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Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Did some chronographing this past week when it got up to 35 degrees. I shot some Herters factory 1oz #8s over my Chrony for the first time. I got 1225 fps with an extreme spread of 16 fps. I shot a 5 shot string with the closest sensor 5 feet from the muzzle, my standard set up. The ammo came straight from my house, so it was not at ambient temperature, but probably at least 60 degrees.
What speeds have others gotten with 16 gauge factory Herters? I have chronographed some 12 gauge Herters and it measured faster than advertised as well.
Thanks,
Jeff

Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 962 Location: Minnesota

I have not chronoed any but I shoot quite a few of the purple Herters one ounce loads.

I tested the Herter's one ounce loads back in 2013, shortly after they became available.

I think they are a very good load for a very reasonable price. I do not think of these loads as a cheap promo factory load. I think of them as a viable target load and light hunting load I'd use readily if I didn't reload.

Here are the chronograph results I recorded:

One ounce of 8s, each are 10-shot strings

First test
1163 fps
6 SD
19 EV

Second test
1161 fps
9 SD
25 EV

One ounce of 6s, each are 10-shot strings

First test
1139 fps
10 SD
37 EV

Second test
1149 fps
7 SD
17 EV

The Herter's boxes of shells and Cabela's website list the velocity at 1,165 fps.

My results were pretty much spot on with the 8s and only about 2% slower velocity with the 6s. I think that's pretty darn good.

My tests were run in the spring of 2013 when it was about 65 degrees F.

Your results will most likely vary.

Lon

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

Lon, what distance from the muzzle do you set your start screen and what choke do you usually use?

I do all my chronographing with a good friend, as it is he who owns the chronograph. And he has more than 25 years of reloading, chronographing, and patterning experience. So, I'm lucky to be able to glean info from someone who has pretty extensive experience.

We run all of our chronograph tests at 3 feet from the muzzle, always use the shade of the gun club building and use a skeet choke from the same gun.

The only thing that varies much for our tests is the temp, humidity and cloud cover; which we annotate.

Lon

The other thing we do is shoot several "control" loads over the chronograph at the beginning of our session.

We believe it reassures us the chronograph is working properly and fouls the barrel of the shotgun.

I use Federal one ounce factory loads as my control load because they are pretty consistent and it provides me with once fired Federal hulls for reloading.

Lon

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

Looking back through my books , the 3 times I chrono'd them ( #8s) 10 rounds each time .

1st 1205 fps

2nd 1147 fps

3nd 1149 fps

all three times Ev's in the mid 30s

1st one was done in 95 degree temps

the last 2, 78 & 80 degrees

All done with chrono at 3' center of the screens and I/C chokes same gun

I also got velocities very close to what is advertised with the chronograph 3 feet from the muzzle. This was with the #8 loads.

Have always heard that 3 feet is standard practice for shotgun shells.

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Thanks for the replies. I've always used factory Federal 1 oz as my control and they are around 1150 as advertised. Next time I'll shoot some factory Feds and Herters at the same time.
Jeff

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

My testing shows that they are faster than quail.

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1113

Joined: 03 Feb 2014 Posts: 325 Location: West Texas