1500 fps shotgun shells

25 June 2003, 16:21

<JoeM>

Hello
I saw in the Hodgdon book, that you can load a 12 gauge 1 1/8 oz load to 1500 fps.

I put a few together, and I am going to try them. Some on the pattern board, and some on some clay pidgeons.

Does anybody have any experience with them? They should cut down on lead, I am thinking. Of course the pattern board will tell more.

Curious.

26 June 2003, 03:08

Dutch

They'll cut an inch or two of your lead.

Mine patterned horrible, even with buffered loads of plated shot. There is quite an interesting article on velocity in the current episode of Shooting Sportsman Magazine.

Anyone care to buy 3/4 lbs of Longshot? LOL! Dutch.

26 June 2003, 03:58

eshell

quote:
Originally posted by Dutch:
They'll cut an inch or two of your lead.

Mine patterned horrible, even with buffered loads of plated shot. There is quite an interesting article on velocity in the current episode of Shooting Sportsman Magazine.

Anyone care to buy 3/4 lbs of Longshot? LOL! Dutch.

Mine patterned badly too. Before non-toxic shot was required here for waterfowl, I experimented and pattern tested various buffered, copper plated, and sometimes sleeved, loads in a 3" 12 gauge. I shot and recorded hits on several hundred 30" circles over a period of about two years.

Invariably, the very best patterns came with modest velocities and I ended up shooting geese with a load the 'only' delivered @ 1150 FPS. Any attempt to increase velocities would spread the shot out. The lower velocity actually worked out well, since it more closely matched the trapload equivalents we used for targets, doves, quail, grouse and crows. Geese, "crunched" at 50 yards, seemed not to notice the lower speed.

[ 06-25-2003, 19:01: Message edited by: eshell ]

26 June 2003, 10:14

claybuster

Sounds like more wear and tear on you,the hulls, and your gun for a minimal gain to me.Especially if just shooting clays.Anyway,,,Have fun!!! Clay.

26 June 2003, 10:32

B_Koes

Because of the terrible flight characteristics of a piece of shot (read ballistic coefficient), any gains at the muzzle are quickly dissipated over the course of 40 yards so they really don't hit with THAT much more authority...that is why you must switch to larger shot size. So the recommendation to stay within the established boundaries are not without merit. It is not difficult to learn to lead your target, it just takes a bit more practice. Get the best patterns you can and then put that pattern on your target! Good shooting!!

26 June 2003, 16:09

Gatogordo

Years ago, mostly for kicks, I found and loaded a load with, IIRC, 4756 for 12 ga 1 1/8 ounce loads. It kicked like a mule and literally sounded like the gun was blowing up. Very loud and deep "BOOOOM". I shot a box or two on skeet and while it was interesting, it was not an experiment that I repeated. Tough on the gun and tough on the shooter. If you need range, use bigger, harder shot and medium velocities.

The most efficient and best killing somewhat moderate recoil loads made are likely the live pigeon loads made by the major manufacturers. They are 3 1/4 dram, 1 1/4 ounce loads. Years ago, the live pigeon shooters could "shoot what they brung" and in some places they still can. They mostly all gravitated to what is now the standard for two reasons, patterning and thus killing power, and rapid recoil recovery for a good second shot. ALL good pigeon shooters shoot 2 shots every time, even if the bird is smoked on the first shot. Too much money riding on the bird and shotgun shells are too cheap.

[ 06-27-2003, 06:55: Message edited by: Gatogordo ]