20 Ga Load Question

[brademan76]

 

Steel isn't the answer even though its above 1300, especially only 3/4 ounce load- remember its less dense than lead. Shoot the AA super sports with 7/8oz lead @1300, they should have enough pop. If not you'll need to shoot game loads.

 

I'm going to start out with having him try the AA loads. The density is why I've always avoided steel shot, but switching to steel isn't intended to be the fix for this issue, though. Its strictly a professional/personal issue, especially now that I'm the lead biologist for our condor program. Dad always taught me to lead by example and this is a good start, especially for my kids.

 

 

Cool. I'm not even speaking to the toxicity issues of lead vs steel, just that recoil is going to be different.

[IA Born]

 

 

Steel isn't the answer even though its above 1300, especially only 3/4 ounce load- remember its less dense than lead. Shoot the AA super sports with 7/8oz lead @1300, they should have enough pop. If not you'll need to shoot game loads.

 

I'm going to start out with having him try the AA loads. The density is why I've always avoided steel shot, but switching to steel isn't intended to be the fix for this issue, though. Its strictly a professional/personal issue, especially now that I'm the lead biologist for our condor program. Dad always taught me to lead by example and this is a good start, especially for my kids.

 

 

Cool. I'm not even speaking to the toxicity issues of lead vs steel, just that recoil is going to be different.

 

 

 

At the risk of sounding dumb and having never shot steel shot, what are the recoil differences going to be? Are they that significant in a SA 20ga? All of my turkey loads are Hevi-Shot and the only difference I notice is because they are 3.5" shells. They certainly pack a bigger punch, but I expect that difference between 3" and 3.5" shells.

[DUG]

Recoil= Equal and opposite reaction=More shot=more kick. Less shot=less kick. Now throw in a spongy recoil pad and add weight to the gun and you relieve some of that recoil.

 

From wiki

 

Recoil (often called knockback, kickback or simply kick) is the backward movement of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil momentum acquired by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gases (ejecta), according to Newton's third law, known as conservation of momentum. In hand-held small arms, the recoil momentum is transferred to the ground through the body of the shooter; while in heavier guns such as mounted machine guns or cannons, recoil momentum is transferred to the ground through the mount.

[IA Born]

Recoil= Equal and opposite reaction=More shot=more kick. Less shot=less kick. Now throw in a spongy recoil pad and add weight to the gun and you relieve some of that recoil.

 

From wiki

 

Recoil (often called knockback, kickback or simply kick) is the backward movement of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil momentum acquired by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gases (ejecta), according to Newton's third law, known as conservation of momentum. In hand-held small arms, the recoil momentum is transferred to the ground through the body of the shooter; while in heavier guns such as mounted machine guns or cannons, recoil momentum is transferred to the ground through the mount.

 

That's one of the funniest responses I've ever read. I figured the steel shot would have less recoil, but I was wondering if there was something else I was missing.

[brademan76]

Recoil is a product of velocity and payload, so I guess 3/4oz steel vs 3/4oz lead you would assume recoil would be the same. So shooting a 7/8 load of lead at the same velocity should produce more recoil.

 

Nothing to do with lead having a higher density/mass I guess, just that you can get more weight in lead into the same space than you could with steel.

[ThomC]

Shotgun loads have always been a mystery. The ammo manufacturers have used dram equivalents, and now have gone to fps. Dram equivalents refers to black powder and fps is speed. They are both not measurements of recoil needed to function in a autoloader. The shot charge is by weight. It doesnt matter what the shot is made of. The best way to pick ammo is to try different brands in your properly cleaned and lubed gun. Once you have the gun working properly then you can play around with shot sizes, materials and politics. If your gun starts to malfunction with certain loads then start over.

[recurveman]

You really need to shoot heavy game loads. I always need to shoot the 1oz loads to get most of the 20g semi's to function. My benelli will function on anything that I put through it but the 1oz loads do great with the gas guns. Even after it is broken in you will still need to shoot the 1oz loads. You can buy them in a variety of shot sizes too. Shot size isn't the problem. The total weight of the load is the problem.

[IA Born]

You really need to shoot heavy game loads. I always need to shoot the 1oz loads to get most of the 20g semi's to function. My benelli will function on anything that I put through it but the 1oz loads do great with the gas guns. Even after it is broken in you will still need to shoot the 1oz loads. You can buy them in a variety of shot sizes too. Shot size isn't the problem. The total weight of the load is the problem.

 

I picked up two boxes of the Winchester AASC207 loads this past weekend and we're going to sneak away Friday after school to test a few rounds. I guess I was always spoiled by my dad's Rem 1100 20ga Light. It reliably shot everything I've ever put in it and this is the first 20g semi I've had since that one (its almost older than I am). I looked at some of the various 1oz loads and, according to Weatherby, those with 1200fps won't cycle, but then I haven't tried them, either. As long as we can get these AASC207s to cycle reliably, we're golden. I just want to get any kinks worked out before he takes it turkey hunting this spring, but I'm far from worried about his turkey loads not cycling!

[IA Born]

Winchester AASC207s (7.5 shot) did the trick. We went outside of town after school yesterday, and his shotgun cycled a box perfectly. He shot the last two sets of five rounds as fast as he could safely control them, and now I think I've created a monster! Thanks for the tips and insight everyone!