doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Shot shell question

Forgive my lack of confidence in shotgun loading data but please take into account that I come from a rifle background. If you buy a round of rifle ammunition with a 168 grain bullet, the bullet will weigh within 1 grain or less that 1% of the advertised weight. It is as likely to go over as under. Variations of more than 1% have a real effect on zero and other factors.

Am I the only person who has noticed that the shot charge in factory shells is about 10% below the advertised weight? I weighed a few shells this afternoon and, just like the charge bars on my MEC loaders, they all weighed light.

Federal 1 1/8 oz 491.1 grains 548 grains correct weight
Winchester 1 oz 432.9 grains 487 grains correct weight
Remington 1 1/8 oz 495.4 grains 548 grains correct weight

All weigh in a little over 10% light, is there a SAMMI standard on this?

I notice that my MEC charge bars all weigh about 12% light with #8 shot. If this is true, how accurate is loading data listed? A 12% reduction in shot charge would result in a huge drop in pressure of published data. Does published data take this into account?

Dick,
Your Mec reloader is no different than mine. Both the powder and shot measure less that specified on bar and loads.
For a shotgun, I don't believe that little is going to mean much. I usually weigh ten loads of powder and then average. If the load is 3-4 grs. light then I will try the next bushing up. So long as it is within a grain or so higher I wouln't worry about it.
You could drive yourself crazy worrying about this.
I have been known to drill a few out to get them closer to a particular powder, but they are marked as such and not to be used for a comparable other load.

The manufactures of these reloaders purposely make the charges light for liability reasons.

The published data is usually for everything being weighed and not dropped , I believe.

Dick,

I may have misunderstood your post, but one ounce equals 437 grains; 1-1/8 oz equals 492 grains; and 1-1/4 oz equals 547 grains according to my RCBS scale.

Not sure what you're saying here

Regards, Tim

I've got to stop drinking before noon. I knew that 437 was one ounce. Blame it on Mad Cow disease.

Dick,

Roger that. Had me scared a minute as I just loaded up 75 rounds of 10 gauge with what I had thought was 1-1/4 oz of shot for use in Namibia in August and scampered down to look at my scale in case...

Regards, Tim

My 410 bar has many file marks but after that it is more trouble than it's worth.
bill

I have a lathe and bore out undersize MEC powder bushings to what I want in a load. I need 14 gr Green dot for 2 142x 7/8oz for my English doubles. I bored out one to throw the right charge A friend told me he uses 22gr of IMR 2675(?)have to check,for low pressure loads, the new can of IMR he recommended me is in my shop and it's -30oC so it will be checked tomorrow. So while I was in the City I picked up a MEC powder bushing for a similar load, I'll try it and see how much powder it throws. I'll probably have to bore it out to suit, as yes, the MEC bushings throw light.
Mike

That's 2 1/4 " x 7/8 oz # 8 shot loads on Federal Gold medal Paper hulls, not 142x7/8 oz, sorry
Mike

I have a lathe and bore out undersize MEC powder bushings to what I want in a load. I need 14 gr Green dot for 2 142x 7/8oz for my English doubles. I bored out one to throw the right charge A friend told me he uses 22gr of IMR 2675(?)have to check,for low pressure loads, the new can of IMR he recommended me is in my shop and it's -30oC so it will be checked tomorrow. So while I was in the City I picked up a MEC powder bushing for a similar load, I'll try it and see how much powder it throws. I'll probably have to bore it out to suit, as yes, the MEC bushings throw light.
Mike

The bars were originally made to drop the weight specified in drop shot, not chilled or magnum. Drop shot is as close to 100% lead as is possible. Antimony is at about 5 to 6% in magnum and is lighter than lead, so the charge weight will be less. Chilled is also slightly lighter than drop shot
Also the size of the shot makes a difference as there is less air space around 9 shot than 7 1/2 or bigger.
Some of the loader companies actually make bushings for 1 1/8 ounce of 9's and a different one for 1 1/8 ounce of 7 1/2's.
Even MEC offers a Skeet bar to get exactly the weight of 9's for the competion Skeet shooters that want to get every grain of weight into there reloads.