I purchased a case of Winchester trap loads (aluminum Bases) they are 1 1/8 oz at 1200 fps @ 3 dram equiv. I also fired Winchester AA 1 1/8 oz, same velocity but with a 2 3/4 dram equiv. I am now loading 1oz 16.9 gr Clays around the 1180 fps. How do I calculate dram Equiv. and would this load be good for handicap?
trap load ( dram equiv.)
- Thread starter Super Scout
- Start date
1 1/8 oz at 1200 fps is 3 dram equiv. If the AA load has the same weight and velocity, it can NOT be 3 dram equiv. If your 1 oz. load is going 1180 fps, it is 2 3/4 dram equiv.
Certain drams of black powder when applied to certain shot weights gave certain velocities. Most companies do not load black powder and certainly do not measure in drams but use the dram equivalent to cater to those that are even older than I am. The load you mention would be OK for handicap at the shorter yardages.
Certain drams of black powder when applied to certain shot weights gave certain velocities. Most companies do not load black powder and certainly do not measure in drams but use the dram equivalent to cater to those that are even older than I am. The load you mention would be OK for handicap at the shorter yardages.
I solved this problem quite easily because one of my reloading books (Fackler & McPherson, page 121) had a table of Dram Equivalent Rating Velocitys in ft/sec. Dram is a dry unit of volume and listed as equal to 27.34 grains (1/8oz), as has been mentioned. The table gives Dram Equivalent Rating Velocities for different guages and shot weights. So a 1 oz load in the 12 guage at the speed you mentioned is 2 3/4 Dram Equivalent Rating as has been said. The 3 DER for 1 oz is 1235 ft/sec; 31/4DE is 1290 ft/sec; and 31/2 is 1345ft/sec and so on. Upshot is I just look at the weight of load and velocity of my reloads and the table tells me the DE if I want to know it. I'm too new to the sport to know the best loads for handicap yet.
