Jump to content

1 oz slug load: sending off for testing


Recommended Posts

My goals are a fairly easy to make slug load that is also easy on the shoulder. This rules out the 1400-1500 fps loads using a lot of slower burning powder like Blue or Longshot.

 

I have Universal powder and I don't use it in my favorite loads. So, I decided to try Universal behind my 1 oz Lee Key Drive slugs. The powder is faster burning so I expect a higher pressure sooner. It is my intention to get the slug moving yet generate enough pressure to cycle the action. I am seeking 1300 fps loads, we'll see the results when they come back from Tom Armbrust. Onto the load backstory...

 

I chose the Federal Target hull with a paper base wad due to the straight wall design. I figured it would be easy enough to get a lot of Universal powder and the wad-slug combo to sit in the hull without a sharp pressure rise. I am using the Federal S3 wad (pink). So some of you know the problem already. Yep, the slug doesn't sit on the bottom of the wad. The petals keep the slug off the wad by about 1/8." Lo and behold, I have 1/8" felt wads <--- convenient huh? I also read that the slugs are mo better accurate if a hard card is behind them. So I put a 20 gauge overshot card on top of the 1/8" felt.

 

Primers, which to use is so hard to choose so I'll try all three, of course! I'll be sending off three loads using each primer listed below. Testing each load costs $5, so that's $45 just getting started. I'm beginning to consider buying my own testing set up. smile.png

 

The details:

 

Hull: Federal Target with paper base wad.

Primers: Fed209A, Rem209P, Win209

Powder: Universal 25.4 grains. Bushing #171 on my Lee Load All II.

Wad: Federal 12S3

1-1/8" felt

1- 20 gauge over shot card

Slug: 1 oz Lee Key Drive (439 grains)

Crimp: 8 point, no rattling observed.

 

Results are forth coming....

 

 

Anybody, what do you have made that could be sent off soon for testing? Slug load or buckshot is fine. You ship it to Tom Armbrustand I'll pay for the cost for the testing. results are shared.

 

Tom Armbrust

 

1108 W. May Avenue

McHenry, IL

60050-8918

Edited by msrdiver
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

From what I remember, those loads had more universal powder and were closer to 1400fps. I'm looking for an easier to shoot ~1300fps slug that weighs almost 4X's as much as a 115 grain 1200fps 9mm slug. More mass and a small increase in speed from a much heavier gun.

Link to post
Share on other sites

for "homework"?

 

I go back and forth with slugs. something soft shooting is nice for the quick followup, but they have soooo much drop when you get out toward the end of range..,

 

And let's face it- I just like the absurd amount of power a full house 12 gauge slug represents. I can take the pain, and I have a gun that means I don't have to.

 

PS, I'll do some calling around tomorrow looking for a local source on that buckshot. The people who tried it liked the load, and it was pretty quick to make since I could just pour the shot in rather than taking the time to stack carefully.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...

Okay I have two more loads made to send off for testing. Both use WSF (28.45 grains) and LEE Key Drive 1oz Slug. Each has a 1/8" fiber card under the slug. Slugs were pushed in finger tight. Great crimping on both hulls. Three of each are being shipped off this week.

 

1. Remington hull with genuine Winchester pink WAA12 wad and R209P primer.

2. Federal Top Gun hull, with fiber base wad, genuine Federal 12S3 wad, and F209A primer.

 

The slug was much easier to set in the Federal hull/12S3 wad combo.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Cool. I've ordered the 12SO wads, so when they come in I will be building some with that wad and sending them in. That wad is about 1/8 shallower, so it will eliminate the need for a nitro card. I figure you can put 1 20 ga card underneath to eliminate key bite if desired, so that is how I will send them in.

 

I know you wanted lower velocity, but since I am developing the loads anyway...

Are you interested in data for longshot powder? I bought some of that, because there are a number of listed loads with higher velocities using the same components without gaining much pressure. 30 grains of longshot takes up roughly the same space as 20 grains of WSF. Most of the listed loads use the federal primer.

 

It seems to me that it would be nice to make a mid velocity load at ~1300-1400 FPS for moderate recoil with a fairly flat trajectory. There are a few recipes for 1/18 oz shot loads that look suitable for this. I would also like to use gold medal hulls to try and achieve a hotter load somewhere above 1600 FPS. Lyman doesn't have much data for powerful cartridges in 2 3/4" to work from. Therefore, I will send samples in for testing for anything that exceeds book data before I consider firing it.

