Light and heavy loads?

[dasanii19]

I have a big bag of mixed up shotgun shells and I dont know how to tell which is a light load and which is a heavy load. My FN SLP has two different gas pistons, one for 1 1/2 and lighter and one for 1 1/2 and heavyier. Can someone explain to me how to figure out light and heavy loads just by looking at a shotgun shell?

Thanks

 

[Regolith]

Most factory shotgun shells have the shot size and load weight printed on the side of the shell, which should give you some idea of whether or not they are light or heavy loads. If there is nothing printed on the side of the shell, then I can't think of any way to tell aside from opening the shell and weighing the contents.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

One way to tell is high brass/low brass. If you're referring to 1 1/2 oz of shot, you should be fine shooting them. Obviously, you can differentiate a 2 3/4'' shell from a 3'' shell pretty easily. You could also lube it up, then shoot them with the gas system set to heavy, just to be sure.

Heck, if nothing else, you've found an excuse to buy a pump!

 

[dasanii19]

One way to tell is high brass/low brass. If you're referring to 1 1/2 oz of shot, you should be fine shooting them. Obviously, you can differentiate a 2 3/4'' shell from a 3'' shell pretty easily. You could also lube it up, then shoot them with the gas system set to heavy, just to be sure.

Heck, if nothing else, you've found an excuse to buy a pump!

True... Actually, thats exactly what my father said "One way to tell is high brass/low brass". I guess I'll just run all this mixed ammo in my 870.

 

[dasanii19]

So is the gas piston referring to shot or powder?

 

[Pete409]

Shot.