12ga. Loads

[dynomike1]

I have a Knight TK 2000 12ga.. They recomend 120gr. of powder w/2oz. of shot. What i want to do is load BP into a hull. By crimping the hull i think  that will run the barrel pressure up. I dont need a bang on both ends. How much bp should you use in a 12ga. shell?

[Graybeard]

I don't think this has any application to CAS and I'd move it if I had a clue where such a question properly belongs. In fact I'm not even sure what the heck you are asking. Is the Knight TK 2000 12ga a muzzle loader or are they now making breech loaders?

From reading your post it seems you're wanting to load a normal 12 gauge shell but with BP rather than smokeless. Is that the plan? If so these guys just might be able to help since at least some CAS shooters do use BP. I know Howdy Doody does as I just sold him some of his favored wads for his loads.

[dynomike1]

Thats right i want to load a normal 12ga shell with BP. I am like you i really dont know where to go.

[Sir Charles deMoutonBlack]

Go to cascity.com or the frontier spot.  In some places about 10% of SASS/NCOWS shooters are using black powder in competition.  Why can't this forum respond?

Cas limits the type of armament to a period ending in 1898.  An "in-line" will not comply.  Side by sides, both open hammer and hammerless, without ejectors, and 1887 and 1897 Winchesters, or clones of all of the above are legal.

I'd suggest between 60 and 70 grains of 2F powder, a 1 1/4 oz field wad, and about 1 oz. of shot.  You might have to alter the load slightly, or find a wad with a better length to get a properly filled and crimped load.  A load similar to this will deal with almost every CAS shotgun target you might encounter. Fiber wads are more PC (period-correct"), but plastic is legal.

For a game load, you might try about 80 gr. of 2F.  A Claybusters red wad and 1 1/4 oz will do well.

Here is a sample thread from cascity;

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,22497.0.html

Or you can look around this topic.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,135258.0.html

[dynomike1]

Thanks Sir Charles. Simple enough.

[Mule]

In traditional BP loads, you would use the same "volume" of BP and shot,

Prime the hull, a scoop of powder, an overpowder card, a fiber wad, a scoop of shot.  If using a traditional roll crimp, an overshot card will be required.  Wad height will vary with the hull used.  Fiber wads can be doubled up or even split in half to get the proper wad height.  NMLRA rules prohibit the use of plastic wads.  I am not familiar with CAS rules, apparently they take a more liberal approach.

Without a shot cup, expect to find lead streaks in your barrel.

If you use a modern plastic wad, and the barrel gets hot, expect to be cleaning melted plastic out of your barrel.

I discard the hulls after one loading.  They are nasty!

[Fairshake]

The load that Mule is referring to is called the square load and was the rule of thumb for anyone loading BP shotsell loads. What ever thye amount of powder you load the same shot by volume. If you use a DIPPER THAT LOADS 80 grains of 2F then you use that same dipper for the shot. I use 72 grains of 2f behind a 1 1/8 oz load of 7 1/2 shot

[Fingers McGee]

In traditional BP loads, you would use the same "volume" of BP and shot,

If you use a modern plastic wad, and the barrel gets hot, expect to be cleaning melted plastic out of your barrel.

I discard the hulls after one loading.  They are nasty!

I've found that using an over shot card between the powder (FFG BP) and plastic wad will cut down on, or eliminate entirely, the melted plastic adhereing to the barrel.