Load cards

[BlackRock52]

I have a SxS BPML one bore is a 19 Ga and the other is a 20 Ga. -- one card size ok for both barrels or should I use 2??

 

[IanH]

Are the bores actually different, or does one just have more choke than the other?

 

[Britsmoothy]

You would be better off measuring the larger bore, if not choked this is, and getting confirmed cards .030-.040" larger and use in both barrels.
In fact if it is choked and the larger barrel is cylinder do the same any way .

I have a gun marked 20g, Store bought 20g wad products are useless, to small!

 

[Grenadier1758]

Get the wads for the larger gauge. The wads will compress to fit properly. The wads won't enlarge if they are too small for the bore. Much easier to only use one size even if one barrel is slightly more difficult to load than the other.

 

[Lorne Johnson]

Measure twice, order once . . .
Also, both of the above posts give good practical advice.

 

[BlackRock52]

Are the bores actually different, or does one just have more choke than the other?

Yes
Left = .6095
Right = .625

Gun came with 19 Ga cards -- over powder, felt wad, and over shot...

 

[Britsmoothy]

A .650" thin card will do the lot for simplicity.

 

[Grenadier1758]

@BlackRock52,

Circle Fly has a shotgun wad chart on their web site. They have a PDF download for the wad sizes.

https://circlefly.com/
The diameter of their 19 gauge wad is 0.636" and is recommended for a Pedersoli 20 gauge.

The diameter of their 20 gauge wad is 0.625" and is recommended for different products.

Order the 19 gauge wads.

The 18 gauge wad has a diameter of 0.647" and is probably a bit large for your shotgun.

 

[BlackRock52]

Assuming you use them, the under shot fiber wads, do you wet/lube them with anything?
I am most definitely a newbie and quite low on the learning curve for smooth bores!

 

[Britsmoothy]

Assuming you use them, the under shot fiber wads, do you wet/lube them with anything?
I am most definitely a newbie and quite low on the learning curve for smooth bores!

If I may be bold...do yourself a favour brother. Just use a few overshot cards as a wad. You don't need anything else.

And yes, if it gets crusty when loading, add a blob of lube between the thin cards.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Assuming you use them, the under shot fiber wads, do you wet/lube them with anything?
I am most definitely a newbie and quite low on the learning curve for smooth bores!

Read the sticky at the top of this forum on Skychief's Shot Load Link. There's a lot of good information in that topic that will give you a real head start on shooting a smooth bored gun. @Britsmoothy's suggestion of using just the over shot cards is also good and a bit easier to load that getting the proper balance of wad, lubricant quantity with the Skychief load.

 

[BlackRock52]

I

If I may be bold...do yourself a favour brother. Just use a few overshot cards as a wad. You don't need anything else.

And yes, if it gets crusty when loading, add a blob of lube between the thin cards.

'll give it a try

Thx!

 

[tenngun]

Try brown paper that’s you rub till tough between your hands. Cut in rectangles 2” x 1”fold in half push down the bore, tap a couple times serves over powder and overshot will fit both side. KISS answer

 

[IanH]

If you want even simpler, skip the wads and load a measure of powder, a measure of yellow corn meal, a measure of shot, an overshot card, and seat the whole mess with one trip of the rammer. Great patterns and no problem seating wads for many, many shots.

 

[Britsmoothy]

If you want even simpler, skip the wads and load a measure of powder, a measure of yellow corn meal, a measure of shot, an overshot card, and seat the whole mess with one trip of the rammer. Great patterns and no problem seating wads for many, many shots.

More fiddle though friend.

Re the brown paper and any other paper watch out for fire risk! It becomes nitrated and can smoulder.