Armory Sponsor
Posted: 10/13/2009 12:18:13 PM EDT
|
Have I opined today how much more complicated shotshell loading is compared to metallic?
The local Sportsmans had some powder in on Saturday, and I picked up a can of Longshot, figuring that it ought to be perfect for Field loads in the 20. Coincidentally Cabela's had the near mythical Remington RXP20 wads in stock, and I have Rem hulls on hand. Check Lyman #5 and they don't have a load using Longshot and Win 209 primers (which is all I have) I check Hodgdon's data, and it shows 3 different loads with the primers and wads I have on hand. So I'm a bit confused since I thoughts loads for shotgun were supposed to be exact? The loads are: Lead Shot 20 7/8 oz. Longshot Win. 209 Rem. RXP20 18.2 9,100 PSI 1250 Lead Shot 20 7/8 oz. Longshot Win. 209 Rem. RXP20 19.4 10,300 PSI 1300 Lead Shot 20 7/8 oz. Longshot Win. 209 Rem. RXP20 20.6 11,500 PSI 1350 (I know arfcom is going to mangle the formating ) The smallest powder bushing for my loader is .095. This drops a charge of 19.6 +/- 0.2. Apparently Longshot is a pretty dense powder. Questions: 1) Is this variance normal? 2) Think this charge is "ok"? I'll be shooting these in an O/U, or possibly my SxS. Loaded with #7.5 shot for dove and quail. My current blooper loads with Green Dot are not killing the birds as cleanly as I'd like, and a bit more speed is desired since the quail are not holding close this year. (numbers are low so they are spooking). Recoil isn't really an issue since these are to be hunting loads not all daybat the skeet range loads. I loaded about 14 test shells last night. (my 8-year old daughter helped and said it was "fun") With the RXP20 wads I was getting the nicest looking crimps I've ever had, so I see why folk like them despite the cost. |
| You are fine your just right about midrange on the powder load,just make sure your hopper is full and keep a check on your charge weights and verified with scales. Charge weights can very a few tenths back and forth depending powder density and flow into the bushing and ever from lot to lot so double check when changing lots also. My MEC bushing for that powder throws 18.9 19.8 and 20.7 pretty much the same as your data. |
|
I don't recommend Longshot for standard field loads in the 20. I tried it and it left lots of fouling the the barrel, not clean burning at all. I think you need to go with heavier shot charges if you use longshot. It's pretty slow burning and IMO there are much more cost effective powders out there.
FWIW, all my 12 gauge stuff is loaded with Longshot....and it works fine with 1.125 ounce loads and heavier. It just didn't work well for me in the 20. |
|
You are right about the density of Longshot; that is why it works so well in 28 gauge HS hulls. I don't recall what I was loading before Longshot, but I went from a MEC 20 bushing to a 14 bushing for darn near the same weight of powder.
I always weigh 10 to 14 charges of a gunpowder with each bushing I think is in the right range, then pick one. I stopped adjusting the thrown weight for just a few tenths of a grain of powder. I would shoot the 19.6 grain load. +/- 0.2 grains is no big deal, in fact that's very good variation. |
|
Lead Shot 20 7/8 oz. Longshot Win. 209 Rem. RXP20 18.2 9,100 PSI 1250 Lead Shot 20 7/8 oz. Longshot Win. 209 Rem. RXP20 19.4 10,300 PSI 1300 Lead Shot 20 7/8 oz. Longshot Win. 209 Rem. RXP20 20.6 11,500 PSI 1350 based on the above, as long as you're dropping anywhere from 18.2 to 20.6 gr of Longshot you're good to go |
Armory Sponsor