Pedersoli 10ga waterfowl hunting?

[Txflycaster]

Recently purchased a pedersoli 10ga mainly to use as a duck gun. I have carried on several hunts and the thing just won't kill birds....lol. Tried a range of loads while patterning. Arrived at 90gr. of 2 F two thin over shot cards , 1 1/4 oz of #3 bismuth with a thin card over the shot. I tried running it up to 95 gr same results. We had birds locked up all morning , every bird that I connected with had to be chased and dispatched. Anyone have load suggestions ? This particular piece is fixed choke ... Cylinder on the right mod on the left. Appreciate the help.

 

[rodinal220]

How does it pattern? You stated you worked up loads and patterned your shotgun. Patterning is key. It takes a bit of effort to work up loads and pattern them, I understand many people who get shotguns may not have access to a patterning board. Your load sound perfectly adequate for taking ducks at reasonable ranges.

I have settled on three ways loading my scatter guns:

VM Star method
Sky Chief method
Corn Meal/Polenta as the OPW (over powder wad) with just a thin OS wad
All with a square load

I try each of these methods first and see which one produces the best patterns at various ranges.
The only variation to the above is to reduce powder a bit and increase shot.

Lots of little "tweaking"

 

[Britsmoothy]

Mine is loaded thus.
90gn plus of the finest dustiest powder I can get.
Four over shot cards with a blob of lube for fouling control.
2oz of #3 tm shot.

Stop loading yours like I do a 20g sometimes .
Personally I don't like bismuth. I've seen it's pellets break up.
Lead is best of course but the antis have tried to make it difficult for us by sacrificing the birds well fare! Go figure.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Patterning is key

Never patterned mine, to expensive.

 

[Txflycaster]

How does it pattern? You stated you worked up loads and patterned your shotgun. Patterning is key. It takes a bit of effort to work up loads and pattern them, I understand many people who get shotguns may not have access to a patterning board. Your load sound perfectly adequate for taking ducks at reasonable ranges.

I have settled on three ways loading my scatter guns:

VM Star method
Sky Chief method
Corn Meal/Polenta as the OPW (over powder wad) with just a thin OS wad
All with a square load

I try each of these methods first and see which one produces the best patterns at various ranges.
The only variation to the above is to reduce powder a bit and increase shot.

Lots of little "tweaking"

I have been loading per the VM Starr recommendations.

 

[TreeMan]

It’s a 10 ga. Make her kick! As Brit stated. 2oz of shot and a little less 3F powder or an equal amount of powder and shot. I don’t use anything but thin cards between powder and shot and over shot. Regardless of what you do you’ll never reach out there like a modern smokeless centerfire shotgun. Keep those expectations in mind.

 

[Txflycaster]

It’s a 10 ga. Make her kick! As Brit stated. 2oz of shot and a little less 3F powder or an equal amount of powder and shot. I don’t use anything but thin cards between powder and shot and over shot. Regardless of what you do you’ll never reach out there like a modern smokeless centerfire shotgun. Keep those expectations in mind.

Pedersoli states 109 grs / 1 1/2 oz is max for this one. Seems a bit on the light side for 10ga loads.

 

[sheriff john]

Gotta figure steel's lighter than lead or bismuth. Same weight with steel's gonna be more volume/more pellets. But poor stopping power. Patterns are useful and important but penetration's what kills. First season I used Hevi-shot (unmentionably), it was like gunning in the 1960's. Steel requires larger shot sizes and more velocity, but it still sucks.

 

[Txflycaster]

Gotta figure steel's lighter than lead or bismuth. Same weight with steel's gonna be more volume/more pellets. But poor stopping power. Patterns are useful and important but penetration's what kills. First season I used Hevi-shot (unmentionably), it was like gunning in the 1960's. Steel requires larger shot sizes and more velocity, but it still sucks.

Been loading bismuth but I'm not having much luck with it.

 

[jackpine54]

I shoot a smaller bore gun with 100-110 grains FFg+ op card+ 2oz #3 bismuth shot+ os card for mallards. It works good out of my cylinder bore gun out to 30-35 yards.
I think you need to up your charge and shot payload to improve your pattern density. Just my opinion, not recommending my loads.

 

[toot]

Mine is loaded thus.
90gn plus of the finest dustiest powder I can get.
Four over shot cards with a blob of lube for fouling control.
2oz of #3 tm shot.
View attachment 185565
Stop loading yours like I do a 20g sometimes .
Personally I don't like bismuth. I've seen it's pellets break up.
Lead is best of course but the antis have tried to make it difficult for us by sacrificing the birds well fare! Go figure.

I guess that you had/ got your CHRISTMAS GOOSE? great looking attentive buddies in the picture!

