I just blew up the spec sheet. Is the loader fellow confusing the 160 grains of "PSB" buffer listed on the load sheet with 16,000 PSI? I guess now that we know he is shooting 1 3/4 ounces plus buffer in a 12 gauge shell, the 12,500 PSI doesn't sound so "off the scale", considering one shell per turkey. I would shoot that load in a safe gun. I think the load could be brought down to SAAMI specs with a slower powder and a hair less velocity. Velocity shouldn't be critical when shooting at a standing turkey's head. The Winchester factory loaded 1 7/8 ounces of buffered lead #6 which should have a whale of a lot more pattern density in it than 1 3/4 ounces of #6 hevi-shot. I see boxes of those shells at gun shows occasionally. I would like to have patterned some of them in my old 3 1/4" chambered Fox with long .042 and .043 chokes.
Bill,
The 16,000 PSI loads readings were the average of the first group of shells he sent off for testing. This person has a very simple goal. He's trying to kill turkey's at 60 yards with homemade hevi-shot loads. Not sure if he intends as some point to sell these shells to other hunters.
FWIW, There's a Company named nitro out there that does custom turkey loads that are used by all the Pro Staffers from Primo's, Knight and Hale, etc etc. Nitro Ray (the owner of that company) has been able to keep the pressures in the safe range by carefully controlling all facets of loading. Those nitro shells are the real deal. BTW, a box of 25 shells runs well over $100. They even make a special choke that is used in conjunction with those shells.
