Yeah, "I centered that one. Musta been that 'donuthole' the bird got thru".
I've found buying as many reloading manuals as I think have potential load data I would use, is a good thing to have around.
My pet 12g load for my old guns is similar to one above;
Fed paper, Fed primer, 17.5 gr Clays, Fed 12S3 wad (12S0 may also work, but crimping was not right when I used it), 1 oz of magnum hard shot, for a 1150 fps/6500 psi load. I've used this load on So.Dakota phez when substituting #5 shot and many Calif quail with #7 1/2 shot. I'm of the opinion that there is some value in keeping the velocity no lower than in the 1100-1200 fps range for my uses. Others may have more experience in lower velocities, but this keeps my leads within reason of all the modern loads I use in the field at longer ranges as well as clay shooting. I do use some 1300 fps loads for phez and don't want to stray too far downward in velocity for the reloads if I can get good velocity while staying acceptably low in pressure. Regardless of all the touting of low velocities, no one can discount that 'speed kills'. Get it too low and it won't. Velocity is the other half of the energy equation. Now where's that old football helmet?
