16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 14 Oct 2011 Posts: 66 Location: England

I have a bit of Alliant Steel and Longshot left but would like a load that is a little slower for decoying with steel shells.
Anyone using unique, Winchester Super Field or Greendot?
Regards
Graham
In the UK where we are soon to lose all our lead loads….

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3304 Location: NCWa

you have my condolences for losing all options for lead shot. Here (Washington State) use of lead shot on game is limited to private property and non-migratory birds. So we're forced to using non-tox shot and since my Parker is pre-steel, I'm reduced to bismuth. Oh well. As to your question, I use both winchester SF and Green Dot in non-max 16 ga loads but it is with lead so the info would be no help. sorry.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2555 Location: West MI

OK, a little slower than what? IOW: what speed are you hoping for?

Joined: 14 Oct 2011 Posts: 66 Location: England

I am hoping for something around 1300 fps but without having to use up the last of my Alliant Steel powder as this is now unobtainable in the UK.

The days of popping to the LGS to pick up Alliant Steel or Blue Dot are long gone unfortunately. We do have access to European powders from Vectan and also Vhitavouri but there is no current data for steel shot.
If I was going to have to develop a load then I would probably try Vhitavouri N105 or 3n38 but it is a long and expensive process to get a fairly basic load hence the question to see if someone has already done it
Regards
Graham

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2555 Location: West MI

10-4, if you can get N105 I'm envious, by the time I learned of it and wanted to start playing with it VV discontinued. Can you get Lilgun? Over on The Refuge they are having great success with it in the absence of Asteel in all gauges especially 16 & 10. Scroll to post #12, it's faster than you desire but he mentions how "tricky" it is to load since the powder makes it a tight fit, so, reduce the powder by a few grains and you should have a decent 1300'ish load.

https://www.refugeforums.com/threads/tested-load-data-thread.1116733/page-2

Joined: 21 May 2024 Posts: 107 Location: Eastern Tennessee

I found a bit of steel load data related to Vectan. I’ve never tested myself but I’ll share once I find it.

Joined: 21 May 2024 Posts: 107 Location: Eastern Tennessee

Ched hulls 2 3/4
Ched 209
Vectan STL 22 grains
7/8 oz steel shot
Over shot card + 18CW28
BP1680 wad, 4 slits
11,200 psi
1,380 fps[/img]

Joined: 03 Sep 2014 Posts: 411 Location: Rochester, MN

Check out the Tested Load Data thread on this forum. There some 16 gauge steel shot loads using powders other than Alliant Steel.

Thread ''Tested' Load Data Thread' https://www.refugeforums.com/threads/tested-load-data-thread.1116733/

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1553 Location: Western WA

Had excellent 16 ga success with Steel powder and non-toxic ITX shot at moderate velocities. ITX availability is a question however.

No. 2 steel shot at 1350 fps is surprisingly effective for waterfowl but I am not aware of any 16 ga loads at that velocity.

B.

Joined: 14 Oct 2011 Posts: 66 Location: England

Thank you all - good food for thought

Joined: 14 Oct 2011 Posts: 66 Location: England

Thank you all - good food for thought