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putz463
PostPosted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 2:41 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2343
Location: West MI

Great thread, thanks for the detailed & focused work.

Had my 16ga Upland Special in the canoe last weekend with some #3 Steel loads, for the small water and spread I was hunting it worked fine, then up into the woods for a long walk (stumble) with a short gun, great day.

Keep up the good work here gent's, many thanks...

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Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up.
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Gil S
PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 4:12 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 1943
Location: Lowcountry Ga.

Dave,
While I haven't tested HTL to the extent you have, i've been shooting TSS for the past half-dozen seasons at turkeys in .410 and 20 gauge and have a few observations, all anecdotal, so these may be taken with a grain of salt. Buffer made no difference in .410's load of 13/16 oz. I tried improving pattern density by its addition and varying powder weight, but saw no improvement. In my 20 gauge loads, 1 5/16 oz. and 1 5/8 oz., I saw a loosening of tightness which is what I was seeking. In those loads, no buffer was used. While it's true that there is no permanent, significant, deformation with TSS, anecdotal reports by some using reclaimed shot, showed some slight flattening of pellets. I've wondered whether there is also some temporary deformation at set-back causing a "boing-boing" effect of pellets as they race down the barrel causing a loosening of pattern without buffer. I haven't shot enough of the loads to have enough shots to establish a reliable statistical sampling, as there can be a variance in a handful of shots of any load. Gil
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Dave In AZ
PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 9:50 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 13 Oct 2015
Posts: 348

Good info. Thx Gil
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16GAwaterfowler
PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 1:59 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 287
Location: missouri

Dave In AZ wrote:
John Singer wrote:
Before I started reloading my own steel for 16 gauge (7/8 oz @1550 fps), I used Sporting Ammo 15/16 oz #3 sreel @1400 fps.

I saw no observable difference in performance.

I could see that, especially if your patterns are good. A better patterning slightly lighter load beats a heavier load that throws those pellets outmof the pattern, for sure.

Finding a heavier 16ga reload around 1 oz is more "needed" from a psychological standpoint than hunting, maybe... the 16 SHOULD have a load that matches the 20ga, that makes full use of it's available hull volume. It's just something that should exist, in a right-ordered universe. Wink

I've come to the conclusion that the extra 10-12 or pellets you get from 1 oz vs 15/16 oz isn't worth it, especially if you load 4's or 3's for the 16 ga. The Velocity loss does not compensate for the few extra pellets you get, I'm sticking with what's tried an true and has killed ducks for me in the past.
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High Shooter
PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 9:27 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 30 Oct 2008
Posts: 39
Location: Southern California

16GAwaterfowler wrote:
Dave In AZ wrote:
John Singer wrote:
Before I started reloading my own steel for 16 gauge (7/8 oz @1550 fps), I used Sporting Ammo 15/16 oz #3 sreel @1400 fps.

I saw no observable difference in performance.

I could see that, especially if your patterns are good. A better patterning slightly lighter load beats a heavier load that throws those pellets outmof the pattern, for sure.

Finding a heavier 16ga reload around 1 oz is more "needed" from a psychological standpoint than hunting, maybe... the 16 SHOULD have a load that matches the 20ga, that makes full use of it's available hull volume. It's just something that should exist, in a right-ordered universe. Wink

I've come to the conclusion that the extra 10-12 or pellets you get from 1 oz vs 15/16 oz isn't worth it, especially if you load 4's or 3's for the 16 ga. The Velocity loss does not compensate for the few extra pellets you get, I'm sticking with what's tried an true and has killed ducks for me in the past.


The multi-metal load that he's aiming for makes a lot sense and most certainly will improve performance over distances. It makes sub bore duck loads more affordable over 100 percent hevi or ITX 13. It's a numbers game no matter what and the 16 lacks capacity when steel shot is used. When upland game like quail are hunted on the same weekend as ducks on the refugee, it would be nice to have all the options we can in shells. That along with the fact a youth hunter might want to shoot a goose too when they unexpectedly show up on a duck hunt. I'll take as much payload I can. One of those 10 extra pellets just might be the one to find the vitals at the outskirts of range. Probably hard to get evidence for and it's easily overlooked after the good dog comes back with the bird no matter how it came down. I wish I had a place to hunt where I can patiently wait for the birds to present a good shot under 30 consistently. As it is, my neighbor on the pond next door might find sky busting good sport.

