5/8 oz 12 gauge loads

[10x]

Most folks use a .410 with 1/2 to 3/4 oz of shot for hunting grouse. I want to use my 12 gauge with a 5/8 oz load.
I have found one load for 3/4 oz 12 gauge using ASN30 (clays) from an Australian website (using Winchester gray wadds, Fiochi hulls, and a 3/16 card in the bottom of the shot cup).
The good folks at Hornnady told me I could drop 1/8 of an oz of shot and use a filler wad to take up space with no pressure issues.
The pattern out of the 12 at 15 yards is about 30 inches out of a cylinder bore barrel.
The pattern is about 30 inches at 25 yards with full choke. Velocity is at 1200 fps

Is any one else loading 12 gauge light loads?

 

[rokoro]

The biggest problem with light loads is generating enough pressure to fully burn the powder. Lighter loads are loaded with faster burning powder to achieve this. Cold weather also compounds the incomplete combustion problems. If you have a light load and it is patterning well by all means use it. Be very careful if you have a load that has very little recoil or report ( a dud round). If this happens inspect your barrel before firing another round. Your wad may be stuck in the barrel and if you fire another round you could bulge or even burst the barrel.

 

[10x]

The biggest problem with light loads is generating enough pressure to fully burn the powder. Lighter loads are loaded with faster burning powder to achieve this. Cold weather also compounds the incomplete combustion problems. If you have a light load and it is patterning well by all means use it. Be very careful if you have a load that has very little recoil or report ( a dud round). If this happens inspect your barrel before firing another round. Your wad may be stuck in the barrel and if you fire another round you could bulge or even burst the barrel.

My research shows that the crimp is crucial to complete powder combustion. Even with tested loads a poor crimp will reduce the amount of powder burned and give bloopers or wads left in the barrel.
Wad pressure also contributes to the burn rate and final velocity. I have yet to try this light load in the cold but will be watching closely for any thing different.

One of the things that has shown up in my shotshell reloading research over the years is that the solution for any issue has been more shot rather than less. Light loads for the 12 gauge are rare in the data.

 

[fingers284]

I have a budy in the Cowboy game that makes light 5/8 loads for his 12 ga.. he loads a dry bean in the wad to take up space in a wad for heavier shot so the crimp is formed as it should be. In 8 yrs of shooting with him I've never seen him have a problem with them.

A little side note... this summer I experimented with simple field peas instead of shot in a few rounds, very light recoil,almost a squib load report but penetrated 1/4 " ply at 15yrds.