Here is a slightly different approach to a post.
It's some hunting load information I’m sharing in case anyone can get any ideas from it.
Not "recommending" anything, only sharing what "I" use in my modern steel GM & Rice barrels.
DISCLAIMER - This is strictly an INFORMATIONAL post only
1>None of this may be new news to anyone
2>Its purpose is to share information that might be of interest to someone;
3>It is not being posted asking for agreement, approval, disapproval, etc.
4>If it’s of no interest to you, ignore it;
5>If it doesn’t apply to you, your equipment, your style, your location, etc, ignore it;
6>If you dislike or disagree with it, ignore it;
7>If you’d prefer not to see these kinds of posts, ignore them;
Just ensuring the purpose is clear...INFORMATION ONLY...take it or leave it.
:grin:
My experience testing & hunting the .54cal/.28ga smoothbore has proven to me that it has a lot more flexibility with shot loads than I originally thought just from the typical discussions I've seen / read about on forums like this. Ordinarily the load data often repeated is nothing more than modern shot load information from a modern .28ga shotgun shell with its limitations of a 2+3/4" hull.
What I’ve learned underscores the old adage: "Little powder, more lead, shoots far, kills dead".
An associated finding in the field is that long shot strings are really beneficial to small stationary targets like a squirrel, turkey skull / neck vertebrae, etc.
Following that "Little powder, more lead, shoots far, kills dead" approach...with a strict eye towards avoiding any excessive pressure...I use the caliber’s largest weight lead conical as sort of a max payload guide, and I use FAR LESS powder so pressure is never an issue for me.
As one reference example, T/C's published load data has been around for almost a half century now, and their chart includes a heavy .54cal conical around 550grns with 120grns of Goex.
Using that as a guide, I use a 100grn measure of #5 or #6 shot which weighs about the same, and I only use 60grns of powder...(only 50% of T/C”˜s powder charge for their heavy conical).
One result is this .54cal/.28ga Turkey Load:
60grns Goex / Circle Fly 1/2" cushion wad / 100grn measure of hard #6s / 2 Circle Fly OS cards
3.5" tuna can at 25yds, 42" Cylinder Bore Rice barrel.
It's some hunting load information I’m sharing in case anyone can get any ideas from it.
Not "recommending" anything, only sharing what "I" use in my modern steel GM & Rice barrels.
DISCLAIMER - This is strictly an INFORMATIONAL post only
1>None of this may be new news to anyone
2>Its purpose is to share information that might be of interest to someone;
3>It is not being posted asking for agreement, approval, disapproval, etc.
4>If it’s of no interest to you, ignore it;
5>If it doesn’t apply to you, your equipment, your style, your location, etc, ignore it;
6>If you dislike or disagree with it, ignore it;
7>If you’d prefer not to see these kinds of posts, ignore them;
Just ensuring the purpose is clear...INFORMATION ONLY...take it or leave it.
:grin:
My experience testing & hunting the .54cal/.28ga smoothbore has proven to me that it has a lot more flexibility with shot loads than I originally thought just from the typical discussions I've seen / read about on forums like this. Ordinarily the load data often repeated is nothing more than modern shot load information from a modern .28ga shotgun shell with its limitations of a 2+3/4" hull.
What I’ve learned underscores the old adage: "Little powder, more lead, shoots far, kills dead".
An associated finding in the field is that long shot strings are really beneficial to small stationary targets like a squirrel, turkey skull / neck vertebrae, etc.
Following that "Little powder, more lead, shoots far, kills dead" approach...with a strict eye towards avoiding any excessive pressure...I use the caliber’s largest weight lead conical as sort of a max payload guide, and I use FAR LESS powder so pressure is never an issue for me.
As one reference example, T/C's published load data has been around for almost a half century now, and their chart includes a heavy .54cal conical around 550grns with 120grns of Goex.
Using that as a guide, I use a 100grn measure of #5 or #6 shot which weighs about the same, and I only use 60grns of powder...(only 50% of T/C”˜s powder charge for their heavy conical).
One result is this .54cal/.28ga Turkey Load:
60grns Goex / Circle Fly 1/2" cushion wad / 100grn measure of hard #6s / 2 Circle Fly OS cards
3.5" tuna can at 25yds, 42" Cylinder Bore Rice barrel.
