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In the Weeds - Shotgun loading Question

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Harold Coleman

Harold Coleman

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I just received a shotgun loading question about how to maximize yardage without blowing out the pattern on a shotgun.

So for background.
He has a 20 Ga. Colrain Turkey choke barrel and he is currently loading with 75gr - 2F
1.25oz #6 shot

He would like to get to using 1.5oz of #6 once he figures out the proper wadding setup.

He is hoping to find the magic wad combination to let him surpass 30 yards without blowing out the pattern.

I did go back to Colrain barrels to look around and while they had a few different loadings listed, they didn't go into yardage for the setups.

Any assistance would be appreciated, plus I am interested in the discussion that could follow debating wad type, thickness and the benefits benefits.
 
Why would you want to put 2& a quarter ounce in a 20 bore then want any choke ? thats a 12 bore load .Got a case of Magnumitus seems to me .Ide go the other way get an 8 bore & load it with a 12 bore load . Rudyards view on such ideas
 
It doesn't really matter from what I've seen posted on here. The taller shot column will lead to the pattern being more strung out, but he probably isn't shooting them on the wing, so all of the pellets will eventually arrive. I'd ask in the smoothbore section. I'm pretty sure I've seen plenty of references to turkey loads that heavy, but I've just barely had a smoothbore myself for just over a week.
 
When I decided to go turkey hunting with my 62cal/20ga Caywood-kit Wilson Chief's Gun I experimented with many combinations trying to get best combination of pattern and range. Wound up with this combination: 80 grains GOEX FFg, overshot wad, 1.5 oz #6, overshot wad. 12-15 in neck and head at 25 yards, 8-10 at 30 yards, not enough at 35 yards. Yes, recoil was sharpish, but there is plenty of recovery time before you shoot again. . . .

Using over powder wads or cushion wads left gaps in the patterns.

I will use this load again in about three weeks, hunting Merriam's turkeys in the Colorado foothills.
 
In the most recent Folk Firearms Collective video, the one guy shooting a 12 bore double noted that his load was powder, and equal volume of cornmeal, the shot, and then an over shot card. Said it patterned very well.

Might be worth a try.
 
Something’s not right…
I’ve never heard of a Colerain Turkey choke barrel that wasn’t deadly at 30 yards…
Drop the powder charge down too 60 - 70 grains and see how it shoots.

Also try the Skychief load…
Powder, Nitro card, shot. Overshot card then a soaked 1/2” wad on top of the overshot card..
 
The Skychief load will be difficult to get past the choke at the muzzle and the soaked over shot wad should be unnecessary in the Colerain Turkey Choked barrel. Even in the best of conditions, 30 yards is approaching the max range for a shot load. With that tight choke, I recommend using the thin overshot cards (three cards) over the powder and reducing the powder charge to 70 grains and one overshot card to hold the shot in place.

These are not a magnum gun and there is no point in trying to try to overload the gun.
 
Grenadier1758 said:
The Skychief load will be difficult to get past the choke at the muzzle and the soaked over shot wad should be unnecessary in the Colerain Turkey Choked barrel. Even in the best of conditions, 30 yards is approaching the max range for a shot load. With that tight choke, I recommend using the thin overshot cards (three cards) over the powder and reducing the powder charge to 70 grains and one overshot card to hold the shot in place.

These are not a magnum gun and there is no point in trying to try to overload the gun.
Click to expand...
Correct it's only going to reach a certain velocity level and the rest of the powder is burned as a flash outside the barrel.
 
Harold Coleman said:
I just received a shotgun loading question about how to maximize yardage without blowing out the pattern on a shotgun.

So for background.
He has a 20 Ga. Colrain Turkey choke barrel and he is currently loading with 75gr - 2F
1.25oz #6 shot

He would like to get to using 1.5oz of #6 once he figures out the proper wadding setup.

He is hoping to find the magic wad combination to let him surpass 30 yards without blowing out the pattern.

I did go back to Colrain barrels to look around and while they had a few different loadings listed, they didn't go into yardage for the setups.

Any assistance would be appreciated, plus I am interested in the discussion that could follow debating wad type, thickness and the benefits benefits.
Click to expand...

There are too many variables in shooting muzzleloading shotguns to get into those kinds of specifics.
 
Harold Coleman said:
he is currently loading with 75gr - 2F
Click to expand...
Tell him to experiment with much less powder, going down to 50, then work up in 5grn increments.
"Less powder-More lead,, Shot's further kills dead"
Then use these;
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/198/1/WAD-20-CBut, "crush" them sideways to assist the wad into separation while loading, many time they don't have to be the full length, part of one can work,, you don't want the wad punching through the shot column,
(olde tricks)
 
Dave Markowitz said:
In the most recent Folk Firearms Collective video, the one guy shooting a 12 bore double noted that his load was powder, and equal volume of cornmeal, the shot, and then an over shot card. Said it patterned very well.

Might be worth a try.
Click to expand...
I shot trap with him today, the method definitely works well!
 
In all the advice and recommendations I have seen in response to this thread, no one has mentioned changing the load to 1Fg to avoid blown patterns. That, combined with a charge more suitable to 20 gauge, might solve the problem (but beyond 30 yards might be a little ambitious). My opinion is based on the advice provided by V. M. Starr, a South Dakota black powder gunsmith who spent a lifetime shooting, patterning and choking muzzle loading shotguns. If you can find a copy of his small pamphlet/book, which is focused on loads, advice and extensive knowledge, there is plenty in it to learn from.
 

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