 

Because of the trajectory thing, it also occurs to me that 7/8 oz of lead at 1400 FPS or so might be a pretty good compromise between recoil and drop. No 7/8 oz mold at the moment though.

Edited by GunFun
Link to post
Share on other sites

PS, when I tried the felt +OS card thing, it seemed to make for springyness, which would usually crimp alright. The problem was some of them would push the crimp back open a few days later. Have you noticed any of this? I also have concerns about felt getting stuck in the back of the slug and messing accuracy up. Hopefully the OS card will be adequate to prevent that.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I load the Lee 1oz slugs using data straight from Hodgdon... 2-3/4" Remington hulls, 36 grains HS-6, WAA12SL wad. They averaged 1305 fps out of my 19" S-12. They did a little better than that out of a 20" pump. No trouble cycling. I have the MD arms gas plug, will not function ANYTHING on settings 1 and 2. Cycles 3" magnums on setting 3, and these slug handloads on position 4. Some trap loads will function on setting 5. So, somewhere in between magnums and light loads.

Link to post
Share on other sites

i'm all for reinventing the wheel in the name of exploration or fun, but if there is load data for a different powder that makes the velocity you want with the components you want to use, a can of powder costs the same as having it tested.

 

I've changed my mind about trying to devise and test high power loads because I was reminded that Lee already gives us a few of those I can use.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Reinventing, exploring, curiosity, call it what you like. It is fun finding out the performance of new, at least to me, recipes.

 

Netpakrat:

 

Another bottle on the shelf? Umm, I now have only four or five1 lb bottles. Most containers I had/have are the 4lb jugs. Another can on shelf would be feeding the addiction beyond reason. I'd like to play around with Blue Dot but that has a reputation of not metering well through the plastic LEE Load All II bushing.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Any issues with HS-6 or Green Dot metering? Those are both useful for the pistol calibers I am fooling around with.

 

 

Also most of the 1250 FPS ish data for the 12SO wad uses Green Dot.

Edited by GunFun
Link to post
Share on other sites

I think I have the bushings that came in my Load-All in a box someplace... I have never used them. I have measured all of my shotgun charges with an old RCBS Uniflow powder measure, which seems to work fine. I have only loaded slugs and buckshot so far, so it hasn't really slowed me down at all. And if I were trying to feed a trap habit and needed to load a higher volume of shells, I certainly wouldn't be using a Load-All. And with all of the problems I have had with static here due to the dry air, I couldn't imagine using a powder system with plastic bushings... I had to wash all the hulls in dishwashing detergent to kill the static (to keep the powder from creeping out of the hulls), and use a metal funnel just to get it to pour. I've had to buy metal funnels for pretty much every caliber I load for this reason..

 

I wish I could have found HS-6 in 4 or 8 pound jugs... All I could find is the one pounders; the local shop I spoke with about the bigger jugs said that since they come in cases of 4, I would need to commit to buying 4 jugs for them to even order it.

Edited by Netpackrat
Link to post
Share on other sites

I think I have the bushings that came in my Load-All in a box someplace... I have never used them. I have measured all of my shotgun charges with an old RCBS Uniflow powder measure, which seems to work fine. I have only loaded slugs and buckshot so far, so it hasn't really slowed me down at all. And if I were trying to feed a trap habit and needed to load a higher volume of shells, I certainly wouldn't be using a Load-All. And with all of the problems I have had with static here due to the dry air, I couldn't imagine using a powder system with plastic bushings... I had to wash all the hulls in dishwashing detergent to kill the static (to keep the powder from creeping out of the hulls), and use a metal funnel just to get it to pour. I've had to buy metal funnels for pretty much every caliber I load for this reason..

 

I wish I could have found HS-6 in 4 or 8 pound jugs... All I could find is the one pounders; the local shop I spoke with about the bigger jugs said that since they come in cases of 4, I would need to commit to buying 4 jugs for them to even order it.

Wipe your stuff down with a dryer fabric softener sheet to kill the static. I do this in the winter when I need to . Works like a charm!

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the dryer sheet tip. that makes good sense.

 

I found that my LLA charge bar was beginning to drag and had smeared powder build up every time I changed bushings. I scraped that off carefully each time, but fine powders and flake types such as WST seemed to make a bigger mess. So I rubbed it down with some lee sizing wax I had for metallic cartridges and let it dry before putting it back. It runs so much more smoothly, and I think I cured the build up issues.