 

[Historian]

Ok, I have 20 plus years experience shooting Pedersoli's. Their 10 has that load listing stamped on the barrel for their lawyers piece of mind. Period. That's all.
I have no problem bagging birds to 45 yards with mine. Load it properly and do not be lazy about it. It is not the shotgun that is at fault it is you.
Your over powder wads must be tight fitting to seal properly.
I use leather OP wads and 2 of them. If using hard nitro cards (cardboard) then definitely use 2 of them. Get rid of the Fiber wads and use Wool Felt wads. I soak mine in olive oil and beeswax. You want them pliable but not a soggy mess. Here is what I use.
116 grains FFg. Swiss or Olde Eynsford. This is 4 1/4 Drams.
2 OP wads made of leather.
1- 1/2 inch wool felt wad soaked with olive oil and bees wax.
1 5/8 oz Bismuth #4 shot.
1- 1/2 inch wool felt also soaked in olive oil and beeswax to top it off and seal the bore.
No problems taking birds on the wing. Been hunting waterfowl for 38 years. The above load chronographs at 1128 FPS 3 feet from the muzzles.
Load it properly and it will get the job done. If you're going to shoot an 1 1/4 oz of shot you should have bought the 12 ga and not the 10 ga. BTW mine has a mercury recoil suppressor in the stock and a recoil pad covered in leather. They do kick.

 

[SciAggie]

Been loading bismuth but I'm not having much luck with it.

My 12 gauge is a killing machine with lead shot. I’m using bismuth for waterfowl just to be legal. I hate it - I get too many wounded birds. I had one flare over decoys at about 25 yards - my son said that the pattern just covered the bird. Son of a gun had to be shot twice…

 

[kemart17]

Ok, I have 20 plus years experience shooting Pedersoli's. Their 10 has that load listing stamped on the barrel for their lawyers piece of mind. Period. That's all.
I have no problem bagging birds to 45 yards with mine. Load it properly and do not be lazy about it. It is not the shotgun that is at fault it is you.
Your over powder wads must be tight fitting to seal properly.
I use leather OP wads and 2 of them. If using hard nitro cards (cardboard) then definitely use 2 of them. Get rid of the Fiber wads and use Wool Felt wads. I soak mine in olive oil and beeswax. You want them pliable but not a soggy mess. Here is what I use.
116 grains FFg. Swiss or Olde Eynsford. This is 4 1/4 Drams.
2 OP wads made of leather.
1- 1/2 inch wool felt wad soaked with olive oil and bees wax.
1 5/8 oz Bismuth #4 shot.
1- 1/2 inch wool felt also soaked in olive oil and beeswax to top it off and seal the bore.
No problems taking birds on the wing. Been hunting waterfowl for 38 years. The above load chronographs at 1128 FPS 3 feet from the muzzles.
Load it properly and it will get the job done. If you're going to shoot an 1 1/4 oz of shot you should have bought the 12 ga and not the 10 ga. BTW mine has a mercury recoil suppressor in the stock and a recoil pad covered in leather. They do kick.

where are you sourcing the 1/2 in wool felt. i just got a 10ga pedersoli

 

[johnraleksa]

Recently purchased a pedersoli 10ga mainly to use as a duck gun. I have carried on several hunts and the thing just won't kill birds....lol. Tried a range of loads while patterning. Arrived at 90gr. of 2 F two thin over shot cards , 1 1/4 oz of #3 bismuth with a thin card over the shot. I tried running it up to 95 gr same results. We had birds locked up all morning , every bird that I connected with had to be chased and dispatched. Anyone have load suggestions ? This particular piece is fixed choke ... Cylinder on the right mod on the left. Appreciate the help.

where are you sourcing the 1/2 in wool felt. i just got a 10ga pedersoli

Dixon gun works said when working up a bb shotgun load, use a tin can. Put out to 25 yards . When the shot goes through the can that your load to use for most small game. I used 60 gr. 2f bb,1and 1/4 once lead shot in my 10 ga.for rabbits. That broke the hind legs of a rabbit at about 25 yards. Try shooting at something that you think is as hard as feathers on a bird at the yardage you will be hunting. Paper targets is not it.

 

[Britsmoothy]

I guess that you had/ got your CHRISTMAS GOOSE? great looking attentive buddies in the picture!

That was over a year ago friend.
This was a few weeks ago.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Heck, today I took a pheasant with my .45 smooth rifle loaded with....I just checked, 11/16 Oz of #5 lead shot!

 

[Jim in San Diego]

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/174/1/OX-WAD-54-D
I just ordered some of these lubricated felt wads for my 10 gauge pedersoli that is on order. I have some fiber wads too, but they're a pain to load in my 12 gauge, so I'm going to use these from now on.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I'd use lead......

 

[Historian]

where are you sourcing the 1/2 in wool felt. i just got a 10ga pedersoli

I source my wool felt from Dura Felt online. I use wad punches chucked into a drill press. Buy your felt in bulk rolls. I buy leather wherever I find it. Make your own wads and save money. I do and it is superior to what you can buy. I also make my own shot.
http://www.durofelt.com/