16 Gauge Lead and Steel Observations

[johnsinger]

Lately, I have been playing around with a 16 gauge shotgun. (See the SxS Point of Impact post.) I purchased a Lee Load All II to load for this gun since ammo is hard to come by. I also have some shells left by my father after he died. So far, here is what I have learned.

1. Federal 15/16 oz #2 Steel Loads are not worth the price of the paper in their base wad. The shells contain less than 15/16 oz of shot. They pattern very poorly for me. Very few pellets hit a 30" circle at 40 yards.

2. Federal 1 1/4 oz #6 Lead are very good shells. The shot is copper plated and the load is buffered. Fired through the modified choked right barrel of the gun at a turkey target, they easily pattern well for turkey hunting. The left, full choke barrel does not yet shoot to point of aim.

3. 7/8 oz of #8 lead over 14.5 grains 700x powder with a Winchester AA-16 wad with 2 28-gauge cards in the base of the wad makes a fine, low recoil target load.

4. The VP-80 wad (like the VP-65 in 12 gauge) for steel shot is an outstanding wad. Using the BP recipe with a Cheddite hull for 7/8 oz steel shot, I have loaded and tested #3, #1 and B steel. This load has a published velocity of 1550 fps. All three shoot excellent even patterns at 40 yards. I was impressed. My 12 gauge guns do not pattern #1 steel as well as this gun/shell does. In 12 gauge, I have found the VP-65 to be the most consistent patterning wad with 1-oz of steel shot. So far the VP-80 is equally impressive.

The #3 steel looks a load to use for ducks and WMA pheasant hunting. The #1 and B steel look great for goose hunting.

I have a size C adjustable reamer on order that I should be able to pick up next week. I intend to open the left barrel from full to modified and to adjust the point of impact. I look forward to using this gun from the layout boat this fall or for hunting alone during our Michigan regular goose season where our limit is only 2 birds. I have been having a ball playing with this while waiting for this winter to get out of here.

[jarbo03]

I've had great luck with the VP-80. I shoot #4 for ducks mostly, 3s have worked good also. The Gualandi wads from BP make nice 1 and 1 1/8oz lead loads.

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[dog walker]

If you get with 10gaugenut/BTJustice on the other forums he's a wealth of knowledge on 16 reloading lead and non toxic shot.

[johnsinger]

Thank you. I did communicate with 10gaugenut about 16 gauge steel reloading recently.

[jehler]

John jr has been doing real well with bpi load 50204 621f, it's a 7/8 load at 1560, with 5's to 1's

[jehler]

Well enough we quit patterning and trying other loads

[jehler]

Let me know if you come across a 1 ounce hevishot load

[jarbo03]

Patterned a 1 1/4oz hw15#7 turkey load thay was wicked

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[jehler]

Patterned a 1 1/4oz hw15#7 turkey load thay was wicked

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pretty sure we have some heavier recipes, jr's a pretty good shot now, looking to make the heavy last a while and haven't seen any lighter loads for it

[johnsinger]

John jr has been doing real well with bpi load 50204 621f, it's a 7/8 load at 1560, with 5's to 1's

I take it that load uses the VP-80 wad. With either VP-80 or VP-65, I have yet to throw a bad pattern.

[jehler]

John jr has been doing real well with bpi load 50204 621f, it's a 7/8 load at 1560, with 5's to 1's

I take it that load uses the VP-80 wad. With either VP-80 or VP-65, I have yet to throw a bad pattern.

the first bag of wads I had was CSD-16 if memory serves, now they are vp 80's but I don't think there was any change in the wads, just the nomenclature?

[John Singer]

Here is an update on my 16 gauge gun and steel shot performance.

This season, I have used the 16 gauge gun to shoot both ducks and geese. For geese, I have used 7/8 oz of #1 and B steel. I have only killed two geese with this gun this season, one each with each shot size.

However, I have used this gun with 7/8 oz of #3 and #1 steel on ducks on Saginaw Bay. I have shot 9 ducks widgeon, gadwall, and redheads with this gun. I have averaged 1 duck bagged for every 3 shots fired. The gun and load have performed very well.