 

Side note, Green Dot meters well. My only dislike of it is that it has a sour smell when fired. I am used to enjoying the fireworks smell when I get back from the range and open my case, not a stink.

 

Will try to get some pictures of recovered 12S0 wads soon, along with the cutaways. The key drives all or most of the way through the floor of the wad without card.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Wipe your stuff down with a dryer fabric softener sheet to kill the static. I do this in the winter when I need to . Works like a charm!

 

That was the first thing I tried. It helped some... It made it just barely possible to put powder into the hulls without some of it migrating all the way out the top. It still migrated partway up the inside of the hulls though. Plus it was time consuming to wipe each hull. On the recommendation of a user at another forum, I dumped all of my hulls (after removing primers so they would drain properly) in the kitchen sink full of soapy water. Then let them dry thoroughly. This killed the static once and for all.

 

The first time I tried that, I rinsed the soap off in clean water before setting them up to dry. This still helped some (about as well as with just using dryer sheets), but didn't work nearly as well as using soapy water only, and letting it dry directly off the hulls.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...

OKAY!

 

Tuesday I'll ship the shells for testing. I got side tract with nailing and painting trim work and hanging curtains and shades while I had the money. I like the second recipe more because the shells were faster to assemble, I'll still ship both designs, in the name of curiosity, but will favor this recipe:

 

Okay I have two more loads made to send off for testing. Both use WSF (28.45 grains) and LEE Key Drive 1oz Slug. Each has a 1/8" fiber card under the slug. Slugs were pushed in finger tight. Great crimping on both hulls. Three of each are being shipped off this week.


1. Remington hull with genuine Winchester pink WAA12 wad and R209P primer.
2. Federal Top Gun hull, with fiber base wad, genuine Federal 12S3 wad, and F209A primer.

The slug was much easier to set in the Federal hull/12S3 wad.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Fyi, a couple of the loads I intended to test failed to cycle. when I went out shooting. I thought they were verified. So I held off on shipping until I can be sure the recipe I send in is based on a load that runs reliably. Sorry for the delay on data.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

Results received yesterday!

The 3 shell results details: Slug is hard lead measuring 0.686 diameter.

 

Three PRIMER substitutions listed first.

Hull: Federal Target with paper base wad.
Primers: Rem209P,
Powder: Universal 25.4 grains. Bushing #171 on my Lee Load All II.
Wad: Federal 12S3
1-1/8" felt
1- 20 gauge over shot card
Slug: 1 oz Lee Key Drive (439 grains)
Crimp: 8 point, no rattling observed.

 

FPS / PSI

1329/7000

1313/6700

1272/6100

 

 

Hull: Federal Target with paper base wad.
Primers: Win209,
Powder: Universal 25.4 grains. Bushing #171 on my Lee Load All II.
Wad: Federal 12S3
1-1/8" felt
1- 20 gauge over shot card
Slug: 1 oz Lee Key Drive (439 grains)
Crimp: 8 point, no rattling observed.

 

FPS / PSI

1346/7100

1363/7500

1356/7400

 

 

Hull: Federal Target with paper base wad.
Primers: Fed209A,
Powder: Universal 25.4 grains. Bushing #171 on my Lee Load All II.
Wad: Federal 12S3
1-1/8" felt
1- 20 gauge over shot card
Slug: 1 oz Lee Key Drive (439 grains)
Crimp: 8 point, no rattling observed.

 

FPS / PSI

1379/8100

1361/7600

1375/8100

 

Latest favorite...

Hull: 2 3/4" Remington Gun Club.
Primers: Rem209P,
Powder: WSF 28.45 grains.

Wad: WAA12SL plus 20ga. fiber card under slug
Slug: 1 oz Lee Key Drive (439 grains), 0.686 diameter
Crimp: 8 point, no rattling observed

 

FPS / PSI

1414/7300

1449/7900

1463/8300

 

Just because load

 

Hull:2 3/4" Fed TopGun with paper base
Primers: Fed-209A,
Powder: WSF 28.45 grains.

Wad: Fed12S3 plus 20ga. fiber card under slug
Slug: 1 oz Lee Key Drive (439 grains), 0.686 diameter
Crimp: 8 point, no rattling observed

 

FPS / PSI

1392/7200

1158/4300 Crimp had popped

1330/6100

Edited by msrdiver
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Chatbox

    Load More
    You don't have permission to chat.
×
×
  • Create New...