A Note on Superlight Loads.....

[Dave McCracken]

Following something that fellow Mod rbernie wrote, I've been experimenting with 3/4 oz 12 gauge loads. Using published data from Hodgdon, BP,et al, I worked up a training load a while back and just bumped the powder up one bushing. Shot size and make was my usual for this time of year, 8.5 West Coast Magnum.

I've used these at Wobble and SC, instead of my standard 7/8 oz loads. Chokes in my well broken in Beretta O/U were mostly LM/M, or 15/20 POC. More choke than needed and more than I usually use, but I wanted hard breaks. I got them. Heck, there was smoke often enough to raise my eyebrow.

As is my routine for practice, I shot a round of Sporting Clays first,then a pair of Wobble rounds. At Wobble, target distance at break for me is between 30 and 35 yards. The 3/4 oz loads broke most SC targets OK, and the ones that didn't were mostly the ones that I have trouble with anyway.

Today I shot a round of SC then one round of Wobble. A Mom and Dad had showed up with three adolescent girls that had never shot. Dad hadn't shot in years, Mom had shot just once before.

My Beretta has a 15" LOP, but I let them use it with a box of the 3/4 oz loads just to familiarize themselves and to feel how the gun moved,sans pain.

It worked, despite novice form and bad fit. I had everyone try a few shots and left the rest of the box with them when I left to start on the Honeydos.

So, if you'd like less kick, lower reloading costs or have a new shooter to start off, consider the 3/4 oz loads.

They work.

And rbernie, I owe you one.....

 

[Cryogaijin]

Excellent. Always nice to start people off in a manner that doesn't illicit a flinch.

 

[Virginian]

Not taking issue with anything you have said, but lots of times novices don't even have a gun yet, or the budget or knowledge to buy the right good O/U, and they don't reload.
A good not too light gas semi auto can work too, even with promo loads to start them out. An Express, Mossberg 500, or Nova with the same loads is not a great idea, but that is exactly where a lot of them start out. Likewise, a .410 is much more of an expert's gun than a novice's for wingshooting, and all but a few of them - the more expensive ones of course - have horrible handling charistics.
The best thing for a novice is to run into a experienced and intelligent shooter like Dave to get them off on the right foot. If it happened more often we would likely have more shooters.

 

[Cryogaijin]

True enough, that. I've oftimes been in the next lane over from "first time out to the range" peeps and I always offer to let 'em fire my arms. Had a 7 year old on his first range day not too long ago who had been doing excellent all day, and he got to fire my 30-06 boltie. It was sandbagged down so the recoil wasn't a big deal. He was so excited that he hit the target at 100 yards. (He'd been popping balloons at 25 yards with a 10/22)

 

[oneounceload]

One way to develop those 3/4oz loads is to take a regular 7/8oz load and only drop 3/4. I have been doing that for over a year now. The only issue I get is with the wife's Beretta semi and cold weather - I needed to bump the powder about half a grain.

Dave, I'll think you'll find a lot of folks using these, not just for training new shooters, but also for us older ones who are tired of the recoil. I also found I needed to tighten up one choke constriction from what I was using with 7/8 - i.e., IC became a LM, and LM became a M choke requirement for decent patterns

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, folks....

Good points, Virginian. In fact, I'm writing an article on guns and gear for new shooters. Keep checking here for that.

The family I helped yesterday were grateful. All the new shooters got off some rounds painfree, and some were quite apprehensive before and relieved after.

New shotgunners have two humps to cross. The first, obviously, is Kick with a capital K. This family got past part of that, and I was coaching them on form and technique too.

The second is placing that shot charge where it will intersect the target at the right time. With the first hump behind them, they can work on that second.

Finally, lots of us reload and have some time where we could teach a new shooter. A few boxes of superlight loads cranked off painlessly by potential new shooters and voters may be a great safeguard for our rights.

 

[451 Detonics]

I have been loading 7/8ths and 3/4 inch loads for many years. Mostly I have done so to save on shot, even tho I cast my own shot I still like using less lead for shot as I can use that lead for other bullets. I also like the lighter loads in my 2 1/2 inch Parker.

I use the Rex wad from Ballistic Products and either Federal GM or Remington SP hulls. These get used mostly for skeet...I am not overly fond of trap but I will shoot it occasionally and generally use a 7/8 ounce load. Upland game is generally shot with a 7/8 ounce 16 gauge. With my recent new SXS acquisition I will be shooting 28 gauge again after a long lay off of that gauge.

 

[Dave McCracken]

451, been using 7/8 oz loads for a good while, maybe 5 years or so. They've done fine for me.

The key is,IMO, top quality components. Hard,round shot, moderate velocity, good wads, consistent primers. Everything that aids efficiency in a load.

I've been loading these 3/4 oz loads in once fired Gun Clubs. The 7/8 oz laods are in Nitro hulls, so I have color coding....

 

[Bud Tugly]

A tip of my hat to you, Dave, for championing the notion of starting new shooters on lighter loads. IMO more people are adversely affected by recoil than is recognized.

As a new shooter many years ago I subscribed to the "bigger is better" theory. I found myself missing terribly more often than not and felt resigned to just being a bad shot.

Fortunately I found out mostly by chance that shooting a lighter gauge and load led to far more success and was able to work through the flinch problems I had developed despite the fact that I was 6'2" and 200 lbs. At least in my case I certainly would have benefited from the tutelage of a wise veteran such as yourself, and I hope others are listening.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, Bud. Agreed on more people being adversely affected. That includes me.

I had a flinch by my 14th B-Day, from shooting goose loads from a sub 6 lbs 16 gauge single with a butt plate, no pad. IMO, I would have made better progress and had more fun if such loads had been around. My late brother never did get into shotguns, though he owned and used rifles and handguns...

 

[rbernie]

Sounds like a successful outing - clays were broken, the loads reset the trigger on the Beretta OK, and the shells proved useful to others.

I introduced my eldest (now 16year old) son last year to shotgunning by buying him his first 870 (20ga Express) and a MEC Jr and having him make his own 3/4oz 1100fps 20ga loads. He has CP and has always been noise sensitive - the lighter loads were perfect for non-intimidating kick and lower blast levels and allowed him to enjoy the experience rather than dread it.

 

[Dave McCracken]

...to enjoy the experience rather than dread it"....

Exactly. As you well know, there'd be lots more shotgunners if we'd not have to handle kick and blast. Blast is perceived as pain, frequently.

Had I done as you have with my kids, maybe the'd be more into shotguns also.

Next, I plan on loading up some 20 gauge 3/4 oz loads and both try them in the 20s here and in some students' guns also.