Bushings falling outside of data range

[deafsg1]

I finally got down to the bushing that underthrows the charge range I need to load a specific shell. The problem is, I do not have a bushing that throws a charge that is somewhere within the range, nor is there one available that will do so. For instance, on the Lee Load-All II bushing system;

bushing 163 ~ 24.65 grains
bushing 155 ~ 23.25 grains

The range the load data for the specific components from Hodgdon's web site is from 24 grains to 24.6 grains. I've had bushing 163 make several throws weighing above 24.6, which makes me uncomfortable. The other bushing at 0.75 to well over a grain undercharged doesn't sit well with me.

How is a shotshell reloader supposed to handle this situation? I notice that pretty much ALL shotshell reloaders don't come with bushings that provide anywhere near the granularity by design that you get with the powder systems for rifle reloading systems. Gaps between bushings can be about .5 to .8 grains apart. Is a shotshell reloader supposed to use an off-press powder measure to get the granularity needed? Is it necessary? I don't know if it's okay to use the bushing that is outside the bottom range of a load recipe.

Thanks!

 

[WNTFW]

I went with an adjustable charge bar in the first place on my shot shell reloader. That was over twenty years ago. I still remember the guy advising it was going to alleviate fustration.

The only thing I can think of is use the larger bushing & reduce its volume by adding something to the inside. You would have to do some trial & error & checking to make sure it worked consistently and accurately. Recheck every so many rounds as you go.

 

[scout26]

What's the pressure and FPS listed for those loads ?? What components are you using. Oh heck, can you give us the recipe you're using ??

Depending on where bushing 163 is on the pressure scale (11,500 being max pressure), being .05 grains over isn't going to hurt. Even being .3 grains over on occasion is probably not going to hurt.

Being .75 to more then a grain under might result in a poorer powder burn due to insuffcient pressure. Then again it might not. Depends on where that load is on the pressure scale (anythiing below ~9,000fps gets iffy as far as generating enough pressure for a clean burn depending on the powder).

Let's see what recipe(s) you're using and we can go from there.

 

[deafsg1]

Got it! This is from Hodgon's data website:

Hull - 2-3/4 12 ga Winchester compression-formed type AA
Powder - Hodgdon Universal, from 24 grains to 24.6 grains
Shot - 9 each of #00 buckshot
Primer - Winchester W209
Wad - Winchester WAA12F114

24 grains gives you 9200 PSI at 1250 fps, and 24.6 grains gives you 9900 PSI at 1300 fps.

Universal charge bar - there isn't one for the Load-All II. One would have to be made. I would have to be willing to add a screw hole in the charge bar itself, such that you can screw in a flat-bottomed screw of sufficient size to gradually reduce the internal volume. It would be installed so that, without taking the name plate off, you can charge the pan with powder, weigh it, and then adjust the screw WHILE the charge bar is still over to the right (so the name plate doesn't block it), then do it again until you get it where you want it.

Of course, the other thing is to sacrifice the larger bushing by JB welding on the inside until I get it down to within the range of the recipe.

 

[SASS#23149]

Have you thrown at least ten charges to see what the 'average' throw is? most bushings and powder measures are not all that exact.Also make sure the hoppers are full,or nearly so,when testing.
I know it's a pain in the butt on a LoadAll,but that is what it takes,imho.

 

[deafsg1]

Okay, I did cycle out about 15 throws in the beginning of each bushing test and then jot down 10 throws to get an average, which is what I meant. When I changed bushings, I did it again.

 

[scout26]

Okay, Using the 163 bushing is not going to push you over the max pressure of 11,500 psi, even if an occasional drop is a couple of tenth's of a grain over 24.6.

With the 155 bushing your starting to get below the 9,000 psi needed for a clean, complete burn.

I'd go with the 163 bushing.

Unless you want to by a second set of bushings, I'd shy away from modifying them. You have to use them for different powders so the modifications you make will impact the drops when you go to use them for other powders.

I'm glad to see you coming here and asking questions. Hopefully, I and the others who have responded have helped and provided relief for your concerns. It's also nice to see that you take the hobby seriously and responsibly, Welcome to a wonderful new addiction......errrrr hobby.

(You know you got it bad when you find yourself facedown and buttup in trash dumpster stretching to reach an STS or AA hull off a rotted banana peel.)

 

[deafsg1]

"It's also nice to see that you take the hobby seriously and responsibly, Welcome to a wonderful new addiction......errrrr hobby."

Thanks! Well, you have to take it seriously... A friend of Dad's son used Dad's reloader and kaboomed his Remington 100 shotgun, destroying the chamber and peeling forward the rear end of the barrel. It turns out that the kid changed out bushings but put the charge bar in backwards and didn't realize what the front screw hole was for.

"Unless you want to by a second set of bushings, I'd shy away from modifying them."

I was thinking about doing that, even a second charge bar so that I can go back to default bushings when the recipe calls for it.

"Okay, Using the 163 bushing is not going to push you over the max pressure of 11,500 psi, even if an occasional drop is a couple of tenth's of a grain over 24.6."

How did you come up with this pressure data? The most I've seen out of that bushing 163 is 24.75.

Thanks!

 

[scout26]

How did you come up with this pressure data? The most I've seen out of that bushing 163 is 24.75.

24 grains gives you 9200 PSI at 1250 fps, and 24.6 grains gives you 9900 PSI at 1300 fps.

I took a SWAG. There is no formula or equation to get a pressure reading other then with a test gun. However, I doubt that even .3 grains will push the pressure from 9,900 psi to over 11,500 psi.

I'd feel safe then using the 163 bushing. Being off a couple tenths of a grain on shotgun powder drops is typical. I just try to stay away from the high end of the pressure scale, that way if any drop is a little over, I'm not pushing the envelope.

It turns out that the kid changed out bushings but put the charge bar in backwards and didn't realize what the front screw hole was for.

YIKES !!!!