I hope to try this gun layout shooting on Lake Erie during the last couple of weeks of our season.

[NuffDaddy]

Here is an update on my 16 gauge gun and steel shot performance.

This season, I have used the 16 gauge gun to shoot both ducks and geese. For geese, I have used 7/8 oz of #1 and B steel. I have only killed two geese with this gun this season, one each with each shot size.

However, I have used this gun with 7/8 oz of #3 and #1 steel on ducks on Saginaw Bay. I have shot 9 ducks widgeon, gadwall, and redheads with this gun. I have averaged 1 duck bagged for every 3 shots fired. The gun and load have performed very well.

I hope to try this gun layout shooting on Lake Erie during the last couple of weeks of our season.

Where you at on the Sag bay?

[John Singer]

I have hunted mostly near Sebewaing/Geiger Rd and also Quannicassee.

[NuffDaddy]

I have hunted mostly near Sebewaing/Geiger Rd and also Quannicassee.

I'm outa bay city. I hunt Linwood/Pinconning mostly. Went out to Sebewaing and FP a few times.

[jarbo03]

Thinkin bout takin the Sweet 16 for a spin in the morning. Will be shooting 7/8 oz #3.

[Theduckguru]

Lately, I have been playing around with a 16 gauge shotgun. (See the SxS Point of Impact post.) I purchased a Lee Load All II to load for this gun since ammo is hard to come by. I also have some shells left by my father after he died. So far, here is what I have learned.

1. Federal 15/16 oz #2 Steel Loads are not worth the price of the paper in their base wad. The shells contain less than 15/16 oz of shot. They pattern very poorly for me. Very few pellets hit a 30" circle at 40 yards.

2. Federal 1 1/4 oz #6 Lead are very good shells. The shot is copper plated and the load is buffered. Fired through the modified choked right barrel of the gun at a turkey target, they easily pattern well for turkey hunting. The left, full choke barrel does not yet shoot to point of aim.

3. 7/8 oz of #8 lead over 14.5 grains 700x powder with a Winchester AA-16 wad with 2 28-gauge cards in the base of the wad makes a fine, low recoil target load.

4. The VP-80 wad (like the VP-65 in 12 gauge) for steel shot is an outstanding wad. Using the BP recipe with a Cheddite hull for 7/8 oz steel shot, I have loaded and tested #3, #1 and B steel. This load has a published velocity of 1550 fps. All three shoot excellent even patterns at 40 yards. I was impressed. My 12 gauge guns do not pattern #1 steel as well as this gun/shell does. In 12 gauge, I have found the VP-65 to be the most consistent patterning wad with 1-oz of steel shot. So far the VP-80 is equally impressive.

The #3 steel looks a load to use for ducks and WMA pheasant hunting. The #1 and B steel look great for goose hunting.

I have a size C adjustable reamer on order that I should be able to pick up next week. I intend to open the left barrel from full to modified and to adjust the point of impact. I look forward to using this gun from the layout boat this fall or for hunting alone during our Michigan regular goose season where our limit is only 2 birds. I have been having a ball playing with this while waiting for this winter to get out of here.

Would you please PM me the recipe for 1-1/4 oz lead and 7/8 oz steel @ 1550 load?

[John Singer]

No need to pm.

The steel load and some 1 1/4 oz lead loads can be found here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0At1GjTxK0YbudHdQdEUtLWJwbVNyZVNudVF0MGk2WFE&gid=0

The 1 1/4 oz lead load that I referred to in my post was a factory load from Federal.

I ended this season with 3 geese about a dozen ducks, one pheasant and one rabbit with this gun this fall.

I hope this helps.

[John Singer]

This site may also be of use.

VP-80 Load Recipes: http://www.kammeret.no/bilder/albums/userpics/11108/VP80_data.pdf

It has both lead and steel loads including some 1 1/4 oz lead loads for the 16 gauge.