Fast burning shells for short barrels?

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rob350

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Im not a re-loader, but i have been told that the longer the barrel the slower burning powder you want.
Likewise, the shorter the barrel the faster burning powder as you would rather use all the powder really fast than to waist it in a fireball out the barrel.

So, being that I have a 12.5" grizz mag, are there any shotgun shells out there that come with faster burning powder? (out of the box, like I said im not a reloaded so im not making my own)


Noticed a bit of a fireball out the end of my 12.5" barrel, so im thinking in the event of animal defense Im not utilizing all of the power (thus pellet velocity) that a shotgun can have.
 
Never loaded Shotshell before, but if you are worried about not all the powder burning and like your short barrel, use some high Dram Shells.

More powder= more velocity. Enjoy the fireball for what it is. :50cal:
 
Im no expert, but I dont think u can optimize the burning of powder for such a short barrel with a 12ga bore.
 
You might be able to get some small degree of improvement by going with a powder that suits your barrel. But you won't get enough improvement to even notice. Your 12.5" barrel means you have to live with the loss of velocity. There is no powder that will allow you to match a 20" barrel for velocity. Here is why:

When powder burns within the barrel (this is called internal ballistics) the pressure it produces continues to push the payload (bullet, shot) until it leaves the barrel. Even if the powder burns completely in the first 6" of bullet movement the pressure produced continues to push against and increase the velocity of the bullet/shot until it exits the barrel. This effect diminishes as the barrel gets longer, but there is a noticeable difference between a 18" barrel and a 28" barrel, and a 12.5" barrel is gonna shoot hundreds of fps slower no matter what powder you use.

Your shotgun was never intended to be a long range shooter. It's designed for close up shooting, and at 10-20 yards it won't make any difference. A longer barrel is the only practical way to increase your velocity a measureable amount.
 
I'm no expert either but from my limited understanding of the matter, the large bore of a 12 ga more or less eliminates your chances of diddling with powders to any effect. You're probably better advised to go the choke route. I'm guessing.

Rifles are a bit different in that appropriately slower powders serve to increase the rate of acceleration (note the wording) while the bullet remains in the barrel.
 
HKMark23 said:
I'm no expert either but from my limited understanding of the matter, the large bore of a 12 ga more or less eliminates your chances of diddling with powders to any effect. You're probably better advised to go the choke route. I'm guessing.

Rifles are a bit different in that appropriately slower powders serve to increase the rate of acceleration (note the wording) while the bullet remains in the barrel.
Click to expand...

How does a choke tube increase velocity?

There are shotgun powders that produce a difference of a couple hundred fps faster with a given load in a regular barreled shotgun. Just like a rifle, the slower shotgun powders will produce more velocity with heavier loads. Look at the shotgun reloading data on the Hodgdon site for proof.

Of course it's a moot point because as we both noted there is no powder (or choke!) that's gonna help a 12.5" barreled shotgun to any noticeable degree. If you want more velocity then you need a longer barrel. Personally I wouldn't consider a shotgun barrel less than 16", but it depends what you want it to do.
 
I recall someone posting here a while ago that some gun mag tested velocity as a function of barrel length in a 12 gauge. Optimum velocity was achieved around the 12" mark and after that became a process of diminishing gains. Velocity increased but not appreciably so, though longer barrels improved shot patterns (nothing that can't be accomplished with a choke). Feel free to correct or support me if anyone can find the article.
 
AK said:
I recall someone posting here a while ago that some gun mag tested velocity as a function of barrel length in a 12 gauge. Optimum velocity was achieved around the 12" mark and after that became a process of diminishing gains. Velocity increased but not appreciably so, though longer barrels improved shot patterns (nothing that can't be accomplished with a choke). Feel free to correct or support me if anyone can find the article.
Click to expand...

do you remember exactly what loads they used? different mfr's and types could use a wide array of powders and projectile weights. While a light load may be best in a short barrel, a heavier and especially hotter load will need a longer barrel. Lighter loads in my 18.5" produce no muzzle flash during daytime shooting, while heavier and hotter buckshot and slug loads can produce fireballs in the daytime. I'd like to pick up a shortie to chrono it against my 18.5" and 30" bbl shotguns and really see.
 
The powder that gives the best velocity in a short barrel will also give the best velocity in a long barrel and vice-versa.
 
Hey, guys, found this on another forum. Guy has a chrongraph and did the homework ona couple of different shot types.

Birdshot- 12 gauge, 2 3/4 inches, 1 oz shot
12" barrel average FPS- 1040
14" barrel average FPS- 1069
18" barrel average FPS- 1114
19.5" barrel average FPS- 1114
20" barrel average FPS- 1108
28" barrel average FPS- 1159

Then using Remington 00 Buck-
12" barrel average FPS- 1121
14" barrel average FPS- 1127
18" barrel average FPS- 1216
19.5" barrel average FPS- 1205
20" barrel average FPS- 1182
28" barrel average FPS- 1250
 
Generally speaking fast burning powder is for lighter target loads. Slow burning powder is for heavier hunting or magnum loads. But powder burn rate does not always mean reduced muzzle flash.

The worst muzzle flash from my 14" 870 barrel was a light Federal target load with a faster powder. The least was from a heavy Brenneke slug. If muzzle flash is a concern the only way to find out is to try the round in low light conditions. FWIW, muzzle flash was noticeable less with all rounds using the 20" barrel.
 
Shotgun load performance is very dependant on powder burn rate. If all you shoot is the cheap pack loads then I guess barrel length doesn't matter. That powder is the cheapest nastiest s**t they can load. Pressure spikes is normal and uniformity is bad. Expect 100 fps variation.

Once you move up to higher performance shells like the waterfowl and pheasant shells, you start to see uniformity and performance.

My pheasant load uses Longshot powder with AA hulls and 1.25 oz shot at 1450 fps. It's for late season pheasant flushing at 30 plus yards and you're busting them at 40-45 yds. Econo box shells and 14" shotguns don't make that cut.

Shorter barrels work better in some hunting circumstances. Longer barrels are better in some other hunting circumstances. I wish people would take the time to gain some knowledge before they make stupid statements that will influence other people.
 
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