The Ultimate 12GA Waterfowl Load

[mud_walker]

Yes, I think this is a pass shoot goose load.

I tried trimming the wad down by 1/16 and found the stack was limiting the crimp. I got a shorter overall cartridge with a trimmed wad.

I then trimmed another 1/16 off and that is what is in the picture below, side by side. With 1/8 trimmed off the wad, it began to look overfilled. I replaced one of the 1/4 fw with 1/8 fw. That looked ok, but the powder was then less compressed and that might lower the velocity. So, returned back to double 1/4 fw and OS card and the shot settled back into the cup when crimped. The powder was slightly less compressed, but looked comparable to first attempts.

 

[mud_walker]

After doing a few more, the remaining 4 of 5, I think 0.1in to 0.125in or 1/8in is the right amount of material to clip off the wad. My picture above is likely a little more than 1/8 which resulted in it looking overfilled. But, taking off the 1/8 eliminates the dishing and everything looked great.

 

[mud_walker]

Here's a pattern. Tested 3 at 40 yards. Only got one speed reading at 1230 fps. They did feel soft on the magnum shell spectrum. I will add in that last 0.5 grain of powder.

Here are results at 40 yards.

Carlson LR choke
#1 steel with #8 TSS, 80% (but I pulled it, likely 85%)
46/64 #1 on paper
141/158 #8 TSS on paper
178/222 in the circle

Carlson LR choke
BB steel with #8 TSS, 89%
36/45 BB on paper
155/158 #8 TSS on paper
181/203 in the circle

Carlson MR choke
B Steel (copperheads) with #8 TSS, 93%
49/53 B on paper
153/158 #8 TSS on paper
196/211 in the circle
Image attached, TSS in red and B in black

 

[duckrogers]

Here's a pattern. Tested 3 at 40 yards. Only got one speed reading at 1230 fps. They did feel soft on the magnum shell spectrum. I will add in that last 0.5 grain of powder.

Just to double check, that is TSS under steel right? The steel pattern in the image is much better behaved than the 3/9 duplex I tested.

 

[mud_walker]

Yes, this is TSS under the steel and was a lower speed, 1230 fps. I still have the 2/8 and the 3/8 to test. The MR choke seemed to put the steel and TSS in sync pattern wise. The LR choke was consolidating the TSS and expanding the steel pattern, opposite reactions.

 

[duckrogers]

Noob question: Can I safely switch from a fold crimp for a tested load to a roll crimp?

BPI says pressure is lower with a roll crimp: fold vs. roll crimp pressures

 

[cd2]

Yes you can, but not vice versa

 

[Olefart]

My favorite back 50+ years ago was 1 3/8 oz lead #5s over 27 grains Unique In a AA Winchester Hull, with the red Winchester wad. Still a great Pheasant load.