Randy and Bob,
Please be careful in loading ITX. It has a Brinell hardness (HB) of 50HB as opposed to 15HB for Nice Shot and 5 for lead. Mild steel is around 120HB, aluminum is 15HB, copper is 35HB, and 18-8 stainless is 200HB.
I conversed with Brian Erickson of New Era Ammunition. Brian warned me of enexplainable pressure spikes in loading ITX. Some load produce higher pressure and then a load goe through the scale! He cautioned against using a pressure factor such as 1500 for ITX.
I need to load ITX in the same load as I do Nice Shot and send off for pressure check. Perhaps if we all sent a load to Tom Armbrust for testing and shared the results we would have what we need...
This is from the
BPI website: http://www.ballisticproducts.com/load04-18-11.htm
LOAD OF THE WEEK- 2011/04/18
ITX 12/16 2.50” LOW PSI LOADS C- For my older double shotguns I need NON-TOXIC ITX shells and a short chamber length ROLL-CRIMPED loads for 12 & 16 gauge. These are field loads for upland birds and possible decoyed ducks. Low pressures and good speeds please!
Ah, a conundrum for the Curmudgeon. Low pressure loads ride the teeter-totter. If the weight goes up, then the velocity goes down. If the generated pressure of a load remains low, then to create a (live bird) LEATHAL load, we must keep the shot weight - low. But then, when taking birds only a few pellets are required to strike the bird. A bird stuck by more than four pellets too often becomes unfit for the table.
ROLL CRIMPING: The art and science of roll-crimping in logical and forthright. Most the plastic hulls today can be roll-crimped. Now and then we find a hull plastic having the same crimping resistance as rhinoceros hide. Pass on these hulls. The good news is hull length should never be a problem. But the roll-crimp requires almost the same amount of free hull space to roll a sound crimp as does the fold crimp.
C favors a slightly thicker card (.070”) used as the overshot card. In the 12-gauge a clear (made of styrene and shatters into tiny fragments) overshot disk may placed on shot before roll-crimping. In other gauges (and in the 12-ga.) a thin nitro card can be used to top the load. (The thin [.030”] overshot cards of various gauges are most often used to solidify fold crimps when the reloader finds a fold-crimp load that is a bit too deep down to provide a floor for a solid fold-crimp.) The value in a firm overshot card in roll-crimped loads arises when the load is about to be crimped. But hold on, for a first class roll-crimp load we need to add other elements to complete our physics lesson. Our roll-crimp load needs some internal elasticity. Cork has an amazing “spring” quality. C places a cork wad (20ga inside a 12 or 16 gauge plastic shotcup or the same gauge cork outside a plastic shotcup) over the gas seal or inside the shotcup. If there is room, he then sets a felt wad on the cork to support the shot. After the shot is placed in the load then the (thick) overshot card is inserted. The load is then “squeezed” by placing the hull in the reloader under the shot drop tube. Begin nudging the components down in the hull with at least three firm nudges. NOW, roll-crimp the load before the components spring back. Your load should be firm with a minimum of tell-tale “rattle.” Remember, many roll-crimped loads are also low pressure loads. Low pressures and week crimps make for “pooff” loads.
