doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com reloading for my 2 1/2"

Like I stated before, in order to get a nice roll crimp, you have to load one shell and see where the final inside height is, should be a little over a 1/16" to 3/32" max over the shot card or else you will have to add more shot cards.
These are Remington Game Loads cut to 2 5/16" with the recipe I posted and roll crimped. This picture shows an old type roll crimper but the Ballistics one did the same when I got it. I don't know what they are talking about bad crimps.

The overshot cards are homemade, I was impatient to wait for the Ballistics order to come with the over shot cards and the roll crimper.

Chuck, do you not find the 1 oz. #5's to be a bit thin for pheasant?

burch, to restate what I believe you now know, light load does not always equal low pressure. Lower pressure comes from a "lighter" loading of "slower" powder behind a "lighter" shot charge. For a load of 7/8 oz shot, you can find loads of even the usually faster powders that give lower pressure. PB is a fine powder for lower pressure loads of 1 oz. Lower pressure is good for the metal and low recoil is good for the wood and shooter. Lower recoil comes from lighter shot charge and lower velocity.

Ballistic Products offer loading information for 2 1/2" and 2" shells. The loads "look good" and there is a wide range of loads and components included.

I can also recommend BPs roll crimper that uses a 3/8" power drill or drill press. The tool makes very nice crimps that are enhanced by the friction that results from the rapid rotation of the crimping tool.