20 gauge????????

[Keyfer 55]

Will nickel plated lead shot pattern well
with out a shot cup, has anyone tried it with just a gas seal ?

 

[Barbaroja]

Why are you trying to skip the wad?

 

[Keyfer 55]

I have an old speer reloading manual all load were with out a cup .

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Are you talking about buckshot or birdshot?
I've loaded quite a few 12 gauge #1 buck with just a gas seal and a piece of cork, but never birdshot. I get much better patterns with a wad.
But this is 12 gauge, and you asked about 20. Also, how your shotgun patterns may not be how someone else's does.

 

[Fishtales]

I started reloading 20 Gauge in 1970 and 12 Gauge a few years later and used Winchester AA wads or Remington Power Pistons. Settled on AA's for both gauges a long time ago. I reload only lead shot. for use on birds and clays.

 

[Blue68f100]

I started loading 20 ga when I was in my teens, ( 50+ yrs ago) paper wads and cork. You will need to use a cork cushion over the powder wad. My concern is that the Ni coated shot will damage the barrel. I would use a std plastic wad for that reason.

 

[Akula69]

Ballistic Products has some pretty good articles on folks who have worked with different materials to convey the payload out of the barrel with good dispersal. I have not patterned my 20 gauge shells yet, but on the 12 gauge buckshot loads I use a gas seal and wrap the buckshot in a Teflon wrap with buffer media. The pattern is about 10 inches diameter at 25 feet with OO 9 pellet.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Ballistic Products has some pretty good articles on folks who have worked with different materials to convey the payload out of the barrel with good dispersal. I have not patterned my 20 gauge shells yet, but on the 12 gauge buckshot loads I use a gas seal and wrap the buckshot in a Teflon wrap with buffer media. The pattern is about 10 inches diameter at 25 feet with OO 9 pellet.

Ballistic Products is great.
Their TPS Cushion wad is the cat's meow for my #1 buck loads for 3" 12 gauge loads.
It's kind of annoying that you have to trim them (they come for 3.5") and cut the petals yourself, but performance is worth it.