Shotshell reloading questions

[Ball00]

I'am just about ready to start reloading my first batch of shells. I have a couple questions. Winchester hulls have 2 colors (red and grey) in there HS plastic hull. They are 2 3/4 " case length. They both have plastic basewads. Are they the same? To me they are. I have bean reading my manuals and found some recipes to use for the hulls I have.(Federal Gold Medal and Win HS) My question is velocity or pattern density the goal to making a good trap load?

Thanks , the rookie from Minny, Ball00

 

[Rembrandt]

Yes, Red and Silver AA hulls are the same....

I would think pattern density is more important.....velocity can be compensated for by the shooter. However those shooting 27 yard handicaps might argue velocity is more important.

 

[rg1]

The new Winchester hull is a two piece hull. The older AA hulls did come in red and silver colors and were one piece compression molded. If you look inside the hull the old one did not have a different material as a basewad. It was solid plastic. The older one piece Win hulls and the new 2 piece hulls are supposed to take the same load data. I still have a case of the Win Super Handicap Heavy Target Load silver hulls. Today there are so many different shotgun powders but in years past Green Dot powder was reported to offer tight patterns. The quality of the shot also tightens patterns. At least the hard high antimony shot is supposed to pattern tighter than chilled shot. I'm not a target shooter but what I've read is the trend today is soft shooting loads with less kick. If you want more info the site shotgunworld.com has a bunch of shotgun people.

 

[33rowdy]

The slower the powder the tighter the group in "most cases". ABCs of reloading has a good chapter on that.

 

[Ball00]

Is it easier to pattern using choke tubes or with your powder choice?

 

[33rowdy]

Powder, choke, and barrel length are the main factors of your pattern (using the same shot size). But the faster the powder the more "skatter" of your shot. Slow your powder down the shot will stay tighter out of the barrel.

I'd suggest that you use what you have on hand and play with the choke 1st. You might find that a modified choke will be tighter than a full or extra full. Sorry I can't recite the ABCs. But I do remember that.

 

[goose2]

Red dot or Promo powder is all I use for my shotshell reloading.

 

[Gungle George]

Red Dot and Clay Dot work really well. Around 18 to 19 grains will get you to 1250 fps, a good trap load.

Cheers,

Gungle George

 

[oneounceload]

7/8 to 1 oz of shot going 1200 fps will break any target in any clay game and do so without tearing your shoulder up. Faster shells have a tendency to deform the shot more upon ignition due to setback. Lengthened forcing cones and overboring will also help in reducing recoil. Pattern your gun with your loads to see where it shoots.

Barrel length has nothing to do with patterning, choke does. DON'T just go by what the choke says on it. Pattern the gun and determine the choke from the density. There are mfg. tolerances in both barrels and chokes that can mean a difference of one choke constriction either way.

For 12, I like a light load of Clays (17.3), and a 1 oz load that runs around 1180 fps. The difference in pellet dispersion at 35 yards from a 1300 fps load is just a few inches.

Good luck.