16ga.com ~ View topic - Made a mistake reloading

Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 24

Well here it goes. I'm working off the data from the 16ga society data pool. Here is my mistake. I inadvertinely reloaded 7/8 oz of shot for a reciepe that calls for 1 oz. Can I safetly shoot these shells. Here is the receipe I reloaded:

Federal Hull, 22.3 gr of universal, 7/8oz of shot, Win 209 primer and SG16ga wad. For a velocity of 1220 ft/sec. The problem again is this receipe was supposed to include 1 0z of shot. Can I safetly shoot these shells. Or do I have to throw them in the trash? What can I expect if I shoot them?

Best,

Rick

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 24

Dave,

I reloaded about 150 shells. And I am shooting it out of a brand new Italian side by side.

Best,

Rick

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

Rick,
The 1 oz load I found that was real close to your load, showed 1220 FPS at 8200 PSI. So, with a 7/8 oz. payload, instead of 1 oz, I would GUESS
that your 7/8 oz load will be around 1300+ FPS at -8000 PSI.
Wait and see what others have to say, but I would shoot a few and see what they feel like. I honestly think you'll be okay.
Dave

I think you'll be OK, too.

Just as in metallic cartridge reloading, the powder weight goes down as the bullet weight goes up. So just by dumb luck, you erred in the right direction.

I would load up the correct recipe and shoot them in comparison to your mistake loads, getting a seat-of-the-pants feel for their performance. Or, to be 100% sure, send off 5 of the mistakes to Tom Armbrust for pressure testing.

Ballistic Research
Tom Armbrust
1108 West May Ave.
Johnsburg, IL. 60050

Guest

I'd shoot 'em. Like Dave said, the pressure shouldn't be a problem.. If the crimps are decent and they shoot well you might have stumbled on to a nice load.

Guest

I'd shoot 'em. Like Dave said, the pressure shouldn't be a problem.. If the crimps are decent and they shoot well you might have stumbled on to a nice load.

Member Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 371 Location: mpls mn

Rick -
I wouldnt chance it better drop those off at the minneapolis gun club c/o Rob Paetzold
I will dispose of them for you Very Happy

Shoot em-up!

I doubt you will be able to tell the difference, as others have stated, you went in the right direction for the mistake. Wink

I would shoot them. The pressure should be lower than the same load with 1 ounce.

The only real risk is that the pressure might be low enough for a squib load which could leave a wad stuck in the barrel. I think this is very unlikely but since you are shooting a SxS just look down the barrels before reloading to make sure they are clear.

Be sure to enjoy shooting the low recoil loads. Jack was shooting his 1 ounce reloads today and when he ran out he shot my 7/8 ounce reloads - he immediately noticed the reduced recoil.

Rick,
All things being equal other than shot. You will have no issues. The heavier the shot load calls for less powder and vice versa.
Shoot em up!
Charlie

Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Posts: 91

I use a 1 oz powder charge and load 7/8 oz of shot and have for quite some time now. Pressures should be lower and velocity higher as stated earlier. I have loaded and shot many flats of my receipe using 17 grains of GD or REXII with a 1621 Gualandi wad in a Remington case. And it does not take a lot of choke to get good patterns at 30 yards and further.

Lenard