Load# 110418-2961
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR 800X 23.0 Grains
WAD: SSW [Short Shell Wad](Mica dust the wad) +1/8cork20+1/8felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8700 FPS 1310
Load# 110418-2962
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR 800X 25.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8900 FPS 1390
Load# 110418-2963
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: HODGDON UNIVERSAL CLAYS 18.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 7300 FPS 1000
Load# 110418-2964
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: HODGDON UNIVERSAL CLAYS 20.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 7700 FPS 1130
Load# 110418-2965
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR PB 22.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8000 FPS 1270
Load# 110418-2966
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR PB 24.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8300 FPS 1335
Load# 110418-2967
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR PB 24.0 Grains
WAD: SSW (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 +1/8 felt20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: COS12 on top of shot
Result: PSI 8900 FPS 1425
And the 16-Gauge…
Load# 110418-2978
HULL: FIOCCHI 16-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR 800X 20.0 Grains
WAD: Z16 (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: N716 card on top of shot
Result: PSI 8300 FPS 1270
Load# 110418-2979
HULL: FIOCCHI 16-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: HODGDON INTERNATIONAL CLAYS 18.0 Grains
WAD: Z16 (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: N716 card on top of shot
Result: PSI 8300 FPS 1280
Load# 110418-2980
HULL: FIOCCHI 12-gauge 2.5”
PRIMER: FIO616
PROPELLANT: IMR SR7625 20.0 Grains
WAD: Z16 (Mica dust the wad) +1/8 cork 20 in wad base
SHOT: 3/4 ounce (328 grains) ITX#6/#4
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: N716 card on top of shot
Result: PSI 6800 FPS 1130
ALSO: These loads are from the BPI website and are screamers! Look at the velocity...
ITX Loading Data: http://www.ballisticproducts.com/load09-28-10_2.htm L0AD# 100418-2010 First light, Teal and Woody delight.
HULL: Remington STS 12ga 2.75”
PRIMER: REM209P
PROPELLANT: HODGDON UNIVERSAL CLAYS 32.0 Grains
WAD: VP20
SHOT: 7/8 oz ITX #4 shot (382 gr.) Could also use #6 ITX shot.
BUFFER: none
FOLD CRIMP:
Result: PSI 10900 FPS 1665
L0AD# 100401-1962 Small to medium ducks, warm or cold days, modest wind.
HULL: RIO 12ga 2.75”
PRIMER: RIO209
PROPELLANT: IMR PB 32.0 Grains
WAD: VP20
SHOT: 7/8 oz ITX #4 shot (382 gr.)
BUFFER: none
FOLD CRIMP:
Result: PSI 10700 FPS 1665
L0AD# 100329-1954 Small to medium ducks, warm or cold days, windy.
HULL: RIO 12ga 2.75”
PRIMER: RIO209
PROPELLANT: HODGDON UNIVERSAL CLAYS 31.0 Grains
WAD: VP20
SHOT: 7/8 oz ITX #2 shot (382 gr.)
BUFFER: none
FOLD CRIMP:
Result: PSI 9800 FPS 1580
L0AD# 100418-2008 Large ducks, modest temperatures. (Ultra Duck)
HULL: RIO 12ga 2.75”
PRIMER: RIO209
PROPELLANT: HODGDON LONGSHOT 38.0 Grains
WAD: VP51
SHOT: 1 oz ITX#2 shot (437 gr.)
BUFFER: none
FOLD CRIMP:
Result: PSI 11000 FPS 1690
L0AD# 100907-2461-4 Medium ducks, modest temperature. (Ultra Duck)
HULL: RIO 12ga 2.75”
PRIMER: RIO209
PROPELLANT: HODGDON LONGSHOT 36.0 Grains
WAD: VP53
SHOT: 420 grains ITX#4 shot
BUFFER: none
FOLD CRIMP:
Result: PSI 10100 FPS 1635
L0AD# 100907-2457-4/2 Spark Plug Duck (Hot primer)
HULL: FEDERAL GM 12ga 2.75”
PRIMER: FED209A
PROPELLANT: HODGDON LONGSHOT 35.0 Grains
WAD: VP53
SHOT: 420 gr. ITX #4 or #2
BUFFER: none
FOLD CRIMP:
Result: PSI 10800 FPS 1645
10 Gauge Loading Data: http://www.ballisticproducts.com/load09-28-10_2.htm L0AD#100907-2465-4/2/BB
HULL: FEDERAL 10ga. 2-7/8” (2.85”)
PRIMER: FED209A
PROPELLANT: HODGDON UNIVERSAL CLAYS 33.0 Grains
WAD: Helarco VP100
SHOT: 1-1/4 oz ITX #4 or #2, or BB (546gr.)
BUFFER: none
ROLL CRIMP: For over shot card use a COS12 or a N710 card.
Result: PSI 10500 FPS 1435
