.12 Blackpowder and filler

[FuriousFritz]

Howdy,

i´m trying to get my .12 shotshells work with less powder.
Normally i put in 80grs FFG, a 1/2" fiber wad, shortened cup with 32gr lead, a thin over shot card and a 8-star crimp.
I use the Lee Load All 2.

Now i want to reduce the amount of powder, to 55 grs and 28gr lead and get rid of the shot cup.
Anyone has experience with less powder and some fillers like corn, walnut cob, Cous Cous, wheat etc.

[wildman1]

If you keep the shot cup it will be much easier for your cleaning of the shotgun. You can use different size cups to get different loads. Just cut the base at whatever length you need. Instead of a fiber wad I use an overpowder card from Circle Fly in PA. It leaves more room for powder or shot or length of shot cup and also makes it easier to get a little compression on the powder. wM1

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Welcome to cascity Fritz;  If blackpowder is your thing, look through THE DARKSIDER'S DEN, and the child board THE DARK ARTS.

There is a thread on this topic that you may want to go through:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,9733.0.html

Yes reducing powder to the level of 55-60 grains of FFg is where I load the 12 ga. and even the 16.

[Scattered Thumbs]

Howdy,

i´m trying to get my .12 shotshells work with less powder.
Normally i put in 80grs FFG, a 1/2" fiber wad, shortened cup with 32gr lead, a thin over shot card and a 8-star crimp.
I use the Lee Load All 2.

Now i want to reduce the amount of powder, to 55 grs and 28gr lead and get rid of the shot cup.
Anyone has experience with less powder and some fillers like corn, walnut cob, Cous Cous, wheat etc.

Don't you mean 12 gauge?

I have no knowledge of 3mm shotshells. 

[August]

I always thought the purpose of a shot cup WAS to fill space...

[FuriousFritz]

Sorry, i mean 12 gauge shotshells filled with 2,4mm leadshots. 

Here you can see a test, 55 grs blackpowder, a fiber wad, filler with wheat semolina and 28gr lead.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I always thought the purpose of a shot cup WAS to fill space...

Filling space is a consequential effect. The purpose for which the plastic wad was developed was to integrate the two primary functions;

1.  Provide an efficient gas seal over the powder to improve velocity, and;
2.  A shot sleave to protect the shot as it travels down the barrel, resulting in better patterns.

The intergration also resulted in much faster loading, or re-loading.

P.S: Wads are made in different heights to fill the remaing space between different amounts of shot and powder in shells with different amounts of space.

[Montana Slim]

How about 45 grains of powder (more/less) plus a WAA-12 wad with around 7/8 (more/less) oz shot.
Something to this effect seems to work for most folks.

Slim

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Montana Slim; When I load that small amount of powder, I might try FFFg. Over about 55gr I would use FFg. All in GOEX, as that is all I can get here locally.

[FuriousFritz]

How about 45 grains of powder (more/less) plus a WAA-12 wad with around 7/8 (more/less) oz shot.
Something to this effect seems to work for most folks.

Slim

Hey Slim, i´ll try that.
I have only Claybuster WAA-12L.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Hey Slim, i´ll try that.
I have only Claybuster WAA-12L.

There is a way to shorten a wad. Cut the legs half way between the gas seal and the shot cup. Then turn one part 90 degrees and push the two parts together, interweaving the legs of the wad.

[FuriousFritz]

Don´t you use a fiber wad for compressing the BP?

[wildman1]

If you keep the shot cup it will be much easier for your cleaning of the shotgun. You can use different size cups to get different loads. Just cut the base at whatever length you need. Instead of a fiber wad I use an overpowder card from Circle Fly in PA. It leaves more room for powder or shot or length of shot cup and also makes it easier to get a little compression on the powder. wM1

Overpowder CARD 1/8" thick hard cardboard. wM1

[rickk]

Cut the hulls down to a shorter length and use a roll crimp.

I cut the old star crimp off all my hulls, which means that I can use crappy hulls that no one else would possibly want.   I get 50 grains of powder, with a 1/2 " fiber wad and 1 ounce of shot fitting well with no filler.

[Bunk Stagnerg]

Rikk
that is my system using range pick up shells. My trimmer gives me the same case volume so 4c/c FFg. over powder wad and a 1/2" felt wad with 4c/c of shot 71/2 or smaller, over shot wad and a roll crimp.
i worked out the powder/shot/wads column to make a nice roll crimp. Never has it failed to knock down what I was shooting at and runs through my 1887 lever shot gun slick as can be.

Fritz I spent 2 1/2 wonderful years in Germany first in Goeppingen then in Heidelburg where I lost my heart.
And that good German beer did not do my liver much good either.

Yr' Obt' Svt'
Bunk

[FuriousFritz]

A new test.

2.2cc BP
1/2" fiber wad for compression
a WAA-12L (cut at the legs, turned 90° und put back together)
7/8 lead shot

[Four Eyes Henry]

Looking sharp.....

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Buck
What year was you at Goeppingen and what unit . I was with D co 4/16 from 84 to 86 .

[Bunk Stagnerg]

Operation Gyroscope Fort Hood to Goeppingen 4th AD 504 Aviation Co . Then to Heidelberg to Army Flight Operations Facility
In Germany for 2 1/2 years then back to the land of round door knobs..
Bunk

[FuriousFritz]

So, the first test with 2.2cc powder worked great.
Less recoil, enough smoke.
Will try these shells on a match next sunday.