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< 16ga. Ammunition & Reloading ~ 1 oz. loads with downrange wad? |
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Posted:
Sat May 09, 2009 7:18 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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I know the downrange wad is designed for 3/4 or 7/8 oz. loads, but would it also work for 1oz. loads in a federal hull where a spacer is normally required? That would be very attractive to me.
I don't really see the purpose of shooting the lighter loads except to increase speed or for dedicated clays shooting, but I would be very interested in them if they could be used for hunting purposes also with 1 oz. loads. If the answer to that is that I should be using them to hunt with 3/4 or 7/8 oz. loads, then why not just hunt with a 28 or 20 ga? |
_________________ Gun art: www.marklarsongunart.com
Gallery art: www.marklarsonart.com
The man's prayer from the Red Green Show: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to. I guess." |
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Posted:
Sat May 09, 2009 7:30 am
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Hi,
Not sure but 1 oz. is going to compress the living daylights out of the DR16 wads. I am not saying that you can't use the wads for 1 ounce but I can think of other wads that will do the job better. Gualandi, B & P, Cheddite and the Remington R16 to name a few.
I was really against loading the 16 ga down, and I am still not sure about the whole idea. I loaded up some of these new wads with 3/4 oz. loads and shot them in my Model 37, holy sh*t, they crushed clay targets at skeet ranges. Now I can't shoot 28 gauge guns to save my life, but those light loads in guns that I am used to shot very well. Give them a try.
It is still gonna be difficult for me to put down my normal 1300 FPS 1 1/8 oz loads of #6's for killing roosters, so I do understand your hesitation. |
Last edited by dogchaser37 on Sat May 09, 2009 7:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Posted:
Sat May 09, 2009 7:36 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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Thanks DC, I can certainly understand the value of this as a dedicated clays wad. I would like to get a bag and see how they do. |
_________________ Gun art: www.marklarsongunart.com
Gallery art: www.marklarsonart.com
The man's prayer from the Red Green Show: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to. I guess." |
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Posted:
Sat May 09, 2009 2:28 pm
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I have a feeling that the DR16 wad will be useful for a lot of upland hunting. I always hated using 1 oz. loads for quail, woodcock and grouse. This wad has solved that issue.
I am going to try the lighter 7/8 oz. loads at 1450+ FPS with smaller shot sizes on pen raised pheasants here at home and see what happens. If all goes well I will give them a try on my annual trip out to Nebraska, for the real thing. Mr. Hammack swears by the lighter, faster, smaller shot size loads. |
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Posted:
Sat May 09, 2009 4:01 pm
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Member
Joined: 02 Oct 2007
Posts: 1975
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I've been using some loads that are rated at 1400fps. The only thing I noticed is that if you shoot to soon on a straight away shot when the dog brings the bird back, the entrails are hanging out the rear end. I've been using #7, I'm now loading 7.5 and 8's. These are 7/8oz loads |
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Posted:
Sat May 09, 2009 9:07 pm
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Joined: 06 Mar 2008
Posts: 596
Location: 17603
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"I was really against loading the 16 ga down, and I am still not sure about the whole idea. I loaded up some of these new wads with 3/4 oz. loads and shot them in my Model 37, holy sh*t, they crushed clay targets at skeet ranges."
DC,
Not only at skeet ranges do they crush targets! In my new 525 they're dusting birds at 40yds +. Been shooting a 1oz of #7 1/2, Gu1618; 7/8oz of #8 with the GU1621;, and after trading for a bag of the DR16 wads, now a 3/4oz of #8 1/2.
I shoot the faster loads better, and had an excellent day on Wed at a modified 5 stand type clay course with a lot of long birds with the light load.
Still getting a handle on the gun, and the various chokes, Browning's supplied 5 extended Midas grades are all tight for their rating, and I'll be getting another 3 or so from Trulock to open up the patterns. Performance has been excellent, and it'll be interesting tomorrow to see how the HV 3/4oz load does at skeet and closer ranges. Lots of comments from my fellow shooters, I tend to shoot with the same bunch of guys every week, on how I was breaking birds. The 3/4oz is light on recoil, even though it must be pushing Charles's 1400fps. I'll load up some #9's for fun and grins. Finances are tight after my splurge on the 525, and I've got some guns on the market, as soon as one sells I'll be grabbing a case of the DR16's, and getting some loads tested.
Cheers!
R*2 |
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Posted:
Sun May 10, 2009 8:11 am
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Member
Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 1736
Location: Central Missouri
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The wad will load 18 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 26 , and I hate to say it but it will load the 28 gram load , but why ???????
21 and 23 gram loads are the Wonders of the Universe on all things large and small .
