20g Reload ?

[RickP]

My first reloads were 7/8 oz using WAA20 in 2 3/4" Federal Top Gun hulls. I adjusted the seating rod on my MEC 600jr so the wad was just touching the top of the powder. The hulls crimped neatly over the shot charge (pictured right below).

I am attempting to load same hulls with SP20S wads and 1 oz loads. Again I adjusted the seating rod to place the wad as close to the top of the powder as I could. The shot charge is now well below the top of the hull. When crimped they look like this:

Same Longshot powder used in both - although 1.5gn less in the 1 oz load. #8 shot used in both. These loads are right from the Hodgdon load data.

I'm new to this and quite clearly am doing something wrong or missing something - what is my problem?

Thanks for your help.

 

[R&R Rancher]

First off, have you checked the drop weights of the 1 oz loads on a scale? The obvious difference in the two loads is in the wad change. Place the two wads side by side. How much difference in height is there?

I don't know what machine you are loading on, but is it possible it is on a non MEC progressive, that the shot tube compresses the wad after it is inserted to just over the powder?

How far down is the shot before you apply the precrimp. Is there a huge difference between your 7/8 and 1 oz loads?

It is possible that this is just one more published load that went bang in the lab, but the component stack height makes it impossible to get a crimp that is usable in the real world. If we can't find a remedy in the press, you may need to change wads to get a good crimp.

Sorry for all the questions, but more info is needed to help find a solution.

John

 

[Wolfe1]

SP20 not SP20S

from what i see you are using the wrong wads for the 1oz load recipe for longshot they should be SP20 not SP20S also check your powder weights i usually check powder drops about every 10 loads also are you using a powder baffle between your powder bottle and charge bar if not you might not be getting very accurate powder drops which will cause the wad to seat lower in the hull causing recessed crimps

 

[RickP]

Thank you for your replies.

I have been weighing both the shot and powder charge to insure they are correct. I did this because I wanted to be sure of the accuracy of the Universal Charge Bar.

As to the SP20 and SP20S wads. I had read that these were interchangeable.
http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/components/shotshell-components/shotshell-wads.aspx. They both have the same Remington product number on the bag - 24378. However, I will write Remington the first of the week for clarification.

I am not using a powder baffel on the MEC 600jr Mark5.

 

[fiddler]

Its best to use the powder baffle. One shell didn't charge full or as stated, wrong wad, the other on the right is set too low for your final crimp. Thats why it is both crunched on the crimp and the side of the hull shows wrinkles.