Great to know, I've got 2 of BPI manuals, I know some people were nervous of their data, but I've never had problems so far. Did you try any loads with lilgun or longshot?Been loading steel waterfowl loads, for some years. I use BPI data, too. As you likely already know, velocity is the key, for good terminal performance with steel shot. I like to average around 1400-1500 fps. Sometimes a bit hotter. HS-6 worked well. Likewise: SR 4756. My preferred powder. Too bad it's discontinued. Blue Dot, for early season. This, with 1-1 1/8 oz BB payloads. In 3" hulls. Federal mostly.
Good results using Steel powder. too. Bought a bunch of it a while ago, when it was still readily available. Works well. Remington 3" hulls. RSI-SAM wads. 1425-1450 fps pretty average.
Occasionally #4 steel in 2 3/4". 7/8-oz loads. Intended for short range wood duck, or teal. But normally stick to 3" for overall shooting. More versatile, when mallards or geese etc., are expected.
may I ask what load did you try with LilGun in 12 gauge?Kevin: This morning I updated my original post a bit. Started looking up my data in greater detail and found some more info that you may find of interest. Never had any problems with BPI data, or loads. Very reliable, in my view. Some of the Blue Dot loads in particular, were good performers for early season shooting. Mostly preferred SR4756, for overall use.
I also used some data for 3" turkey loads, too. Mostly for experimental use. Worked well. Again, with SR4756. Have since switched back to my original, 2 3/4-oz loads for turkey. 1 1/8-oz, normally, using Hodgdon Universal powder. Seeing no need for the 3" hull, in most scenarios.
I tried Alliant Steel powder, mostly out of curiosity. Turned out to be a good choice. Very good performance, using RS data.
Have not tried lilgun. Seems better suited for small gauge loading...ie 410. Have used Longshot. For my use...seemed to offer best performance in 12 gauge, 2 3/4" lead shot loads. 1 1/8-oz loads seemed borderline. Performed much better with 1 1/4-oz- 1 5/8-oz. Have not loaded any with steel shot.
Al
may I ask what load did you try with LilGun in 12 gauge?
Sorry my mistake, what loads have you tried with long shot?may I ask what load did you try with LilGun in 12 gauge?
yes very useful Alex much appreciated, I was thinking of loading some bismuth as well for shooting geese, may I ask what shot size of bismuth you find effective, i'm thinking #BB or #2 or even #4?, good steel loads cost about 45-50 bucks here anyways and not as effective as bismuth would be.Kevin: As previously noted, I did no steel shot load testing, with Longshot. Though I did some fairly extensive testing with Longshot and lead shot payloads. From 1 1/8-oz, up to 1 3/8-oz. 1 5/8-oz too, but saw no significant advantage over the 1 3/8-oz payload, and gave up on them early on.
At the end, I could not find a suitable niche where the lead shot loads offered any performance advantage over some of the loads I was already using. Though the 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 loads did perform well on wild turkey.
My primary use for Longshot, was in non-toxic Bismuth loads. For ducks and more often, geese. This, in 2 3/4' Federal, Remington and Winchester hulls. Primarily Federal, as they seemed best balanced. Though all of the hulls/loads worked well.
I was easily able to match or beat, the classic "standard" duck load of 1 1/4-oz shot @1330 fps...often by a good margin. Since Bismuth shot is a bit less dense than lead, I felt this velocity increase went a good way in duplicating the performance of the original lead shot load. As it turned out, my hunch proved out.
Again... 1 1/4-oz shot payloads tended to perform very well. They became my go-to loads for Canadas. I really liked them when hunting with a vintage double barrel of mine...which would not tolerate steel shot.
So, if you can get your hands on some Longshot, it can prove to be a good performer. So long as you work within its limitations.
Note: Bismuth shot load data is a lot more available now, than it was even a few years ago. The current Hodgdon Data Reloading Center offers a wide range of loads, for this non-toxic shot alternative.
Hope this info is useful:
Al
As soon as I hit steel under the shotgun section thete is only one powder used and it's not longshot, also the only 2 charge weights shot wise are 1 ounce and 7/8 ounce.prairie lover: The current online: Hodgdon Reloading Data Center has Longshot load data capable of producing 1400 fps mv. Should find what you need, there.
Al
Thanks so much Alex, I'll have to try some Bismuth, it's not as expensive as the other alternatives either, bismuth would be feel like shooting lead back in the good old days, think Bismuth runs about 170 bucks for 7 pounds I think.Kevin: Have used both #1 and #2 Bismuth, for geese. Both worked very well. Have no preference, between the two. Both hit hard. This, for pass shooting, as well as over decoy sets. For geese overall: #2 would be the most versatile, in my view. Have not tried BB...as the results I was already getting were good. May try some in future, though. To satisfy my curiosity, if nothing else.
I have also used #4, #5 and #6...but, this was exclusively on ducks. For in close, decoyed open water lake duck, ie: bluebill, bufflehead, etc., I found that either #5 or #6 were the ticket. Likewise: teal and wood duck. For pond shooting mallard: #4 or #5. With #4 preferred. Again, most versatile.
I also took a nice ,26-lb Eastern wild turkey with Bismuth. Using #4. My first one, with Bismuth. That was some years back. Have taken a few more since then. But, that one I remember best.
As with steel, the key to Bismuth is to get that velocity up a bit. Doesn't have to be a lot. Since Bismuth is only about 8%-10% less dense than lead. As long as you can duplicate lead shot performance, that is usually enough.
Al
