10 gauge cowboy loads?

[Bibbyman]

I've made a search and read posts on 11 pages researching light 10 gauge BP loads.  I didn't see the answer to my question.

How light a load can one develop for the 10 guage 2-7/8" hull?  Without better input, I'm thinking of shooting for a 1 oz load of shot and 7/8 (by volume) of Grafs FF black.  I've got 1/2" thick fiber wads and over shot cards.

It's unclear what hulls I'll start with.  I have some coming from three sources.  One guy says he has some brass cases but couldn't tell me anything about them.   I'm to meet him later this week.  The other two will be 3-1/2" plastic of unknown brand.  Obviously,  I'll cut these down.

So does anyone have a wimp recipe for 10 gauge lite they care to share?  Thanks in advance.

[Dick Dastardly]

I'd do it like this:

1.  Pick a hull and trim it to the length you want plus the crimp.
2.  Choose the shot weight you want to shoot, measure the volume of that.
3.  Weigh that same volume of powder and subtract 10%.  That's your powder charge.
4.  Prime the hull and pour your powder in.
5.  Seat a 1/8" over powder card firmly on the powder.
6.  Pour in your volume of shot and measure the length remaining above the shot to the case mouth.  Subtract 1/4" for crimp.
7.  Your cushion wad will be that length from the crimp to the shot.
8.  pour out the shot and seat that length of cushion wad and pour the shot back in.
9.  Put an over shot card over the shot and spin down a nice roll crimp.

There, you've made your first shell.  The next ones will be simple repedition.  Go shoot some paper and see how they pattern.  Then, get an old bed sheet and spray paint a SASS size target on it.  Hang it up and step back to the distance used by your club for most shotgun stage targets.  Mount, point and shoot the pattern.  Don't aim, just point and shoot.  Do this over and over again till a ragged hole shows up.  This is where your shotgun is hitting.  Allow for the difference between your actual hits and the target center when you point and shoot.  Soon enough you will be a skilled shotgunner.  Never tell this secret of how you can just point and shoot your scattergun and hit so well. 

DD-MDA

[Bibbyman]

Thanks for the info. 

So far, no hulls.  Last night at the gun club meeting I picked up two more guys that say they know someone that they think they can get 3-1/2" hulls from.

I called a guy I talked to on Saturday that said he had 10 gauge brass hulls.  He has 7.  He's just up the road but was going to be busy until about 1:00.  He'd call when he got back.   He just called (5:30).  Things just drug out longer than he expected.   Tomorrow.   He'll be home all day tomorrow.     

Grafs have 10 gauge hulls in stock but they are not free and there wouldn't be any challenge to just hand over the debit card and walk out with them.

[Bibbyman]

A  Winchester collector up the road said he had some 10 gauge brass hulls and said probably a couple of bucks each.  When I picked them up this morning he had 7 and wanted $3.00 each.  I paid it.  They are marked WRA.  The primers are live and rounded like they are old.  I don't think they've been fired.

[Dick Dastardly]

A great find.  Now, don't let the RO with the timer step on them.  They'll be hot when you extract them.

DD-MDA

[Pony Racer]

My lighter 10 gauge load is 80 grains (I use 2 lee dippers for this) of 2f (scheutzen or Goex work fine for me) nitro card, 10 gauge cushion wad same then same amount of shot (using same 2 lee dippers) then an overshot card.

I use glue gun glue to keep the overshot card in place.

I have used lots of other glues - however glue gun glue stays rubbery in the hot and or cold temps of southern VA and has never failed me. In my experience, other glues at times seemed to have issue especially in the cold and would crack and fail.

I have some nice RMC 2-5/8 10 gauge shells and then I also load the fed plastic 10 gauge shells too.

PR

[Noz]

The only justifiable reason to shoot a 10 ga is to load them as heavy as possible.  I'm thinking an ounce and a half with 110 grs of black would be about right.

[Bibbyman]

The only justifiable reason to shoot a 10 ga is to load them as heavy as possible.  I'm thinking an ounce and a half with 110 grs of black would be about right.

I hear ya.  But I have no justification to shoot heavy loads in this old gun.  I just figure on shooting it for nostalgia reasons.  Cowboy action shotgun knockdowns can be taken down with half the lead and powder. 

I've talked to the village gunsmith that is very knowledgeable about these old guns.  We've worked up a plan to make sleeves for the chambers to shoot 12 gauge.  He can make them so they are removable so it can be converted back to 10 gauge.  A new 12 gauge extractor could be  could be made to lift the hulls.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The only justifiable reason to shoot a 10 ga is to load them as heavy as possible.  I'm thinking an ounce and a half with 110 grs of black would be about right.

In black powder days a 10 gauge was used the same way as a 12gauge field gun today. Generally 1 1/4 oz or less and at the usual BP velocities.

[Dick Dastardly]

Horrah Sir Chuck,

The "mighty 10" was used much as a heavy 12 is today.  The big bore gave good tight shot patterns without shoulder killing recoil.  It's only recently that the big 10 has been "magnamotized" to death in the persuit of large and hard to kill foul.  In a bar fight a short 10ga commands respect. . .

DD-MDA

[Bibbyman]

I picked up the book "The Mighty Ten Gauge" yesterday.   Lots of good info but hardly any instructions on black powder loads.

[Pony Racer]

Noz, I do like the shock of my heavier loads but many a cowboy at our local matches are awed by the shock and awe of the 80 grains as well.

Since I am shooting an ole 1883 model rabbit ear Remington 10 gauge - that had to be brought back to life - I am happy with shooting 80 grain loads most of the time.

PR

[Bibbyman]

I figure the size and weight alone of the old 10 gauge will be shock enough.   I can see a heavy load knocking down a shotgun target and then rolling it like a tomato can.

[Noz]

Just giving the big boy shooters a hard time.

But you must admit there is a lot of satisfaction hearing the OOOOOOOOOs from the spectators when you turn loose 110-120 grs of black.

[rickk]

BPI carries everything you need to load it, be if brass or plastic hulls.

If you just wanna knock down targets, then 12 gauge BP loading will work for you. 

1F may be a preferred choice of black powder grain size. 

[Bibbyman]

Grafs is just up the road and stock a lot of BPI products.  I have 10 gauge over shot cards and 1/2" cushions.   I wasn't expecting to find brass cases.  I'm not sure if the 10 gauge wads will work in brass hulls.  I think the brass cases need 9 gauge.  I'm still waiting to hear from the 4-5 people that say they can scrounge up 10 gauge plastic hulls for me.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

All reloaders of BP shotshells should read this;

http://www.tbullock.com/bpsg.html

[Pony Racer]

Noz, it is definitely fun!

[Bibbyman]

Question for you guys that shoot the old 10.   Is there a magic tree that grows once fired 10 gauge hulls? 

So far my 4-5 contacts that say they can scrounge some for me have not produced a single hull or gotten back with me.

I've searched the Internet and found enough 12 gauge to fill a coal train but no 10 gauge.  I can buy new hulls but it kind of goes against my mode of operation and they are expensive. 

[Pony Racer]

Federal 10 gauge plastic hulls are available in a lot of places.

Google "federal 10 gauge hulls".