Pietta/Navy arms 12g double barrel load suggestions

[Harveymushman82]

I haven’t shot the gun yet. But I’m thinking 90gr powder, over powder wad, #4 lead shot and I’m not sure what on top of the shot to hold it all in.
28” barrels
Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Eterry]

90 grains is a goose/ turkey/ pterodactyl load. I'd start with a Square load of 60grs, then pattern that and go up from there.

I'll move this to the smoothbore thread to help you out.

 

[Lorne Johnson]

That's a light gun, I would guess around 68-72 grains FFg and 1 ounce of shot (which is essentially what Eterry said). I use about that on upland birds, and 3/4 to 7/8 ounce 8 1/2 shot on targets. It's all you need, and avoids developing a flinch.

 

[BillRob]

The load sounds good - about right for ducks or pheasants, but if so be careful about that lead shot. Not legal for waterfowl anywhere in the states, and depending on your state law, may be illegal for upland birds too. Bismuth is a good substitute. Just top it off with a thin over-shot card and you'll be good to go!

 

[Harveymushman82]

90 grains is a goose/ turkey/ pterodactyl load. I'd start with a Square load of 60grs, then pattern that and go up from there.

I'll move this to the smoothbore thread to help you out.

Thank you

 

[Harveymushman82]

On a straight bore barrel like these what kind of spread can I expect?

 

[TreeMan]

I haven’t shot the gun yet. But I’m thinking 90gr powder, over powder wad, #4 lead shot and I’m not sure what on top of the shot to hold it all in.
28” barrels
Any suggestions appreciated.

I have the exact same gun. Mine uses 11 gauge components (cards). I just use 60 grains of 2F and 1 oz of shot. Two cards over powder and two cards over shot.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I have a double barreled twelve gauge that I shoot with 75 grain FF under two leather wads and a paper shot cartridge with one ounce of shot. I make the shot cartridges out of three thickness of news paper rolled around a 5/8 dowel, tied with kite string filled, twisted over and tied shut. No over shot card needed.

 

[Snydly]

On a straight bore barrel like these what kind of spread can I expect?

Make sure you pattern the load. Especially the square load. I have done extensive testing the square load and found it to have major holes in the pattern. My 20 gauge loves 75 grains of FFg and 1 1/2 oz of shot. It shoots great with no holes in the pattern to at least 35 yards. I use a slightly different load in each barrel ... testing is half the fun.

 

[rodinal220]

In my Pedersoli 12g SX I use a brass adjustable powder dipper set to 2 3/4 Dram (approximately 75 grains). I use this dipper for the powder, Corn meal buffer and shot with a thin OS wad. Works well on clays.

 

[Historian]

If your going after flying targets stick with 90-100 grain of FFg or drop it down to straight 90 grains FFFg. If shooting squirrels or bunnies 75-80 grains of FFg will suffice.

 

[BillinOregon]

Good advice on the square load. I had one of these years ago and it got pretty lively when loaded much hotter, and ceased to be fun.

 

[Ohio Rusty]

You will love your double !! My all around field load is 70 grains of 2F and one ounce of shot. For pheasants, I run 85 grains of 2F and ounce and a quarter of #5 shot. With that load, I have dropped 33 pheasants in the guns lifetime. My double is cyl/cyl bores.

Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[Eterry]

Make sure you pattern the load. Especially the square load. I have done extensive testing the square load and found it to have major holes in the pattern. My 20 gauge loves 75 grains of FFg and 1 1/2 oz of shot. It shoots great with no holes in the pattern to at least 35 yards. I use a slightly different load in each barrel ... testing is half the fun.

I typically up the lead load a bit, but on a new to me gun I'll start with a square load. I do use fffg almost exclusively, so more lead is needed for good results.
My double 20 bore really likes 60grs squared with fffg. My 12 William Moore prefers 70grs ffgg and 80grs lead.
It's easy to use a square load, one measure does it.

 

[Eterry]

I haven’t shot the gun yet. But I’m thinking 90gr powder, over powder wad, #4 lead shot and I’m not sure what on top of the shot to hold it all in.
28” barrels
Any suggestions appreciated.

Have you had a chance to make some smoke with you double?

 

[bpd303]

In my Pedersoli 12g SX I use a brass adjustable powder dipper set to 2 3/4 Dram (approximately 75 grains). I use this dipper for the powder, Corn meal buffer and shot with a thin OS wad. Works well on clays.

I use the same load same powder & shot by volume, my buffer is a wad of kapok and thin OS card. It shoots very well in my 12 gauge <AMR> SxS double.

 

[Trigger]

I haven’t shot the gun yet. But I’m thinking 90gr powder, over powder wad, #4 lead shot and I’m not sure what on top of the shot to hold it all in.
28” barrels
Any suggestions appreciated.

I guess you don't have over shot cards?

You can use the overpowder card over shot. I split mine in half with a razor. It works using half and half.

 

[Eterry]

I guess you don't have over shot cards?

You can use the overpowder card over shot. I split mine in half with a razor. It works using half and half.

If I'm out of over shot wads I take over powder wads and bend them until they crack in the middle then separate them with my fingernails. I don't use nitro wads, VM Starr didn't use them. I follow his teachings. That old man knew what he was about. He only carried overshot wads, 2 over his powder, one over the shot. Kept confusion to a minimum.