Gobble Gun loading advice

[skippy 10Z]

  Skippy here.  I finally got my Pedersoli SxS full/full.  I got this shotgun to make my spring hunts even more enjoyable than they already are.  I need your advice on loading since this is a new bp chapter for me.  Break it down for me as I'm a bit confused.  If you already have a good load worked up for this gun, I'd like to hear about it since it might give me a place to start.  I'm hearing so many different things I'm a bit confused.  Some say the full choke is hard to load, some say not.  Some don't use an over powder card but a wad only and some do.  Some say to use a smaller guage wad with a regular size over powder and over shot cards.  etc...  I know this all means that one has to work up his own load, but I was hoping you could give me a starting point.  What will I need to get started?   Thanks for all of your help.  Skippy. :grin:

[Cowpox]

Congratulations on the new scattergun Skippy. I sold my Navy Arms double and quit waterfowling when steel became the law of the land. I am giving you the email address for the muzzleloading shotgun load page at Thunder Ridge. You should be able to come up with a load there, plus, Thunder will sell you whatever you need.    www.thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com/shotguns.htm    Hope you find something that will give you a place to start. Just remember, the heavier shot charge you use, the less velocity you have. I had my best luck on geese with 1 1/4 oz of NL magnum 3 shot, 95 grains 2f GOEX, over the powder card, a fiberfelt cushion wad that was as thick as the shot load was long, single card over the shot in the  first barrel used, and 2 cards over the second barrel to help keep it from loosening under recoil. The old timers said 1 1/4 ounce of shot was maximum in 12 gauge, and the tests I did back then prooved to me 1 1/4 gives the best patterns and highest velocity. Killed those Honkers cleanly at 45 yards and closer. You may want bigger shot for those turkeys though. 2s or Bs or even BBs. cowpox

[skippy 10Z]

Thanks Cowpox, you are very helpful.  Thunder Ridge is where I purchased the gun.  I never new that info was available at the website.  It is a beautiful shotgun, and I hop it shoots as good as it looks.  At least I have plenty of time to work up an ideal load.  Should be no excuses for not being ready come April.  I'll probably have other questions as I get going on this, and I'll be sure to ask here.  Thanks Skippy :-)

[crow_feather]

skippy 10Z,
I have a Pedersoli 10 Ga. side by side and I have found that like rifles, each shotgun is an individual.

For my shotgun, I load 80 grains of 2f with equal volume of shot. I use an over powder card and one-half of a prelubed wad.  Works like a charm.

C F

[skippy 10Z]

Still haven't had a chance to shoot my new T&t but getting everything ready. Been busy deer hunting.

  To those of you who have a full choke ML shotgun, are you using shot cushion and over shot cards for a 14 guage in your 12 full choke.  I read to do this in TOW catelog as the smaller guage cushion and over shot card make them easier to load. It says to stay with the 12 guage over powder card for a proper seal but the other two should be 14 guage. I was wondering if I use a smaller cushion will some of the shot wedge down the sides of the cushion? Also, if the overshot card is smaller, once it's down the barrel, seems to me it would be too loose to hold the shot adequately.  Is this the way to go?  I admit, I don't know what I'm talking about as ML shotgun is new to me.  I should haven't gotten into it years ago though. Any further advice from the experts would be appriciated.

[Cowpox]

Kip says you should use 12 ga. cards. they go in a little hard, but you start them sideways, then turn them as well as you can with your finger, and the rod will take care of getting them in straight against the powder or shot. He added 14 ga, cards would be to loose, especially the second barrel after the recoil of the first barrel.   Cowpox

[fffffg]

12 gauge should be easy to load in full choke.. slightly fold nitro card and put over powder and pack that.. if it is blowing patterns put another one over it and criss cross.. you must pattern now instead of asking all these questions before shooting.. try all above.. and you will find out who is full of it in a hurry.. use nitro card!!!!!!  then  12 guage wool felt wads lubed with tc lube for cold weather one or two see what works best. then  6 shot for turkey, body shots are not what is used for turkey, get standard turkey patterns from supplier and shoot it to see what distance and loads will give brain hits at what max distance..  ive never shot a turkey but know some  that shoot them with 20 gauge flintlock cylinder bore , and they use 6 shot..  but must be closer.. pack the powder and not the shot.. side by side use two over shot cards and put ridge  from punch up.. make sure sears are good in shotgun your using, new guns can be lacking and sometimes dangerouse from pedersoli as it was in my 10 ga sxs..  if you fire one barrel pull cap on other barrel and press down card and load other barrel.. you need to start off with lite loads becouse its very easy to screw up on sxs.. measure load on hand, that is the number of fingers that your ramrod sticks out of gun when loaded and if anything dont look right pull the load or you will may not  be using your forward arm anymore.. after youve shot for a summer and have gotten
 some good loads then we can get into advanced loading..  for turkey patterning with turkey pattern is the key first off..   good luck dave..

[momsworry]

I don't fool around with the card wads anymore, I just use the wonder wads for everything. For pheasant, I load my SxS 12 ga with 70 gr of FFG Triple Seven, followed by two or three wonder wads, then 1 1/4 oz of 7 1/2 lead shot, followed by another wonder wad over the top.  I've not had a problem with the wonder wads over the top shifting, it all seems to stay together just fine.  It makes it simple, just using one wad type for everything.  I can't see any difference in the patterns.