paulvallandigham
Passed On
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2006
- Messages
- 17,537
- Reaction score
- 89
I heard the same advice when I bought my DB shotgun. So, the first time it was fired, I checked the second barrel to see if the shot load had moved. Nothing. I continued to check as I tried different powder charges on the patterning board, and had no problem. Then I began talking to other more experienced shooters about the issue, and they told me of their experiences, and of others they knew. I finally found someone who had his second barrel load come loose! He admitted that he was using undersize OS cards of his own manufacture. Once he corrected his mistake, he had no more problems.
I ran into this problem reloading 12 ga.shotshells, where the press case crimping die was not set right. It left a hole in the center of the casing, big enough to let shot out. And, with even modest handling, the crimp would open up and let the shot roll out the barrel when you carried the gun muzzle down! I found out how to adjust that crimping die correctly, and that ended the problem.
I recently bought some Brass 12 ga. casings to use with BP in my old exposed hammer DB shotgun, and ran into the same problem using 12 ga wads and OS cards in those casings. The brass is too thin- much thinner than paper or plastic hulls, and I ended up buying 11 ga. wads and cards to reload those brass hulls. I did have movement and shot roll out of one casing to learn this lesson the hard way.
I don't see it happening with a PRB, unless the ball, or patch, or both, are seriously undersized. However, some shooters believe in shooting a plain, or "bare" RB in their smoothies, and muskets, and swear by the accuracy they obtain. They score the balls with a file, and dip the balls in lube or wax, to coat the lead. In a single barrel gun that might be OK. In a DB, you want to hold that RB down on the powder with a OS card or two, for sure.
Its not that any of us know everything or somehow know these old " Rules of thumb" are wrong, without testing them. Most of us heard these horror stories when we were starting out, too. We are simply trying to save you a lot of cost, and time doing all the testing over again yourself. I would much prefer that you simply use the right components, and then get out and enjoy shooting your shotgun. Its one of the benefits of the Internet that collectively, we can save new shooters a lot of time and money, and get you out having fun faster than we did. :surrender: :thumbsup:
I ran into this problem reloading 12 ga.shotshells, where the press case crimping die was not set right. It left a hole in the center of the casing, big enough to let shot out. And, with even modest handling, the crimp would open up and let the shot roll out the barrel when you carried the gun muzzle down! I found out how to adjust that crimping die correctly, and that ended the problem.
I recently bought some Brass 12 ga. casings to use with BP in my old exposed hammer DB shotgun, and ran into the same problem using 12 ga wads and OS cards in those casings. The brass is too thin- much thinner than paper or plastic hulls, and I ended up buying 11 ga. wads and cards to reload those brass hulls. I did have movement and shot roll out of one casing to learn this lesson the hard way.
I don't see it happening with a PRB, unless the ball, or patch, or both, are seriously undersized. However, some shooters believe in shooting a plain, or "bare" RB in their smoothies, and muskets, and swear by the accuracy they obtain. They score the balls with a file, and dip the balls in lube or wax, to coat the lead. In a single barrel gun that might be OK. In a DB, you want to hold that RB down on the powder with a OS card or two, for sure.
Its not that any of us know everything or somehow know these old " Rules of thumb" are wrong, without testing them. Most of us heard these horror stories when we were starting out, too. We are simply trying to save you a lot of cost, and time doing all the testing over again yourself. I would much prefer that you simply use the right components, and then get out and enjoy shooting your shotgun. Its one of the benefits of the Internet that collectively, we can save new shooters a lot of time and money, and get you out having fun faster than we did. :surrender: :thumbsup:
