Downloading 12 ga?

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Ghostsaww

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I was thinking of basically taking some standard #8 trap loads (1 1/8 oz) and taking out say, half the shot. I would place some sort of filler to keep the shot in place to get a proper crimp. The idea is to make a 12 ga more easily handled for the girlfriend. Do you feel that loading a 1/2oz of #8 would still be sufficient for breaking clays? And would knocking the weight down by this much help with reducing recoil?
 
Going to 1/2 oz sounds pretty extreme. If recoil is the issue, there are lots of gains to be had by loading down to 1oz or 7/8oz. There are wads and recipies for this purpose.

I've never seen or heard of anyone loading 12ga quite that far down. 1/2oz is the standard .410 target load, and I certainly wouldn't wish that upon anyone.

Brad.
 
Ghostsaww said:
I was thinking of basically taking some standard #8 trap loads (1 1/8 oz) and taking out say, half the shot. I would place some sort of filler to keep the shot in place to get a proper crimp. The idea is to make a 12 ga more easily handled for the girlfriend. Do you feel that loading a 1/2oz of #8 would still be sufficient for breaking clays? And would knocking the weight down by this much help with reducing recoil?
Click to expand...

I don't know what kind of gun you use but an auto-loader with a good recoil pad may work better. You can buy a "LimbSaver" pad for most popular shotguns and save the messing around with reduced loads. Reduced shot loads mean reduced patterns and more misses for a beginner. People tend to get discouraged when they miss alot.
 
Sorry, didn't figure that would come into the equation. I have a Mossberg 500. What I have decided to do is take 5/8 oz of shot, 2.5 cc of cream of wheat, put it in the shot cup, and use and over the shot wad. Any thoughts? Could this be dangerous at all? Dangerous through certain chokes? By the way, it all fits nicely into the shot cup and crimps well.
 
The powder charge used in the factory load has proven right for the 1 1/8 oz. of shot loaded, reducing by over 50% the amount of shot, will probably result in some very "off sounding" shots, low and inconsistent velocity,lots of unburnt powder. You need to either develop loads for 1/2 oz. of shot or just buy a little "SKEETER" and shoot the smaller gauge out of your 12 Ga.
 
Taking shot out and replacing it with filler could/would take you into dangerous territories.

As stated go 7/8oz or 1oz loads.

Load your own, there's enough info out there.
 
12 guage

Rember when adding to shot to weigh new total weight?
Easier to load another pushin cushin under new wad and cut down wad fingers to length . adding cream of wheat??? but it will possible make and act like grex and hold pattern together defeating the purpose , shooting clays.
A 7/8oz light load with a good recoil pad will be soft enough for most.
More inportanly is will the gun fit her, thats probablly the first place to start.

supermag
 
Score some big time brownie points and buy her a nice semi-auto shotgun. You can find some really nice ones at gun shows for very reasonable prices. Here's your chance to buy your girlfriend a firearm, for heaven's sake!!!!!!!:shotgun::shotgun:
 
Ghostsaww said:
I was thinking of basically taking some standard #8 trap loads (1 1/8 oz) and taking out say, half the shot. I would place some sort of filler to keep the shot in place to get a proper crimp. The idea is to make a 12 ga more easily handled for the girlfriend. Do you feel that loading a 1/2oz of #8 would still be sufficient for breaking clays? And would knocking the weight down by this much help with reducing recoil?
Click to expand...

Doing that will likely cause some major pressure issues, as the powder needs the resistance of the 1 1/8 oz of shot to make it work properly.
better to get some lightweight factory 7/8oz loads or load 7/8oz with the proper wad/powder combination.
Cat
 
Decided against the downloading, as some would forbid it it seems. Just got her a near new Mossberg 500E in .410. Now don't be knocking the .410, i know it's expensive, low powered and all that, but she should like it.
 
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