Volume vs. weight (Shotshell powder charge)

M

mjes92

New member
Winter has arrived hear in the North. Its Reloading season.

I am loading Shotshell loads using a 1980 vintage Lee re-loader. Yes, that is all I have to work with and its been 15 years since I have used it. Its not fast and she isn't pretty, but it works. The problem is I'm not sure which load data spec I should trust. The bushing size called out in the recipe consistently drops 1.5 grains less that the spec'd powder charge by weight. When I go to the next size larger bushing the powder charge is at the spec'd 22.4 grains by weight. (+/- .3 grains on either bushing)

Which spec do you trust more? By weight I believe.

15 years ago, prior to getting into loading rifle and Handgun I had no scale to verify the powder charge by weight. I blindly trusted the bushing & powder spec'd combination. Everything worked fine. But I now know my loads were under performing. That must have been why my scores were so low. :eek::)
 
Unlike rifle and pistol cartridges, 3/4 of the battle in doing shotgun is having a powder charge, wad, and shot charge that physically fits the the hull you happen to be using for a proper crimp. The actual pressures generated are not nearly as critical with shotgun. For this reason, I woud use whichever bushing between the two results in the best crimp, as both will be within the safe range.
 
My Load-All does the same thing, so I go by weight. The charts are for reference only anyway. They get you in the ballpark of where you need to be, your scale does the rest.

The above poster is right about crimp quality, though. Gotta get those nice crimps.
 
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