Reloading for QUIET 12g birdshot?

wasa

wasa

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I would like to reload (or I if I have to, buy) quiet 12 gauge shotgun shells. Think CCI 22LR Quiets, minimal noise, good on a bird (grouse) at say 10-15 yards minimum. Don't need 30-40 yards.

I have a Lee Load-All, lots of different wads, powder, primers, and #7.5 and #9 shot but so far I haven't come across a published load that is subsonic and quiet. Anyone know of any published data for making quiet shells?

Another option I was thinking about is black powder shotgun loads (I have a Damascus barreled shotgun so I already load for it). I have had some success at black powder (well, Pyrodex) shells using 80 gr volume equivalent and #9 shot (making a "square load" with same volume pyrodex and shot). Not as loud as my target loads. Was going to try 70 gr, 60 gr etc. Anyone have an idea how low I can go with Pyrodex? 50gr? 40gr? I can always load up a bunch and try them out but wondering if anyone else has had success with low noise rounds.

Thanks
 
There was an outfit in the US offering a really, really long 12ga barrel, which when used with low powered loads was supposed to reduce muzzle blast.
I made up an experimental extra long barrel, over 4', if I remember correctly, and tried some light 12ga handloads with only half an ounce of shot.
Wasn't really all that much quieter.
 
A subsonic load would be about as quiet as it gets without help. If the shot is over the speed of sound adding barrel length will only go so far and a lot of the difference is probably just in perception. Interesting idea I'm gonna watch this one...
 
ted_dent said:
If you are shooting at distances that short maybe look at reloading some of the mini shells on the market (Aguila, Federal, etc.) They should be somewhat quieter.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...-Reloading-Market-for-12ga-Shorty-Mini-Shells
Click to expand...

Thanks - unfortunately I have not found published data for reloading these mini shells. Not too worried about length - I cut my 2-3/4" hulls down to 2-1/2" for my Damascus shotgun already and could cut them down further.
 
wasa said:
Thanks - unfortunately I have not found published data for reloading these mini shells. Not too worried about length - I cut my 2-3/4" hulls down to 2-1/2" for my Damascus shotgun already and could cut them down further.
Click to expand...
You could buy a box to try and cut one apart to check out the components. You probably won't know what the powder is but chances are it will be a small charge of a fairly fast powder so anything like Red Dot, Clays, etc. would suffice.
 
Brutus said:
Most would seek a modern 410 exactly for this purpose.
Perhaps even a combination gun 22-410?
In reality all the sub gauges are a good possibility.
Click to expand...

I own a 410 shotgun and all of the commercial loads I have tried are louder than I would want. Pretty sure they are all supersonic or very close to it. Not even close to a CI 22LR Quiet.
 
You are dreaming if you are looking for a shotgun load as quiet as the cci quiet.
A shotgun primer only is louder!
 
Last edited:
wesson357 said:
You are dreaming if you are looking for a shotgun load as quiet as the cci quiet.
A shotgun primer only is louder!
Click to expand...

You're probably right. A man can dream, right?

In any case, I loaded up a bunch of black powder shotgun shells last night and downloaded a sound meter app on my phone. Hope to take out the DB shotgun this weekend and shot a few pop cans. Hopefully can get something close to my goal. Fingers crossed.
 
The Winchester AA Featherlite ammo. is the lightest I know. Code # is " AA12FL8".
It is also called " Low recoil, low noise target load". Vel. is 980 f/s.
If you shoot it through one of those 4 foot barrels ( check Federal Ammo. for details)
they are very quiet. Those barrels are used in the USA for pigeons in cities.
 
For the llllong barrel extension, I'm pretty sure it would be a prohibited device in Canada.
The law says any device intended or meant to muffle the sound is prohibited so.....
I have looked at these, quite interesting but...
 
wasa said:
I would like to reload (or I if I have to, buy) quiet 12 gauge shotgun shells. Think CCI 22LR Quiets, minimal noise, good on a bird (grouse) at say 10-15 yards minimum. Don't need 30-40 yards.

I have a Lee Load-All, lots of different wads, powder, primers, and #7.5 and #9 shot but so far I haven't come across a published load that is subsonic and quiet. Anyone know of any published data for making quiet shells?

Another option I was thinking about is black powder shotgun loads (I have a Damascus barreled shotgun so I already load for it). I have had some success at black powder (well, Pyrodex) shells using 80 gr volume equivalent and #9 shot (making a "square load" with same volume pyrodex and shot). Not as loud as my target loads. Was going to try 70 gr, 60 gr etc. Anyone have an idea how low I can go with Pyrodex? 50gr? 40gr? I can always load up a bunch and try them out but wondering if anyone else has had success with low noise rounds.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Wasa, were you able to come up with a low noise (or lower noise) 12ga load? Feel like sharing .....?

I am currently looking at the same thing ....

Any input you have would be appreciated.
 
I don’t think a 410 is any quieter than a 12, if anything I find their report to be a lot sharper.

Light loaded black powder under a modest payload of lead is probably as quiet as it will get. I would second the .22 shot for this if you are not shooting them on the wing.

The phone app decibel meters tend to just read the maximum when firearms of any kind are discharged.
 
0faustus0 said:
Wasa, were you able to come up with a low noise (or lower noise) 12ga load? Feel like sharing .....?

I am currently looking at the same thing ....

Any input you have would be appreciated.
Click to expand...


Well, the short of it was I was successful in obtaining my goal. Not 100% happy with my load, but our group of 3 were able to harvest a bear (rifle), and we shot 3 grouse with my 12g loads.

I was not able to find any reliable source of load data with smokeless powder. Emailed ADI in Australia (makers of many powders) and I received a form letter saying they can't give me a load. Emailed Hodgedon - no reply. Found a load on the internet that I was NOT willing to try, although based on my reloading experience I could believe it would work. Had a guy from my local gun club make me some subsonic loads, right near 1000 fps if I recall. They were, to me, too loud.

So, end result was I loaded up black powder (Pyrodex RS) loads. I used Lee scoops (I have the red and yellow sets). 2.11cc of Pyrodex and 3.1cc of #7.5 lead shot. Took a Challenger trap hull (blue), cut it down, Cheddite 209 primer, 2.11cc Pyrodex RS (red dipper), cardboard disc, 3.1cc lead shot (yellow dipper), cardboard disc, then white glue around the upper disc to seal it.

With the first grouse, first shot knocked the grouse down, then my buddy fired a second shot (double barreled shotgun) at it to finish it. We then decided to "double blast" future grouse aka pull both triggers. If the grouse were close enough and sitting/standing no problems. Tried a couple of single shots at flushed birds without success (we're not accurate? not enough shot? too weak? or some combo...) In any case, the loads, even double blasted, were sufficiently quiet that we had no concerns about scaring any bears or other wildlife.

I suspect that instead of using #7.5 shot I will try larger shot for next fall. Or maybe make a duplex load and put in some steel BBs (from my BB gun) with the shot. My big concern was noise, and I probably should have experimented by shooting targets other than paper or aluminum pop cans. But at the end of the 3 day hunt, 1 bear and 3 grouse.

Thanks for asking!
 
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