Need Help/ Advice With BP Shotgun Load

maple leaf

maple leaf

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Hi everyone,
I want to safely shoot shot from a 28 gauge muzzleloader as a small game gun (primarily grouse). However, I've only shot round ball before, so muzzleloader shotguns are totally new to me. I need some advice from the seasoned veterans on here regarding what my load should look like. I suspect my load would be - 70 grains of 3F Goex black powder, followed by an over powder wad, followed by an equal volume of 7 1/2 sized lead shot (approximately 3/4 ounce to match the load of powder), followed by an over powder card.Does this sound right/ safe? Also, where in Canada can I buy the supplies needed for this? I'm not sure what wads and cards (felt, cardboard etc) I will need (nor brand), ideas? Also, do I need to make a paper cartridge for better accuracy (if so any suggestions on what to make this out of - I was thinking wax paper)?

Any and all help would be appreciated. If any of you have the appropriate wads and cards for sale, please also let me know.
Thanks!
 
Since I do not know the barrel that you are loading for, I will start out by suggesting that 70 grains of triple f is likely excessive. Shotguns pattern shot better with moderate charges anyway.
Look up Tom Bullock on black powder shotgun loads on Google. I would suggest 2 dram equivalent loads of 55 grains of Ffg to start with equal volume of shot.
in a good quality gun.
There are some weak and nasty 28 gauge guns from Spain and Belgium out there.
 
The traditional practice for loading m/l shotguns is equal VOLUMES of shot and powder so use the same measure that scoops out 3/4 oz of shot when you load the powder. That would equate to about 70 grains but I would use FFg rather than FFFg in a shotgun, especially if it is an oldie. The wad column should be approximately equal in length to the bore diameter so a 1/8" card wad followed by a 3/8" or 1/2" lubricated fibre or felt wad over the card then dump in the shot and hold it in place with a thin over-shot wad. Tamp the card and filler wads down tight on the powder to ensure there isn't any airspace between the wads and powder. You can use any size of shot appropriate to the game you are shooting - #7 1/2 or #6 would be fine for grouse and since you probably don't have any choke in your barrel, your range limit is about 25 or 30 yds. Loading a "shot cup" made of strong paper like a shopping bag might improve your patterns but only pattern testing will tell and you might be creating a potential fire hazard with the paper shot cups so only some experimenting will answer your questions. My first ever m/l was a 28 ga shotgun and it was a hoot for small game and clay targets but I don't have any 28 ga loading supplies any more. Try Elwood Epps or search for supplies on line. There are sources in SK, AB and BC if you cannot find your stuff closer to home.
 
I buy ML shotgun supplies from Hillfolk Musket Supplies, Senlac SK, Doug and Becky Middleton (306)228-2949
 
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70 grains of 3F in a 28 guage sounds pretty hot to me. I think you should find what modern 28 guage shells are loaded to and I am guessing it is probably around 2 drahms equivalent or about 54 grains and around 5/8 to 3/4 oz of shot. Even though your barrel is modern steel, it is not all that much stronger than original barrels and particularly you do not know what grade of steel was used in making it

cheers mooncoon
 
Hmm interesting comments. I went with 70 grains of powder because I heard you should have equal amounts of powder and shot. 3\4 ounce of shot is about the same volume by my calculations. Why would a 70 grgrain load of 3f be bad for a 28 gauge, but lots of websites say that the same load from a 54 calibre is fine. Are they not similar in diameter. Or is the logic of a lower powder charge and slightly larger shot amount equal greater accuracy of the shot?

Also, does anyone have suggestions on what type of wad and cards I should use?
 
.54 caliber rifle or smoothbore?
Barrel thickness?
What sort of gun do you have?
3/4 oz. in a 28 might be OK. Set your measure for that much shot, scoop out that much powder, and weigh just to check what the load would be.
I have used 7/8 oz in a 24ga trade gun.
 
In my 25th edition of the Hodgdon Data Manual, page 508 they give 2 loads for a 28 ga breech load shotgun.

52 grs of FFFg with 5/8 oz of shot

58 grs of FFFg with 3/4 oz of shot.

You don't need wax paper to make paper cartridges. I use old envelopes.
 
In my 25th edition of the Hodgdon Data Manual, page 508 they give 2 loads for a 28 ga breech loading shotgun.

52 grs of FFFg with 5/8 oz of shot

58 grs of FFFg with 3/4 oz of shot.

You don't need wax paper to make paper cartridges. I use old envelopes.

As to wads - a member of the forum (I apologize , I can't remember his name) has said that he uses just wasp nest material.

I started out using balled up newspaper (I couldn't find proper wads in 1960) but quit that when I started a grass fire. Then I started using glossy magazine pages which are less combustible with a bunch of wasp nest material as an over powder wad.
 
Goldenlakepete said:
In my 25th edition of the Hodgdon Data Manual, page 508 they give 2 loads for a 28 ga breech loading shotgun.

52 grs of FFFg with 5/8 oz of shot

58 grs of FFFg with 3/4 oz of shot.

You don't need wax paper to make paper cartridges. I use old envelopes.

As to wads - a member of the forum (I apologize , I can't remember his name) has said that he uses just wasp nest material.

I started out using balled up newspaper (I couldn't find proper wads in 1960) but quit that when I started a grass fire. Then I started using glossy magazine pages which are less combustible with a bunch of wasp nest material as an over powder wad.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the load data and other advice. Just one question, when I made the paper cartridge, should I only have the cartridge contain the shot load? Or should it also have the wad and card as well?
 
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I have a 56 cal/28 gauge flintlock. I bought a punch from a hardware store and punch wads out of milk cartons. I also punched fibre wads out of old boot liners but I rarely use them. I generally use 3 cards over powder and 2 cards over shot. another good source of card wads are file separators ... (heavier than milk cartons) mine is a single barrel so I don't need to worry about breaking the shot column in the other barrel of a side by side. also Track of the Wolf sells all the card and wad supplies you need.
 
maple leaf said:
Thanks for the load data and other advice. Just one question, when I made the paper cartridge, should I only have the cartridge contain the shot load? Or should it also have the wad and card as well?
Click to expand...

I have made shotgun cartridges in pairs. One with the powder, with the filler wads glued to the flat end. The other for the shot. Open the folded end of the powder cartridge, dump the powder, then ram the paper and wads. The shot cartridge paper can be used for the top wad, or, the cartridge can be used as a shot wrapper. Size it to fit the bore, start it into the muzzle, tear off the folded end of the cartridge, and use the torn off part as the overshot wad.

If recycling boot liners as felt wads, it is best if the liners are wool felt, no synthetics...
 
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