Rolling Eyes
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16GAwaterfowler
PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 8:05 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 287
Location: missouri

High Shooter wrote:
16GAwaterfowler wrote:
Dave In AZ wrote:
John Singer wrote:
Before I started reloading my own steel for 16 gauge (7/8 oz @1550 fps), I used Sporting Ammo 15/16 oz #3 sreel @1400 fps.

I saw no observable difference in performance.

I could see that, especially if your patterns are good. A better patterning slightly lighter load beats a heavier load that throws those pellets outmof the pattern, for sure.

Finding a heavier 16ga reload around 1 oz is more "needed" from a psychological standpoint than hunting, maybe... the 16 SHOULD have a load that matches the 20ga, that makes full use of it's available hull volume. It's just something that should exist, in a right-ordered universe. Wink

I've come to the conclusion that the extra 10-12 or pellets you get from 1 oz vs 15/16 oz isn't worth it, especially if you load 4's or 3's for the 16 ga. The Velocity loss does not compensate for the few extra pellets you get, I'm sticking with what's tried an true and has killed ducks for me in the past.


The multi-metal load that he's aiming for makes a lot sense and most certainly will improve performance over distances. It makes sub bore duck loads more affordable over 100 percent hevi or ITX 13. It's a numbers game no matter what and the 16 lacks capacity when steel shot is used. When upland game like quail are hunted on the same weekend as ducks on the refugee, it would be nice to have all the options we can in shells. That along with the fact a youth hunter might want to shoot a goose too when they unexpectedly show up on a duck hunt. I'll take as much payload I can. One of those 10 extra pellets just might be the one to find the vitals at the outskirts of range. Probably hard to get evidence for and it's easily overlooked after the good dog comes back with the bird no matter how it came down. I wish I had a place to hunt where I can patiently wait for the birds to present a good shot under 30 consistently. As it is, my neighbor on the pond next door might find sky busting good sport.

Rolling Eyes

After 16 years of shooting steel in a 16 ga. velocity wins out every time over 10 more pellets of payload.
If have a need for skybusting my Gold 10 gauge is not far away if I need it.
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oldhunter
PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 4:02 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 03 Dec 2006
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I see some members are looking for a 1 oz load for steel. I loaded up a load using 1 oz of steel today. I shot a couple of them out at my pattern board. They did not seem any stronger then some of the lead loads using longshot. I used 800X the Rio hull. Rio hulls have the most capacity of all the hulls in 16 gauge. I will send some in to get tested. I do not shoot steel in 16 gauge myself as my 16 gauge guns are not new enough for steel, but I shot them in my 11-48 and didn't leave any scratches in the barrel.
The new load that was listed is on the spreadsheets now and a new copy will be posted.
On another note. I have been trying some 3/4oz loads in lead. I used one of Mike Campbells loads using the Rem hull and Green dot that is listed for 7/8oz. 14.2 grains using the SG16L wad. I just used a 24 gauge OS card on top and got a good crimp and when out at the pattern board they ejected just fine out of the 11-48. Did not leave powder in the barrel either. Very clean.

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16GAwaterfowler
PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 2:18 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 287
Location: missouri

oldhunter wrote:
I see some members are looking for a 1 oz load for steel. I loaded up a load using 1 oz of steel today. I shot a couple of them out at my pattern board. They did not seem any stronger then some of the lead loads using longshot. I used 800X the Rio hull. Rio hulls have the most capacity of all the hulls in 16 gauge. I will send some in to get tested. I do not shoot steel in 16 gauge myself as my 16 gauge guns are not new enough for steel, but I shot them in my 11-48 and didn't leave any scratches in the barrel.
The new load that was listed is on the spreadsheets now and a new copy will be posted.
On another note. I have been trying some 3/4oz loads in lead. I used one of Mike Campbells loads using the Rem hull and Green dot that is listed for 7/8oz. 14.2 grains using the SG16L wad. I just used a 24 gauge OS card on top and got a good crimp and when out at the pattern board they ejected just fine out of the 11-48. Did not leave powder in the barrel either. Very clean.

We appreciate the effort.
Here's 16 ga 1 oz 4's 1440 fps @ 40 yards, so far it seems to work but the faster loads seem to be more effective as ranges increase.
[URL=http://s1218.photobucket.com/user/Joe_Speroni/media/IMG_0063_zpszzhzy7mr.jpg.html] [/URL]
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