What is a "light" load for a vintage double?

ninepointer

ninepointer

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I have a nice old 20 ga. that was made for smokeless powder shells, but conventional wisdom says that its best to stick with "light" loads in this gun. Shouldn't be a problem since I'm set up to reload 20 ga. The "lightest" published recipes I'm finding are in the neighbourhood of 8300-8800 p.s.i. (as opposed to the 10,000-11,000 p.s.i. of most 20 ga. loads).

Practically speaking, is there anything lower than 8300-8800 p.s.i. that I should look for in the way of published recipes?
What are you fellas shooting out of your classics?
 
ninepointer said:
I have a nice old 20 ga. that was made for smokeless powder shells, but conventional wisdom says that its best to stick with "light" loads in this gun. Shouldn't be a problem since I'm set up to reload 20 ga. The "lightest" published recipes I'm finding are in the neighbourhood of 8300-8800 p.s.i. (as opposed to the 10,000-11,000 p.s.i. of most 20 ga. loads).

Practically speaking, is there anything lower than 8300-8800 p.s.i. that I should look for in the way of published recipes?
What are you fellas shooting out of your classics?
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Load it with 65 grains of black powder , a nitro card wad, and an equal amount of shoot, with an overshot wad - PERFECT!
That's what I use in my 20 gauge back action.
However,8300 PSI shouldn't be a problem for a smokeless proofed gun.
Is it in fact a 2 3/4" chamber?
Also a roll crimp will give you slightly less pressure than a fold crimp will.
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
However,8300 PSI shouldn't be a problem for a smokeless proofed gun.
Is it in fact a 2 3/4" chamber?
Also a roll crimp will give you slightly less pressure than a fold crimp will.
Cat
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Hmmm, roll crimp; thanks, never thought of that! The gun left the factory with a 2 9/16" chamber but was at some point lengthened to 2 3/4". The 'smith says that the forcing cones are relatively short.
 
An alternative might be 2 1/2in Gamebore shells....won't be as cost efficient obviously but will offer superb performance.

Forgive my almost complete lack of knowledge in the matters of reloading shotshells - I take it that modern reloading equipment are capable of effectively performing roll crimp on plastic hulls? I've observed paper being formed using an old hand tool and had no idea that plastic could be done likewise.
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
An alternative might be 2 1/2in Gamebore shells....won't be as cost efficient obviously but will offer superb performance.

Forgive my almost complete lack of knowledge in the matters of reloading shotshells - I take it that modern reloading equipment are capable of effectively performing roll crimp on plastic hulls? I've observed paper being formed using a old hand tool and had no idea that plastic could be done likewise.
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I have some old CIL stuff that is roll crimped plastic. But I have no idea on how to do it on modern gear.

Anyone know?
 
Win/64 said:
I have some old CIL stuff that is roll crimped plastic. But I have no idea on how to do it on modern gear.

Anyone know?
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Likewise, I've seen my folks use Eley as well as Sellier & Bellot plastic cartridges that had factory roll crimps.
 
Win/64 said:
I have some old CIL stuff that is roll crimped plastic. But I have no idea on how to do it on modern gear.

Anyone know?
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You can buy a little roll crimp thingy that chucks into a portable drill or into a drill press - I have seen them made of both plastic and metal.
The Lee hand tool will also roll crimp, and is even faster than the drill style.
I have not seen a Lee hand tool set in 20 gauge for some time however, and for my 20 I use either the drill bit style or brass cases, which I prefer.

Now, Ahsan Ahmed also has a wonderful suggestion of using the 2 1/2" Gamebores- one of my hunting partners uses them in his Belgian 20 and flattens pheasants , no sweat!:)
You could then re-load the empties!:cool:
here is a link to a picture of the BPI roll crimp tool.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=730142
Cat
 
I use magtech brass shells in my 12ga Husqvarna. I found 12 gauge loading dies. You just use your regular single stage press. I am sure Lyman would have the same thing for 20 ga.

It looks cool. Old gun loaded with brass shells and then when it goes off and that puff of black powder smoke.

Either way enjoy the old classics.
 
tbrwlf said:
I use magtech brass shells in my 12ga Husqvarna. I found 12 gauge loading dies. You just use your regular single stage press. I am sure Lyman would have the same thing for 20 ga.

It looks cool. Old gun loaded with brass shells and then when it goes off and that puff of black powder smoke.

Either way enjoy the old classics.
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What are the dies for, if you don't mind me asking?:confused:
I knock my primers out with a punch and set the with either a drift punch and a hammer , or in the press .
The wads are all set down by hand, and the overshot wad is one gauge larger and glued with a squirt of paint from a spray can, or spray contact cement.
I've been using this system for my brass cases for about 15 years, and have killed everything from partridge to geese in 4 gauges.:)
Here's a picture of my Westley Richards that was shot using brass cazses and Nice Shot Non Tox #2's - I LOVE this gun!:dancingbanana:
Cat
WRhammerdouble.jpg
 
catnthehatt said:
What are the dies for, if you don't mind me asking?:confused:
I knock my primers out with a punch and set the with either a drift punch and a hammer , or in the press .
The wads are all set down by hand, and the overshot wad is one gauge larger and glued with a squirt of paint from a spray can, or spray contact cement.
I've been using this system for my brass cases for about 15 years, and have killed everything from partridge to geese in 4 gauges.:)
Here's a picture of my Westley Richards that was shot using brass cazses and Nice Shot Non Tox #2's - I LOVE this gun!:dancingbanana:
Cat
WRhammerdouble.jpg
Click to expand...

Gorgeous gun Cat do you have any close up pic's of it?
 
Win/64 said:
Gorgeous gun Cat do you have any close up pic's of it?
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Only this one, but I may be able to get some better ones for you.
These were shot with 75 grains of FFG and an equal amount of #8 shot in brass cases.
The danged thing had been cut down at one time, then a spacer and a recoil pa added - otherwise i likely would have to pay a bunch more than I did!:)
Cat
DSCF0281.jpg
 
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