16ga.com ~ View topic - Using card wad to increase height of shot column

Joined: 20 Oct 2015 Posts: 77

Loading 15.8 gr International in Herters 16 ga hull Chedite 209 primer. Need to increase height of shot column for better crimp.
Would it be better to use card wad over powder under dr 16 wad or use 28 ga over shot wads in bottom of shot cup before adding shot?
Chart list 7/8 oz load at 1150fps and 6200psi

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3178 Location: NCWa

when encountering an overall height that was too low for a tight crimp I have found that a circular piece of plastic foam (cut from supermarket meat trays) the diameter of the inside of the shot cup under the shot works best to build the shot height without unduly affecting the ballistics of the load.

Joined: 19 Apr 2014 Posts: 429 Location: Maine

I was loading 700X in 16ga ched hull sg16 wad. Used a 28ga nitro card in the bottom of the wad and it worked well. Loading the nitro cards was a pain in the backside. Can't imagine what a time consumer cutting foam would be unless you were loading one box of shells.

Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 115 Location: Grampian, PA

I feed Pro Plan Sport, 1 kibble in the shot cup works wonders.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Pinto bean,cheerio,etc.---the idea is to add bulk/mass not weight.

Actually you want the card wads under the shot inside the shot cup of the wad. Food disintegrates and not always consistently.

Never have had to use a filler with the DR16 and 7/8 oz. of shot. if anything they are always a bit on the long side.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2350 Location: West MI

I think adding fillers under the shot is least disruptive. If worried about barrel scrub than over the shot. Under the wad messing with the powder cup/seal never seemed like a good option to me and I've never needed to add it there.

Agreed, that DR16 is pretty long and takes up a lot of space. Is the wad/cup hanging up on the way in and maybe crushing the legs a bit?

Member Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 370 Location: Kansas

I load that exact load in both 2-3/4" and 2-1/2" hulls. For the 2-3/4" I install the Dr-16 with zero wad pressure until it just clicks past the wad finger guide (on my mec sizemaster). I let the final crimp seat the wad and I get excellent crimps. I have done this on the Herters hulls which you can hold up to a light and they are fully seated and there are no gaps. For the 2-1/2" I fully seat the wad to somewhat compress it before you add the shot and the crimps turn out just as nice.

Hope that helps.

Ben

I do the same as 16gauguy except I use 32 ga nitro cars wads. Been using them for years .

Regards, Gordon

I do the same as 16gauguy except I use Cheerios. Been using them for years . Smile

Enjoy, Mike

Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Posts: 83

Cheerios work well for me also.

I use Honey Nut Cheerios . They're tastier to snack n while I'm loading . I remain ever hopeful that someday I'll be able to detect an infusion of honey-nut goodness in a bird or squirrel I've taken

I understand that General Mills has added another Cheerios flavor to their line up: Hoppe's #9 for those who insist on stuffing their shotshells w/ breakfast food. Enjoy!! Laughing

Agree it's hard to beat good sharp hole punch and styro grocery trays; resulting disks in bottom of wad under shot drop.