Loading ultra spread 12g shells

Evanguy

Evanguy

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I'm looking for some info on reloading 12g shells for extreme spread.

The purpose of these shells are to shoot pine martins and raccoons in the barn. I shoot probably 20 pine martians and 3 or 4 raccoons a year. We have in the summer 100 meat birds, 100 layers and 25 turkeys, and over winter we just have 100 layers. Last night a pine martian got all 8 of our new specially breed hens (wife's extra project) we just put out in a tractor at 8 weeks old. I managed to shoot the pine martian today after I moved where he was hiding. But it took me 2 shots because he was running erratically and there is no way to lead the shotgun.

The shotgun didn't spread more than a few inches so there wasn't much for me to work with. Luckily for me he changed directions and started running directly towards me so I easily rolled him. That is not always the case.



I've never shot one over 15 yards away and most of the ammo I use is still working a one large lump

Id like to round a few rounds that by 15 yards they are a 3'x3' spread

I'm picturing by 20' the spread is a big as a large size pizza box

How does one do this.

I'm shooting a Merkel sxs with 28" barrels. I'm not opposed to different shotgun/different barrel length/buying a gun for this one purpose and modifying it in any way.
 
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the x load that will do it for sure
if you have a full choke gun no matter what you read or are told nothing will make it spread
choke determines the spread nothing else
ok boys have at it with your home recipes and place post pics of your patterns at close ranges a pic is worth 10,000 words
 
Evanguy said:
I'm looking for some info on reloading 12g shells for extreme spread.

The purpose of these shells are to shoot pine martins and raccoons in the barn. I shoot probably 20 pine martians and 3 or 4 raccoons a year. We have in the summer 100 meat birds, 100 layers and 25 turkeys, and over winter we just have 100 layers. Last night a pine martian got all 8 of our new specially breed hens (wife's extra project) we just put out in a tractor at 8 weeks old. I managed to shoot the pine martian today after I moved where he was hiding. But it took me 2 shots because he was running erratically and there is no way to lead the shotgun.

The shotgun didn't spread more than a few inches so there wasn't much for me to work with. Luckily for me he changed directions and started running directly towards me so I easily rolled him. That is not always the case.



I've never shot one over 15 yards away and most of the ammo I use is still working a one large lump

Id like to round a few rounds that by 15 yards they are a 3'x3' spread

I'm picturing by 20' the spread is a big as a large size pizza box

How does one do this.

I'm shooting a Merkel sxs with 28" barrels. I'm not opposed to different shotgun/different barrel length/buying a gun for this one purpose and modifying it in any way.
Click to expand...
I have never heard of Pine Martens attacking chickens........:unsure:

Mink, weasels, skunks, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, fox, but never a Pine Marten.

Are you sure they are Pine Martens?.....:)

I understand a Pine Marten is of the weasel family, however I've never heard of this.
 
Thunderhog said:
I have never heard of Pine Martens attacking chickens........:unsure:

Mink, weasels, skunks, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, fox, but never a Pine Marten.

Are you sure they are Pine Martens?.....:)

I understand a Pine Marten is of the weasel family, however I've never heard of this.
Click to expand...


Really, they are probably the vicious animal I have ever encountered in my life. They will wipe out whole flocks, they start to kill and don't stop until all the commotion stops. They don't eat more then 1 chicken, they just kill for fun.

We have had over 20 chickens killed in a night by a single pine martian at least 3 times over the last 5 years. We now don't keep more than 50 chickens in a coop to limit the death tolls.

They sneak into the coop in the day and wait hiding for night. This one had dug a hole under the chicken tractor and then chewed it's way to the inside and kill 8 chickens.

Of then I can hear the commotion and run over if it's during the day because all the chickens freak out as soon as they see one.

Last year I upset a den of them that was living under the ramp to one of the cops I shot 5 in about 20 minutes. It was like wack a mole but with a 12g and pine martians.

I don't often take pics but here is the one from today and the one I'm holding was the first one I got after we lost 17 chickens that night before. He was hiding in the coop (turn the sound on for the video)


Luckily they are very curious animals so when they run away and take cover they always poke there head back out to see what's happening and that's normally when I shoot them but I'd love to get them on the run more often.



Also thanks for the all ideas guys. I'll take one of my shotguns and cut the choke, I dont have a rifles barrel to try. But that's not a bad idea.

I was thinking of using no8 shot with no shot cup and just a cardboard wad over the heavier powder charge to blow the shot out, Because often factory shells are designed to group well and I want the opposite.

