20 ga load for small kid

L

Lethal Farce

New member
I want to load some lite target loads for some 10 yr olds. Currently I load Hogdons Univ in win AA w/ win wads and win 209's. I consulted several books, and found no reduced loads w/ those components. Any recipies using all or some of what I got on hand.
LF
 
I wanted something for close rabbit shooting which didn't totally destroy the rabbit. I loaded the cases with the normal components but poured the shot charge out into my powder scale pan. I made styrofoam wads by using a 20 gauge hull with the crimp and head removed off to cut through styrofoam trays. The styrofoam wads can be placed in the wad guide one at a time and seated inside the shot cup with the press handle. You can use as many wads as you like to take up shot space, then pour the reduced shot charge in manually and crimp as usual. They work well for what I wanted them for and have very mild recoil. I know you won't find this in any loading manual and some will gasp in horror so I'll just say that, for me, the reduced shot charge seems like it would generate lower pressures and not be a safety issue. You won't cycle a semi-auto with them or break clay birds very far out but if reduced recoil is important, they do provide that.
 
You can lighten up the powder a bit to get slower loads. I wouldn't go too slow or there may be some ignition problems or detonations. Maybe a half to a full grain. This may drop your velocity about 100fps + or -. Reducing the shot weight is another option, but you run into the same problems. I would recommend buying some International Clays and loading the 3/4oz loads that Hodgdon has published.

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/shotshel/20winaa-01.php

As always, be careful when loading any special shells. It's not just you who may be hurt.
 
Kudu has excellent advise here. The 3/4 International loads will operate my Browning Gold and 1100 just fine and are very light recoiling.
 
Hey guys, Thanks for the input. I have an Rem 1100 youth for later on, its just a tad too muzzle heavy. The shooters are 9 -10 yr olds. I took 3/8" off an 870 youth and put on a limbsaver pad. I want the shooting experience to be as pleasant as possible. Currently I load 15.5 gr Univ Clays for the AA's. None of the manuals show reduced loads w/ univ.

I went thru some old Shotgun sports mags, and found some lite loads. I'll go thru them and post what seems relevant. It looks like they are a 3/4 oz. load at about 900- 1000 fps. I would think those would be fine for a beginner.
LF
 
I have used some loads for training purposes just as you are proposing. In my case, I modified a NEF single shot 20 gauge by cutting the stock, installing a pad, and reaming the choke to .006" constriction. I loaded 3/4 oz of #9's with a .410 card wad inserted into the shot cup to take up space. I was also successful in using wads that I cut from a piece of foamcore board with a punch. The loads that I used are no longer listed in the manuals, but they were published data in the late 1980's. PM me if you need them.

By the way, the kids absolutely loved shooting skeet with the reduced loads. Each boy shot about a half-dozen shots, which was enough to satisfy them temporarily. Be sure to give them eye and hearing protection. We started with incoming targets on station #1. They were surprisingly successful. I think a lot of folks would tend to start a new shooter on station #7 with outgoing birds, but they tend to wait until the bird is out of range before pulling the trigger. The incomers tend to give the kid a chance to make up his mind to shoot.

Clemson
 
Thanks Clemson, Good point about #1 versus #7. I noticed just what your talking about. They wait a second or so too long, the target starts dropping, and they shoot right over the target. Where in the upstate are you? I shoot at the Gvl Gun Club.
I thought the NEF was a little too lite a gun, so I went w/ the 870. A load I found on Hogdons website w/ the help of some of the folks on Glock Talk is AA's using 3/4 oz. shot, 12 Gr. H. Intl Clays, w/ WAA20 wads, at 1150 FPS. Or another lite one is 10.4 grains Accurate Solo 1000 @ 990 FPS.
LF
 
It sounds like the loads that you have would work just fine. I agree that the NEF is light. It will kick like a mule with anything but the lightest loads. I also have a Youth Model 1100 that I normally use for short shooters, mostly for women and kids. The problems for those folks just starting out is not just the length of pull but also the weight of the gun. Some kids at 8 or 9 are just not physically able to mount and swing a bigger gun. I think these days that I would look into "Chambermates" if I were to do a great deal of training for youngsters. A 2 1/2 inch .410 from the barrel of that NEF might not be quite as effective, but it would be a bunch easier to load!

I usually shoot in the Greenwood area.

Good luck with the kids!

Clemson
 
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