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Looking for help with some traditional fiber wad loads. I have two uses for this load in mind. First, I'd like to use my trusty Marlin 90 on some pen raised birds. It's IC/MOD in theory, but with modern shells it seems to either miss or clobber. It's fine for clays as it smokes them clean when I do my part, but on close in birds it doesn't leave much for the table either way. So opening up the pattern with a traditional style load seems a first good step, prior to opening chokes. Second, is to have something of a 'spreader load' for my two modern guns, 525 Citori and a dandy Ugartechea Parker Hale

I was ordering some cards and fiber wads for a 28ga muzzleloader, so I figured it time to get some for 16ga and try some different loads in a few guns.

I acquired a bunch of reloading materials and equipment a few years back. I only loaded a few boxes, packed it all up to move, and it's been sequestered away since. I have a MEC Sizemaster, and a lee hand load tool I picked up last year on ebay out of curiosity. I also recently picked up a roll crimp tool as I was ordering from Precision, and they were on sale. I don't have a drill press at home right now, so not sure how that helps me yet...

So here's what I have on hand:

Powder: Unique, GreenDot, (Pyrodex FF & FFF) I only have a pound of each on hand, but figure that's enough to get me started. The powder is about 6 years old, but pyrodex is only a year or so. Prefer the economy of the smokeless powders, but mentioned the pyrodex because I technically have the option.

Hulls: Fiocchi blue, Winchester SuperX red, Federal, and RGLs. I don't have a ton of the WinSuperX, but enough for this project. RGL's seem to be on the stiff side, so I can use them, but prefer the other choices.

Wads: I have 1/2” fiber wads and plenty of over shot cards. I also have over shot cards .

Primers: Winchester, Federal and Remington, all in quantity.

#8 shot, plenty on hand.

I have a printed version of the low pressure data, but it's from 2007 or so. I have a few other books, but not seeing much guidance on this type of load.

Anyone have a load they can share? Guidance?

(I thought about cutting the petals off of some R16 wads to make some brush wads, but the fiber wad stack seemed like a better fit for the Marlin at least.)

The following recipes are what I load for 16 GA in all brass hulls. Federal plastic hulls work well.

7/8oz shot, 16.6 grains Green dot, Win primer, Card wad with fiber filler.
7/8oz shot, 16.5 grains Unique, Win primer, Card wad with Fiber filler.
Both loads are rated at 1190fps, 2 1/2drams. Equiv.

I have not shot or patterned the 7/8 0z. green Dot load.

*3/4 or 7/8 oz shot, 18.3 grains Unique, Win primer, card wad, fiber filler.
1230fps, rated at 2 3/4 Dram. Equiv.
l Ioad them all at about 40 lbs. pressure on the wads.

*This load patterned outstanding in my AyA and my friends Parker and is perfect for Blue and Ruff grouse. I also use the load for dove, Huns and Quail

I have shot, patterned and chronographed the loads listed below and use them for Sage Grouse and pheasant.

Shot wt. Vel. Powder Gr. Wads PSI
1 1178 SR4756 28 card & fiber 5780
1 1238 SR4756 30 “ 6440
1 1328 SR4756 32 “ 7440
1 1/8 1325 SR4756 32 “ 9620

Thank you very much! That was exactly the kind of load I was looking for jschultz.

7/8oz shot, 16.6 grains Green dot, Win primer, Card wad with fiber filler.

7/8oz shot, 16.5 grains Unique, Win primer, Card wad with Fiber filler.

Would a 1oz load spike pressure too much keeping all the other variables the same?

Right or bottom barrel load with #8's I'm fine with 7/8oz, but for the top barrel on the marlin I might want 1oz, esp if I decide to have a #6-7 shot load for larger than quail birds.

They both would work with 1 oz of shot

Finally dug out all the goodies and put the press back in service. Ended up with federal hulls, win primer, 18.3 grains Unique, one hard card over powder, two fiber wads, and one hard card under the 7/8oz shot and an over shot card to finish.

Crimps were mostly ok, a couple of uglies, but I doubt the quail will notice. I'll start using these in the right hand barrel in the Uggie for the close first shot. Hopefully will set up place to pattern with a few of the older guns.

Should have a chance to try them out this week, Beowolf (member who lives pretty near me) and I have scheduled a preserve hunt on Friday.

Set up some newspaper to just get an idea of how patterns were looking. Was kinda windy, so didn't do a whole lot today.

Four shells through the Uggie, pretty even across a full sheet of newspaper at 25 yards. Mod barrel seemed more sparse of pattern?? Maybe was not as centered, maybe a poi issue? Hard to tell with two shells per barrel. LOTS of unburned powder, at least double what I've ever seen before.

Only two shells through the Model 90. Smaller paper, so I stepped up to 15 yards. Didn't look bad either. Wind was not making me want to mess much around more patterning today.

Need better paper and better holder. Just paced off distance, should measure. Need to run some factory #8's for comparison. But they all went off, and my gun didn't blow up, so that's a start.

Happy New Year's!

16'er, I use old blueprints from jobs we either bid on or did years ago. They're usually plenty big enough in size and with the back of the prints being all white you can really examine your patterns. If you have a friend in the construction industry it might be worth checking with him for old sets of prints.

I buy large rolls of butcher paper from a local meat cutter. My pattern board is made from 2" x 2" lumber, fashioned into an H shape and secured with screws. A piece of cardboard from a washing machine box is cut to size and stapled onto the H frame. The two legs are each placed into a 2" pipe that is bolted to a 18" square steel plate.
I have measured and marked the ground in front of the pattern board in increments of 5 yards ranging from 20 yards to 45 yards. I cut the butcher paper to size and with a marker, write the load info and distance that I plan on shooting. I would provide you with a pic, but it is -30 and the wind is blowing.

js, I've been watching the weather out there in Wyoming. The entire state is getting hammered. 48 below in Daniel yesterday morning. I well remember those kinds of temps.

Sharps, I've been keeping an eye on the weather too, albeit through a window from a comfortable chair in front of a roaring fire. That to will end because in 15 minutes it time to feed our critters.
Annie often braves the elements, especially when she wears her new winter coat which was a gift from a friend.

Joined: 25 Aug 2014 Posts: 286 Location: Finger Lakes

I use contractors paper from Home Depot or lowes. Or this time of year wrapping paper that is left over to do all my patterning.

Woody, is contractor paper the heavy brown stuff?

js, woody, those are good tips, thanks. As I'm about to retire the supply of old prints will dry up I'll need a source. Well...I know plenty of general contractors, maybe I can hit them up for old sets of prints....hehe

Thank you Giils.