I have been searching for my 24 gauge stuff, since this thread started. All I can find is the loading data I used in 2007. The powders are no longer made, so we'll skip that.
The 24 gauge as loaded today is weak. The guns were primarily "garden guns", something you kept in the European garden shed to blast pests away from your crops.
Fiocchi makes ammo with #8, 6 and 5 shot. Fiocchi uses a brush wad and really soft lead. The barrels are a mess after shooting. The best use for the factory shells is practice and make empies for a better reload.
The better reload. Ballistic Products has a SG24 wad it has petals. The wad is from Italy and really made for a 2 3/4" hull. It can work in a 2 1/2" hull, if you roll crimp. The previously mentioned roll crimper from Italy is the way to go. I did convert a MEC600 Jr to 24. I had a 28 gauge sizing ring opened to 24. Skip the last 2 stations on the loader, since roll crimping. I still have the MEC.
My 24 gauge loads were #8 1/2, 13/16oz, pellet count about 404.
The 24 gauge pellet count ends up equal to the 12 gauge shooter next to you with 1 oz of #8, their pellet count about 410.
At normal skeet and clays ranges, the 24 tosses about same pellet count and breaks just as many birds. I left many die hard skeet shooters scratching their heads, wondering how did I do that? It's just math, plus a little move-mount-shoot.
My gun has moved on to other shooters. It's in the Atlanta area currently.
All Best,
Joe in Charlotte
