Stoeger coachgun 12ga starter loads ?

[Mad Mucus]

G'day pards,

Just picked up my new Stoeger coachgun last Saturday. I've spent lotsa time reading here on 12ga BP loading but I'm having a little trouble deciding on starter loads to try/pattern initially.

So far I have loaded 10 brass cases with Fed LP primers, 65gn ffg, Circlefly 11ga 1/8 nitro card, 11ga 1/2" fibre wad, 11/8oz 7.5 shot and 10ga over shot card..... 6 with double thickness aluminium foil cup & 4 without.

Any other load suggestions, using the above components, for this gun to drop KDs at 8-10 yards?

Thanks,

MM

[Shotgun Franklin]

Remember that KDs are supposed to be set for regular 20 ga.

[Montana Slim]

Remember that KDs are supposed to be set for regular 20 ga.

That type of calibration, IMO, isn't useful unless a minimum barrel length, choke, shot size/weight & velocity were specified.
IMO, would be easier & more uniform to calibrate shotgun KDs for a given bullet weight & velocity fired from a revolver or rifle.

As far as MM's starting shotgun load....sounds reasonable to me, but much will depend on how well the barrels/choke pattern that load & how hard the targets are "set".

regards,
Slim

[Shotgun Franklin]

That's just not possible in a match where you might have dozens of Shooters, all with different individual guns, shooing the same target. There's supposed to be a difference in shotgun KD Targets and Cartridge Gun KD Targets.

[Montana Slim]

Maybe my point is missed.....It's all hypothetical discussion.

All I've seen in the SASS booklet is the gauge restriction...no less than 20 ga.....no more than 10 ga. Therefore, I assume this is where the comment that targets should be calibrated for a standard 20 ga load is derived. - BTW, We know buckaroos using .410s don't have to make a KD fall.

When I read the SASS booklet, I didn't see a suggestion that targets be set to fall with the minimum listed firearm (20 ga).
So, the targets may be set at the discrection of the match director...but, they know if they're set too hard folks will complain.

In any case, attempting to calibrate a KD to a standard 20 gauge load is not possible due to the wide variety of loads, choke, etc that could be employed. For fun, I assume everyone here has shot a 3" 20 ga magnum in a single-shot or youth shotgun...right 

BTW, I see no shot payload (ounces), nor velocity limit, other than no high velocity or magnum loads allowed.
A magnum shotshell is generally a higher payload at high velocity......the trick is no definition to velocity. If I told someone my 12 ga BP load had 1 1/2 oz of shot, some might consider this a magnum load since that amount of shot would typically be found in a commercial magnum loading.

IMO, shotshell limits should strictly be shot size & velocity...current SASS definitions are vague in this regard.

Best,
Slim

[Shotgun Franklin]

shotshell limits should strictly be shot size & velocity

And when most of the shotshell reloaders show up with their homemade stuff how are you gong to measure either at a match?

[Montana Slim]

And when most of the shotshell reloaders show up with their homemade stuff how are you gong to measure either at a match?

I give up......how would you measure velocity of a rifle or revolver at a match to see if it exceeds established limits??

Pretty much comes down to guidelines established for our other firearms...those without chronographs of their own should use recommended loads from reloading manuals, having published estimates for velocity.

Slim

[Mad Mucus]

Thanks Slim for your reply and vote of confidence.

Raining this weekend here so won't be able to take it out for a run. Good Friday is my next chance.....

Have a pleasant Easter.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

G'day pards,

Just picked up my new Stoeger coachgun last Saturday. I've spent lotsa time reading here on 12ga BP loading but I'm having a little trouble deciding on starter loads to try/pattern initially.

So far I have loaded 10 brass cases with Fed LP primers, 65gn ffg, Circlefly 11ga 1/8 nitro card, 11ga 1/2" fibre wad, 11/8oz 7.5 shot and 10ga over shot card..... 6 with double thickness aluminium foil cup & 4 without.

Any other load suggestions, using the above components, for this gun to drop KDs at 8-10 yards?

Thanks,

MM

That sounds like you are on the right track.  Some rules of thumb (International sliding scale!)
1. less powder = tighter pattern   & vice versa

2. heavier shot = tighter pattern   & vice versa

3. true cylinder bores give erratic patterns (sometimes) but even 1 to 3 'thou choke gives the same wider pattern with fewer flyers.

4. For BP,or any powder for that matter, the traditional starting point is a SQUARE LOAD. A true square load is when the shot column is the same height as diameter. This has been found to give generally even, effective patterns. For 12 gauge this is about 1 1/16 oz., give or take a bit.  Your 1 1/8 oz is close enough but even 7/8 oz properly applied does flatten knockdowns with authority.  

5. The next rule of thumb is that you use the SAME VOLUME of blackpowder as shot.  Most often FFg is most suitable. Using more than this is usually a waste of powder and scattered patterns. This is commonly but incorrectly called a square load, but lets not quibble. You can lessen the powder by up to about 30% to tighten choke and still retain useful power/velocity. As you know the dram-equivalent for a standard 12 ga. load is 2 3/4 dram equiv.  A dram is 27.34 grains, so 2 3/4 drams comes to 75.2 grains.  if you lower this figure by 30%, you get about 52 grains, which would be a minimum load.  Practically speaking, anything from 55 gr. to 80 gr. would make a reasonable load with a reasonable shot load of 1 oz to 1 1/4 oz.

I have rambled on, but I use 60 grains  of FFg under 7/8 oz or 1 oz of #8s and have never failed to down a properly hit knockdown with a full length field choked barrel.  Your load is within the rules of thumb I have blathered on about.  There is a pretty wide comfort zone with BP, so figure out what works for you.