28gauge steel load

[shootsabit]

Hi everyone just wanted to know if anybody in the uk is loading 28gauge steel cartridges with any success getting a load developed with clay and game but it’s going to take a while cos there busy just wanted a bit of info wads and powder mainly don’t have to give any secrets away I know how it works with reloading thanks mainly for decoying cheers

 

[EssBee]

I used to load for a 28g and used a small booklet "The Importance of Steel" an American publication. If you google it I'm sure you will find it.
good luck

 

[shootsabit]

Thanks I’ll have a look trouble is it’s a lot bigger in America and we can’t always get the components but cheers

 

[Heym SR20]

The manufacturers will be working on steel loads for 28 bores.

12s and 20s came first in 2 3/4” cartridges. Then came 2 1/2” loads for traditional old English side by sides.

In the last 12 months, steel shot catridges in 2 1/2“ for 16 bores became available. I have a case of 250 Lyalvale Hunting Steel No 4 shot, 26gm in 65mm cartridge.

28 bore and 16 probably represent similar number of users so keep your eyes open as suspect they won’t be far away

 

[shootsabit]

Yeh did hear bioammo we’re going to start making them it’s just something to do when it’s ****ing down or blowing the roof off but thanks for that

 

[wanderer]

The advantages reloading manual shows 28ga steel loads for 70mm ( 2 3/4" ).
Generally no larger than 3 size shot ( steel sizing) and 5/8 oz charge weight which will be around 18g metric if i am thinking straight.
Lil'gun powder seems to be the main candidate.

 

[wanderer]

Speeds up to around 1460 fps if needed.

 

[shootsabit]

Yeh did mention lilgun as a powder option but the guy at clay and game said it would work out an expensive option and was looking at vectan AO and was going to do some development with that but it’s just a waiting game that’s good info thanks very much

 

[Liveonce]

Watching with interest, not going to be a cheap load to put together, may be just wait and see what in time the cartridge manufacture offer.

 

[shootsabit]

Like the idea of loading my own like I do with my rifles so I’ll keep checking it out for now cheers

 

[Liveonce]

Like the idea of loading my own like I do with my rifles so I’ll keep checking it out for now cheers

I agree have loaded for 28ga for many years, also 12ga and 20ga. However do the sums and with todays prices for powder, primers etc it has for most loads especially 12ga makes home loading far more expensive than buying the cartridges, Then if you want to use non toxic shot and be 100% green you need the biodegradable wads, good luck with that. Unless polluting the countryside with single use plastic is considered the way to go.

Currently only commercial non toxic shot 28gauge are in bismuth, must be a very good reason for that.

 

[shootsabit]

The reason for shooting pigeons with steel is because they go to birds of prey no game dealers take them in my part of the country try to pick up spent wads normally in the decoy area that’s about as green as I can be I’m affraid

 

[Liveonce]

The reason for shooting pigeons with steel is because they go to birds of prey no game dealers take them in my part of the country try to pick up spent wads normally in the decoy area that’s about as green as I can be I’m affraid

So what steel shot cartridges are you currently using to shoot the pigeons?

 

[shootsabit]

I’m using 12gauge eley echo wads at the min but it’s whatever I can get

 

[shootsabit]

Just bought the 28 bore and used it a couple of times with lead and had to breast all the birds I shot just thought might check out a steel option but there’s not alot of info in the uk

 

[wanderer]

From what i have seen on the web is that for lead 28ga shells then the Vectan A0 powder would be ok but unless i am mistaken i dont think there is published data.
It is similar to Longshot Powder.
I wouldnt have thought it would be a canditate for a steel load ( ?)

I have been loading lead 28ga stuff in 21g loads with Longshot powder.
Whilst i dont think i will be loading steel in this calibre if I was i would use Lil'gun and look to one of the recipes in the advantages manual as mentioned above.

 

[shootsabit]

Thanks that was my original plan looks like the way to go

 

[wanderer]

If i shoot stuff for my hawk i too use steel shot or a rifle.
However hopefully she will soon be self sufficient as we start to hunt again.

 

[wanderer]

To be honest i dont think there would be much of a cost difference in the loads using A0 over Lil'gun.
28ga cartridges are a premium anyway even in lead.
It makes a nice change though to take out a 28ga over the 12ga!

 

[shootsabit]

Think the guy who I talked to at clay and game was thinking less grains of powder per shot but he’s doing the development so see what he comes back with and I must agree the 28gauge is a dream to shoot with over decoys no coming home rattled after a few hundred shots