entropy
Member
Drop a Cheerio into the wad after inserting it, and don't bring the drop tube all the way down when dropping the shot. (It would crunch the cheerio otherwise.) Crimp as normal.
12 gauge help..
- Thread starter koni
- Start date
Drop a Cheerio into the wad after inserting it, and don't bring the drop tube all the way down when dropping the shot. (It would crunch the cheerio otherwise.) Crimp as normal.
Seedy Character
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You may need a small filler to get a good tight crimp. I like to break Styrofoam peanuts into thirds. Can go down to 3/4 oz and makes a great shooting load.
NMexJim
Member
Your wads are too large for 7/8 oz. It is a tapered base wad for Winchester or Remington, however, it's for 1 oz to 1 5/8 oz. I don't think you'll ever get a good enough crimp to work well. Personally, I would not use any fillers. I'd recommend you get CB0178-12 which works in most hulls. I've used a truckload of these.
The next problem is the powder. Red Dot is usually used for longer-range, heavier loads, and therefore recipes for 3/4 could be hard to find. Plus I've never found Red Dot to be a "gentle powder". Better something like Clays or maybe Titewad which are easier on the shoulder.
I think most of us who shoot a lot of clay targets find a combo of hull, wad and powder that matches what we shoot (for instance I rarely exceeded 1 oz and use 3/4 for skeet and 7/8 for Sporting Clays. Some stick w/ 1 oz. Most of us stay down in fps from 1150 to 1250) It takes some time, but find what you like and stick w/ those loads.
The next problem is the powder. Red Dot is usually used for longer-range, heavier loads, and therefore recipes for 3/4 could be hard to find. Plus I've never found Red Dot to be a "gentle powder". Better something like Clays or maybe Titewad which are easier on the shoulder.
I think most of us who shoot a lot of clay targets find a combo of hull, wad and powder that matches what we shoot (for instance I rarely exceeded 1 oz and use 3/4 for skeet and 7/8 for Sporting Clays. Some stick w/ 1 oz. Most of us stay down in fps from 1150 to 1250) It takes some time, but find what you like and stick w/ those loads.
You got the right idea and I am going to assume that like most people your shotgun supplies are rather limited. 1) Remington STS or Gun Clubs shells will give you the softest shooting hull to use. 2) Red dot will work, but I don't recommend dropping the charge any lower 16.5 grains, 3) The WAA12L clone is ok, but I would recommend some better ones that will reduce recoil significantly. Obviously, a Remington clone wad is much better. Even better would be a Clay Buster Windjammer OR Also look for Down Range wads. They have Windjammers and Remington clones among others. My source is Recob Target Shop in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. They ship UPS and USPS.
Now back in the 1960's there was a Lyman recipe for loading a 12 gauge shot shell with a MAXIMUM OF 15 grains of Bullseye for 16 yard trap. It was 1200fps and had the recoil of a BB gun breaking birds. I'm checking with an old geezer relative that may have the exact recipe and will relay it back to you, IF I CAN FIND IT. That was a long time ago. We didn't use it much, for at the time, we could buy any shotgun powder for a few dollars a pound and Bullseye was selling for about $7for 8 ounces.
Sorry, but none of my contacts remembers that recipe. You have to remember Alcan felt and cork wads were still in use at that time.
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Seedy Character
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Green Dot was my go to, back when I shot a lot of skeet and trap.
Diamondback Dave
Member
Thanks to all who replied here. Great grist for the mill. Yes, shotgun supplies are severely limited here but local Sportsmans Warehouse suddenly had a bunch of Claybuster wads. I'll keep looking for the right stuff instead of trying to improvise--although the Cheerio / stereo ideas have some DIY appeal. Happy trails, parts!
Diamondback Dave
Member
PARDS, not parts
If you are going to buffer your load, I was putting the buffering agent on top of the shot instead of on the bottom. Cream of Wheat is another buffer used by muzzle loader people. I would occasionally put a drop of candle wax in the middle of the closed crimp and press it with my thumb to help keep the shells from opening up.
