Self contained shot load......

[Sidney Smith]

I was playing around in the basement today and came up with another way to load my 20 gauge with shot. I use mine to hunt with so am always looking for a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to load while in the field. I do not use wadding other than the paper and have had good results so far. I have been using a similar setup whereas I have the powder and shot in one wrapped paper container. These though require the shot to be poured down the bore after tearing apart the paper container. I wanted a way to simplify the process by simply shoving the whole shot column down the bore in one motion. I'll still pour the powder and use the paper container as wadding, but am hoping these shot containers will work out. They are made from 1/4 of a sheet of paper from a Hemmings motor news, and rolled onto a 1/2 in dowel, then simply glued shut on each end by using a kid's glue stick rubbed onto the paper and twisted shut. I didn't want to create a slug by using thick cardboard tubes, that wouldn't tear apart upon firing. This thin paper when tamped home will tear open and when the shot leaves the bore it shouldn't hinder shot separation. I'm planning to try them out in a week or so at our club in preparation for our up coming turkey season. Each paper container is loaded with 1 1/4 oz of #6 shot(largest shot I have at the moment). Powder charge will be 80 grains 2fg.

 

[Carbon 6]

There are a lot of past threads on this subject. you might want to read some of those.
I look forward to your test results.

 

[Brokennock]

Hopefully I got this link right and it works,
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/premade-shot-cups-cartridges-how-to.113216/

 

[Carbon 6]

Wonder how they worked out ?

 

[Rat]

Probably tended to tear when rammed down, especially once the barrel is fouled. Grocery bag paper works best for me.

 

[Carbon 6]

Experimenting is almost as much fun as hunting.

 

[Brokennock]

Experimenting is almost as much fun as hunting.

Leaves me hungry.

 

[Carbon 6]

Experimenting is almost as much fun as hunting.

Leaves me hungry.

Hunger makes food tastier.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Haven't had a chance to hit the range with them yet. Planning to go one day this week. Getting the yard ready for spring has taken up alot of my time the past few weeks. I'll let you know how things work out.

As to the paper tearing, I'm expecting that to happen, but I don't think fouling will be the cause. The tubes are 1/2 inch diameter. Plenty of space in the 20 bore for them to go down, even with fouling present. I'm still planning to use a piece of paper over the shot so even if the tube tears it should still be easier than simply dumping the shot down the bore.

 

[Richard Konish]

Interesting discussion as I am waiting on delivery of an Investarms Gallyon 12 gauge. Used to shoot a New Englander using the TC wonder wads and needing only one wad for over powder and over shot kept it simple, but time has marched on and the wads are no longer made. Need to follow this as I have been mulling how to make paper cartridges for easier reloading in the field.

 

[Rat]

Haven't had a chance to hit the range with them yet. Planning to go one day this week. Getting the yard ready for spring has taken up alot of my time the past few weeks. I'll let you know how things work out.

As to the paper tearing, I'm expecting that to happen, but I don't think fouling will be the cause. The tubes are 1/2 inch diameter. Plenty of space in the 20 bore for them to go down, even with fouling present. I'm still planning to use a piece of paper over the shot so even if the tube tears it should still be easier than simply dumping the shot down the bore.

So my question would be, and is, why use such thin paper, and add another step, over shot card, to the loading process? Trust me, ever the bigger, thicker grocery paper will not "slug". It will, however, improve patterns over loose shot, which is probably about the same as shot in a very thin paper. ??

 

[Sidney Smith]

I got the chance to try out my paper shot cups yesterday. I was disappointed. I wish I would have saved the targets but they got put out with the trash by the wife last night. Anyway, when I used the pre made paper shot tubes, loaded over loose powder, with a balled up paper wad, the resulting pattern was very loose and I was only averaging 8 to 10 hits in the profile of the turkey head target. Of those, only two to three hit a vital area such as the spine or brain case. When I used my other premade charges, which required pouring the lead down the bore, with the crumpled paper over the powder and shot, I was getting better results. I averaged 15 to as high as 22 hits in the profile of the turkey head target, with 6 to 8 hits in the vitals. I don't know why, but I thought the premade shot tubes would show better results than that. They did however make loading much easier. Even after several shots and a fouled bore, they dropped right down without having to be shoved by the rammer. I'd like to try some different setups, maybe even using dime rolls for the shot, however I will not have time to get back to the range before the opener next weekend. I have a part time job that has me working most weekends, so I will most likely just use the loads I have and make sure the birds are in fairly close. I was doing all my shooting at 25 yards yesterday, so getting a bird in to around 20 will assuredly result in a kill. Still was fun to play around with the loadings.

BTW, Rat, my over shot card was only crumpled up paper, not thick card stock. Just so you know. I only did that to insure no shot would roll out the muzzle. I was using 1 1/4 oz of #6 shot.

 

[Brokennock]

What are you using between the powder and the shot cup?

 

[Carbon 6]

What are you using between the powder and the shot cup?

If it doesn't act as a gas seal it's going to negatively affect his pattern.

 

[Brokennock]

If it doesn't act as a gas seal it's going to negatively affect his pattern.

That's what I'm trying to determine with the question. We shall have to wait and see what the answer is.

 

[Blogman]

Mind if I chime/post pics in with some of the loads I whipped up for the revolver?

Oppss, my bad. Didn't see the smoothbore title.
Carry on.

 

[45man]

Just use a plastic shotgun wad on the powder, tear the paper and pour it in followed by an over shot wad. They work as good as anything. You can leave the wad near the muzzle, fill it and put the over shot wad on and push it all down.

 

[jrmflintlock]

I found, at least with my load that too much “gas seal” between the powder and the shot caused blown patterns. That’s why I use a felt wad. The heavy nitro card over the paper shot cup and sloppy fiber wad on top were the ticket.

Back in the day, before I knew of the Skychief special, I was trying all kinds of combinations. Like was said, with just paper wadding you are not getting enough of a seal.

Good luck!!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

with a balled up paper wad, the resulting pattern was very loose and I was only averaging 8 to 10 hits in the profile of the turkey head target. Of those, only two to three hit a vital area such as the spine or brain case. When I used my other premade charges, which required pouring the lead down the bore, with the crumpled paper over the powder and shot, I was getting better results. I averaged 15 to as high as 22 hits in the profile of the turkey head target, with 6 to 8 hits in the vitals. I don't know why, but I thought the premade shot tubes would show better results than that. They did however make loading much easier.

The DO have better results that that... You already sorta figured them out...

You make TWO sets of paper cartridges.

Thicker paper for the powder, pre-measured. You tear that open, pour it down, THEN crush up that now empty cartridge tube and ram it down to form a wad. THEN you load the newsprint shot-cartridges whole, and seat them without breaking them on the wad you formed from the powder cartridge OR you can simply load a 1/2" lubed fiber wad and discard the powder tube. Then you either prime or cap and you're ready to go.

So far squirrels, grouse, and pheasants have fallen to this method.

LD

 

[Rat]

Brown grocery bag paper. Trust me! Sized to go down the barrel with a gentle push, not drop down.

Depending on the size of your bore, and whether you approve or disapprove of plastic shot cups, you can sometimes put a plastic shot cup inside your paper shot-tube. Leave them glued shut. Over powder wads will have to be experimented with.

Turkeys and grouse have fallen to brown grocery bag paper. Lunch bag paper for grouse, grocery bag for turks.