16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 01 Feb 2009 Posts: 64 Location: UK

I've just imported a bag of these (at ruinous expense...), and I have no load data whatsoever; the only data for plastic wads I've got is for SP16s.

What I'd like to ask is; if I replace the SP16 with the BPI and reduce the load by 1 1/2 grains of powder, is that a safe starting point for building a load? Please forgive me if it's a dumb question

I'm not happy with the SP16s because they seem to be a sloppy fit in the case. I get a lot of unburnt powder. Patterns are good but velocity appears to be poor and not all my kills are clean. So instead I use fiber wads, which work extremely well for me. However, rather than give up on plastics altogether, I thought it'd be worth trying a different wad for a 'top of the range' load for next year's pheasant season

I use Fiocchi and Cheddite straight-wall tubes, Herco or Unique. and CCI209 or Remington STS primers.

Any guidance gratefully received.

Hello Lemming :

I will scan BPI's data and send you a copy over the weekend , Ben and I run test on those wads to the tune of 5K and we were not too happy with them , performance was much better with the 1618 or 1621 .

Ben and I are on our last Gualandi wads now to the tune of 45K from here on out I will now have the exact wad I wanted in the first place .

Regards Charles

Guest

Lemming,

Where are you getting the data from? What is the exact data for this load?

Unique and Herco will leave some debris in the barrel as they are not very clean burning.

THe SP16 wad is not the cause of the unburnt powder. The sloppy fit might be the cause of powder migration, but I haven't seen it happen with Unique and Herco in the cases you have mentioned.

You really are just guessing about backing off powder charges and if the pressures are already too low with the SP16, which might be the cause of the unburnt powder(low pressure), backing off the powder charge won't help at all. A different plastic wad isn't going to change much to be honest.

I am gonna guess and say that you are mixing and matching components here, which maybe the cause of your heartburn. Also with the powders you have mentioned, those 2 primers aren't exactly top notch selections, especially with Herco.

I reccomend that you find a better source for data and/or stop mixing and matching components and cases. Shotshells are not like metallic cartrdges where backing off powder charges is an acceptable practice. Primer switching messes up more loads than guys realise, because then you get comments like "this isn't a good cold weather load." Trust me it isn't a good warm weather load either.

BTW, BPI loading data isn't worth the paper it is printed on.

The low pressure group has loads for the TC-16 wad. It's only $20.00 to join.

Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 596 Location: 17603

"CCI209 or Remington STS primers aren't exactly top notch selections, especially with Herco. "

Mark,
Hotter primers with the slower powders? I've been using Rio G-600's to good effect with Herco and Unique. Been treating them as ~ equivalent to the Mag primers, judging from Armbrust's comparison data. The Fiochi 616's seem to be closer to a "standard" Win 209.
I realise that without test data, this is purely speculative, but your opinion appreciated.
Cheers,
R*2

Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 224

Joined: 01 Feb 2009 Posts: 64 Location: UK

Charles -

I'd be very grateful for that data. Many thanks

Dogchaser -

I'm pitifully short on 16ga data. Apart from Alliant's online load info, all I've got is a Claygame Imports manual from 1992 (loads developed here in the UK) and the results of my own experiments.

Same goes for choice of components. I use Herco and Unique powders and CCI / Rem primers because that's all I can get. Same reason I use home-made shot and home-made fiber wads.

You're darned right I'm just guessing about backing off the powder (which is why I'm asking you guys; you don't need to guess, because you have access to genuine data...) I figure that if I start my loads low and gradually work them up a half grain at a time, I won't blow myself up.

Guest

Lemming,

I didn't realize that you can't get some of the hotter primers,

As a rule of thumb, to get really nice consistent loads with medium to slow burn powders you try to use the hotter primers. Even a Winchester 209 would be a good choice but Federal 209A, Fiocchi 616 or CCI209M are the best choices.

I have a few loads with the components you list, but I don't know any specifics of your load. If you tell me more, I can help you more, with tested data.

R*2

Slower burning powders love hot primers. Fiocchi 616 primers might seem on a chart to be a Win 209 equivalent, but they usually act hotter.

Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 596 Location: 17603

"Slower burning powders love hot primers. Fiocchi 616 primers might seem on a chart to be a Win 209 equivalent, but they usually act hotter."

Thanks! Confirms my opinion and experience, the F616's, while pretty much the same price around here as the Rio's, have a very hard primer cup, while the Rio is one of the softest, helps sometimes with my elderly collection. Never had a primer hit problem with a Rio.
Cheers,
R*2

Guest

I live in Connecticut, and I wish I could find Fiocchi primers in my area. I have about 3,000 new 16 gauge Fiocchi hulls, that measure 2 5/8 inches, they are perfect for my old Model 12.

The original CCI 209 would fit tight in these hulls but now that CCI/Alliant/Federal have changed them only Fiocchi primers seem to fit tight. I have the primer pocket tool, but that is a PITA for a large number of hulls, besides I have a fair amount of reloading data for the Fiocchi primer.

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 425 Location: Maine

Guest

Pumpgun,

Thanks for the website, I was trying to avoid shipping and Hazmat, but I might have to bite the bullet.

Member Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 115 Location: Michigan

I use the Fiocchi Hulls and BPI plastic wads and have way too much space left in the hull after powder, wad and shot are in hull. I believe that I read somewhere that 20 ga felt wads can be used as an over powder wad to take up the extra space?

Keith Rich

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1460 Location: Eagle, Nebraska

Keith, have the same issue, maybe just that I like the longshot powder which seems to not take up much space. I use Universal or other powders shooting clays in my back yard, then cut them down to 2.5" for hunting season. This allows me to load shells, then I can use any 16 in my arsenal!! Cut that hull down and using most of my hunting loads come out just right without any filler.

Member Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 115 Location: Michigan

Hootch - I appreciate the advice, but my 16 ga accepts 2 3/4" shells and I would rather not cut down my hulls. Will the 20 ga felt wads make a good powder seal? They make the spacing inside the hulls perfect.

Keith