Trade Gun shot gun loads

[11th corps]

I built my T.O.W. trade gun more then 15 years ago, but have always shot solid ball from it. Today I decided it was time to try a shot gun load. I shot both #8 pellets and #5.
# 8 on the target at 20 yards. Seems like a decent pattern.

When I loaded #5 shot with the same powder charge-70 grains of 3F at the same distance. this is the same target as above, fired at again. What I noticed was there were a few spots were multiple pellets appear to have struck in the same spot. Any idea what causes this?

My next goal is to load up #8, and hit a clay pigeon in air from my Trius thrower.

 

[Arnoldshea2]

Im not quite sure why it happens but it can happen with conventional shotguns too. Ive seen it when ive patterned smokless shells. You might try messing with your powder charge a bit in small incriments and see what it does for your patterns; tjough it ñooks good enough to hit clays with. You didn't mention how much shot you used in your loading. Ill see if i can get an explanation for you as to how shot travels to the target.
-Shea

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Does anyone have any experience using kapok for wadding in a smoothbore like this in developing a good patterning load?

 

[LongWalker]

The problem with kapok is that it is very flammable. Use as a wadding obviously exposes it to the flame of the burning powder. In the experiment I observed, it resulted in a grass fire that took several hours to extinguish.

 

[bpd303]

I use Kapok with an over powder card & moose juice. Never had a problem with it burning. Could be the card protecting it.