20 gauge blackpowder shotshell data wanted

[Buzzard II]

Howdy,
After searching around for a few years I just found a Stevens 311D 20 ga with 26 inch barrels.  I'm looking for a couple of 20 gauge blackpowder load recipes to feed it for CAS only.  I usually can get once first mixed plastic hulls free and don't mind cleaning up the barrels afterwards.  I'm retired and frugal (cheap).  Anyone care to share their load data?  Thanks in advance.  Bob


Any preference on primers?

[hellgate]

Buzzard,
A typical factory equivalent 20ga load is 55gr BP + 7/8oz shot. That's pretty hard to get into a 20ga hull. I've done it using a Remington "H" wad between the powder and the shot. An H wad is about 1/8" thick at its thickest part. They are no longer made. That was in hulls with a 6 fold crimp. I would suggest using a roll crimp if possible so you can get a little more cushion between the powder and shot. You probably can do fine with less powder, like 45 grs and less shot. If your shot pattern is FOCUSED it'll put down any faller. Also, I would recommend you consider FFg 777 as your powder. You can use a little less of it per volume and thus have more room in the hull for wadding or shot. No matter what load you use be sure to PATTERN IT! (butcher paper on a cardboard box @ 10-15 yds is good enough for CAS). You'd be surprised how some barrels do not shoot straight or one load will pattern so much better than another. You can take the WW AA wads and cut the "legs" out of the wad and have the over powder portion and the shot cup portion only. That gives you a lot more room inside the hull for powder and shot. You may want to shoot 3/4 oz or even 1/2oz loads depending on which patterns the best. Also you can take that same AA wad and cut across the legs and rotate one part of the wad 90 degrees and press it back together and end up with a medium length wad a little shorter than the original (intact) wad. Pyrodex and APP are also viable alternatives to BP. I've used them all and they all work. Again, whatever patterns the best IS THE BEST.

[wildman1]

I use Circle Fly overpowder card and either Winchester AA 7/8 oz. shot cup with the base cut off or Remington 1 oz. with the base cut off. My normal powder charge is 50gs of 2f or 3f BP. Shot ranges from 7/8 oz to 1 oz. The 50 gs/1 oz.load will give me in the range of 12-14" pattern at about 15 yds. I can go to 63 gs of powder and 7/8 oz of shot before I start to blow the pattern apart. The 63gs charge will take the pattern out to about 24" at the same yardage. I have to thank Sir Charles for giving me help with all of that. I'm not worried about a shot cushion because ya don't need it fer CAS shooting. WM

[Buzzard II]

Howdy Guys!
Thanks for the info!  I appreciate it!
Bob

[dpote]

Hi Buzzard,

I reload 2.5" brass shells with a .45-70 case full of FFg, Circle Fly Nitro card (.135 1/8"), Circle Fly 18g fiber wads soaked in shortening, .45-70 case full of shot and topped with a Circle Fly 17g overshot card. I seal the top with Duco cement. I put the fired hulls in a jug with soap and water while still at the range. When I get back home, I pop out the primers and tumble in ceramic media I got several years ago from Dick Dastardly. These shells have lasted me seven years so far, and are still in good shape.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can give you any further information.

Dave

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Wildman;  I am surprised to see so much difference in the pattern size going from 50 gr. to 63 gr.!

The more moderate load must get twice as many pellets on target than the hotshot "square"load.  No guessing here which is more effective.

[fourfingersofdeath]

One of mny friends punches his wads out of waxed banana boxes. SomethingI have been meaning to try, but never got around to it.

[wildman1]

Sir Charles , I also reduce the shot from 1 oz to 7/8 oz when I go to 63gs. If I go to 65gs I start to get a donut. WM

[paledun]

I tested a load at a shoot this weekend using 31 gr of Goex 2FF and one oz of shot in a WW AA with the lower cup of a one oz AA wad plus the shot portion of the wad(the compression legs removed).  This was a very tight fit for a star crimp but they held.  They worked very well on KD's but not nearly as much flash and smoke as 65 gr 2FF and one oz shot in a Magtech 20 ga brass shotshell.  That remains my favorite load for 20 with lots of performance and show.  Paledun