I'll look into those X streams.

55249479926_1a2ae308fe_b.jpg



55249883180_ef919afd57_b.jpg



<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="
https://flic.kr/p/2sbejhm
" title="FB_VID_1849839034890009525"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/55249731428_02c62c4e00.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="FB_VID_1849839034890009525"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
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Here is what AI said about them and it exactly mimics what I have witnessed in real life over 5 years.

"Yes, pine martens do attack and kill chickens. As opportunistic, determined predators, they are known to wipe out entire flocks overnight (surplus killing), often leaving behind multiple dead birds. They are skilled climbers and can squeeze through small gaps, often attacking at night and targeting the head or neck of the bird.

Key Facts About Pine Martens and Chickens:Behavior: They are nocturnal, nocturnal-active predators that can climb over high fences or squeeze through holes larger than 50mm (\(2\text{ inches}\)).

Damage: They often leave behind multiple dead chickens, frequently killing more than they eat.

Signs of Attack: Small paw prints, gnawed wood on coops, damaged chicken wire, and bite wounds on the neck.

Protection: Secure coops at night, as they can lift simple latches and enter through small gaps. Use hardware cloth rather than chicken wire, as they can chew through or break weaker materials"
 
Your gonna have to load your own or modify an existing shell
What you need to do to modify a shell is pry the crimp apart on the end, dump out the shot, pull out the wad but don’t dump the powder
Cut the petals off the wad and reassemble the shell and try to get the crimp back together
The wad holds the shot together until it leaves the barrel for a set distance and then it spreads out
Without the wad petals it will spread out faster but you will have to test it to see if it’s good enough
 
Evanguy said:
Really, they are probably the vicious animal I have ever encountered in my life. They will wipe out whole flocks, they start to kill and don't stop until all the commotion stops. They don't eat more then 1 chicken, they just kill for fun.

We have had over 20 chickens killed in a night by a single pine martian at least 3 times over the last 5 years. We now don't keep more than 50 chickens in a coop to limit the death tolls.

They sneak into the coop in the day and wait hiding for night. This one had dug a hole under the chicken tractor and then chewed it's way to the inside and kill 8 chickens.

Of then I can hear the commotion and run over if it's during the day because all the chickens freak out as soon as they see one.

Last year I upset a den of them that was living under the ramp to one of the cops I shot 5 in about 20 minutes. It was like wack a mole but with a 12g and pine martians.

I don't often take pics but here is the one from today and the one I'm holding was the first one I got after we lost 17 chickens that night before. He was hiding in the coop (turn the sound on for the video)


Luckily they are very curious animals so when they run away and take cover they always poke there head back out to see what's happening and that's normally when I shoot them but I'd love to get them on the run more often.



Also thanks for the all ideas guys. I'll take one of my shotguns and cut the choke, I dont have a rifles barrel to try. But that's not a bad idea.

I was thinking of using no8 shot with no shot cup and just a cardboard wad over the heavier powder charge to blow the shot out, Because often factory shells are designed to group well and I want the opposite.

I'll look into those X streams.

55249479926_1a2ae308fe_b.jpg



55249883180_ef919afd57_b.jpg



<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="
https://flic.kr/p/2sbejhm
" title="FB_VID_1849839034890009525"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/55249731428_02c62c4e00.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="FB_VID_1849839034890009525"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Click to expand...
It doesn't surprise me that Pine Martens would kill all the chickens like you describe. This killing frensy is a normal weasel family trait.

However that first pic you show on the lawn looks a lot like a mink. Mink normally have white under their chins, but not always. Pine Martens normally have an orange color under their chins, but not always.

That live footage sure looks like a Pine Marten.......:)
 
Thunderhog said:
It doesn't surprise me that Pine Martens would kill all the chickens like you describe. This killing frensy is a normal weasel family trait.

However that first pic you show on the lawn looks a lot like a mink. Mink normally have white under their chins, but not always. Pine Martens normally have an orange color under their chins, but not always.

That live footage sure looks like a Pine Marten.......:)
Click to expand...
Mink do commonly commit the frenzy killings.
 
Dogleg said:
I’d be hanging some marten boxes and killing them before they get inside. A 120 and a shot of Gusto will have them in short order. It can be rigged very dog proof too.
Click to expand...
That’s the way to do it, give them something easier to get to than the chickens and before they get to the chickens!!
 
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