Regards Charles |
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Posted:
Sun May 10, 2009 9:12 am
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Member
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 1257
Location: Nebraska
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Quote: |
I don't really see the purpose of shooting the lighter loads except to increase speed or for dedicated clays shooting, but I would be very interested in them if they could be used for hunting purposes also with 1 oz. loads. If the answer to that is that I should be using them to hunt with 3/4 or 7/8 oz. loads, then why not just hunt with a 28 or 20 ga?
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This is a pretty constant question on light 16ga loads, with probably no single answer or set of answers that applies to everyone. A few reasons why adding a smaller gauge might not work so well:
> Already own a 16, a new gun would add cost.
> Already own a 16 that has personal value...no other gun of any gauge or type could replace it.
> Only one gauge to load for, and the simplification that brings.
> 28ga SxS's are too narrow for a comfortable grip compared to a set of 16ga barrels. So are most 20ga SxS's, so buying one of either gauge just to shoot lighter loadings would mean a level of compromise. This is a reason given for shooting a light 12ga SxS; you have a more comfortable handle for the leading hand especially with a splinter FA.
So why not embrace efforts to develop easily-constructed lighter loads that increase the versatility of our shotgun of choice?
kgb |
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Posted:
Sun May 10, 2009 5:13 pm
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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KGB, I hadn't thought of it that way before. Upon further reflection, I agree completely. Why keep adding guns when all one needs to do is change loads? Plus, familiarity breeds consistency as far as shooting with one gun goes. I like it! |
_________________ Gun art: www.marklarsongunart.com
Gallery art: www.marklarsonart.com
The man's prayer from the Red Green Show: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to. I guess." |
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Posted:
Sun May 10, 2009 5:19 pm
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The light has come on! |
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Posted:
Mon May 11, 2009 6:35 am
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Member
Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 223
Location: NW Arkansas
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kgb-
Our resident 16g philosopher, pundit, and all around good spook/joe. |
_________________ Malam cerevisiam facieus in cathedram stercoris--Danzig Ord. c1260
Because, without beer, things do not seem to go as well- Diary of Brother Epp, Capuchin Monastery Munjor, KS 1902 |
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Posted:
Mon May 11, 2009 9:49 am
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Joined: 19 Feb 2008
Posts: 443
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Kirk, add this one.....
>I cannot shoot a gun that weights under six pounds no matter how much I'd like to. There are lots of cool 16s that weigh 6 to 6.25 lbs out there. What do I need a 28 ga. for? I shoot 3/4 ounce of 7.5s at quail out of a 6 lb. gun all the time.
sv |
_________________ Grulla 215k
Bayard Hammergun
Marlin Model 90 |
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Posted:
Mon May 11, 2009 10:00 am
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Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2005
Posts: 6535
Location: massachusetts
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I'm in the same boat now Steve. I've pretty much retired my 28's to an occasional skeet round just to enjoy them occasionally. Lugging two guns of about equal weight to the hunting field is too much like work IMO. A couple of different weight 16 ga loads in my vest does the same thing. the little poppers shoot better out of a 16 too from what I've seen on birds killed with equal shot loads out of both gauges. |
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Posted:
Mon May 11, 2009 10:38 am
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Member
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 1257
Location: Nebraska
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Philosopher, Ash, or might it be "conjecturer"? Everyone's got their reasons, and Steve I think a sub-6lb gun might be just fine. That 12ga Dickson (thinking back, someone told me it was a sleeved gun) seemed to weigh under 6lbs, and I've handled a 28ga O/U that must have been under 6lbs, Bob Egbert's. I think I could shoot that one, but it being an O/U probably not too well!! Get the balance right, and why not?
UDF, there weren't any 28ga Lefevers made so that's another reason for a 16ga LAC or DML gun!
kgb |
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Posted:
Sat May 16, 2009 7:21 pm
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Joined: 07 Oct 2008
Posts: 74
Location: MO Ozarks
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No one has mentioned dove hunting, so I'll chime in. I have been loading 7/8 oz. loads with fillers for my dove hunting. The new DRA16 wad will allow me to skip using the fillers.
Given that the national average of shots fired for doves killed is 7.5 shots per dove, it's not hard for a dove hunter to shoot 3+ boxes of shells in taking a limit, in a relatively short period of time. I see absolutely no reason to punish myself shooting heavier loads. I've found the 7/8 oz. loads take doves very well and are a ball to shoot.
If I can figure out a way to make my Lee LoadAll drop 3/4 oz. shot I intend to go to 3/4, higher velocity loads. |
_________________ BCP
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if your stupid." - John Wayne |
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