldt", I doubt it weighs 6 1/2 lbs with 26" tubes. My scale went in the trash, and I have yet to replace it.

I find myself a bit sensitive to recoil here on the north side of the 50 years of age mark. Still not in a hurry to use that garage sale box of 1 1/4oz 6s in 16 in my little double.

I killed lots of bunnies with a .22 as a young man. Usually on public ground, sometimes following a friends Basset Hound, best bunny dog ever. But, that was here, not in Europe, and it was a long time ago. No one would have looked at us as anything out of the ordinary while we were involved in said pursuit.

Sorry you aren't up to following the dogs, so to speak. A good friend went into assisted living this week, I do hope to die with my boots on, but, one never knows.

Good luck.


Best,
Ted

A cylinder of equal volume to a sphere of the same diameter will be a good bit shorter than it is wide.

Not that it matters in a shotgun sense. None of this does.

When it comes to solids intended to fire out of a gun barrel, I'd look for a shape that looks more like a Berger boat tail than a square. Supposedly, if a bit of something like water is allowed to fall through the air, it assumes the most stability in the shape of a teardrop. Someone formed the cross section of a square in the shot column before it's fired, it didn't settle into a square because it's less stable in another shape.

Well, now I understand how important it all is because ...... the highest score I ever shot at sporting was a 99/100 at a charity shoot. The shells were provided which, in 12 ga., were 1 1/16 oz. loads, the proverbial square load. Now I know why.

How can you argue with that?

SRH