doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - Shotshell wads Black powder, and Bismuth

After Drew Hause posted the data on the shell pressures and load information for Super X Foxes and cartridges, I got thinking about what I had to try to duplicate things. I also wanted to see about loading Bismuth shot and so I looked at the Hodgdon data. Looking at that data I saw they recommended using the WWAA12R wad for a 1&1/4 ounce load (SuperX). I got one of those out of the bag and tried to fill it with 1 &1/4 ounce, measured by volume, of #4 shot. It doesn't fit in, nor does 7&1/2, interesting to me. I don't yet have the Longshot powder required for that load so I moved to the Black Powder load. I found a Federal paper hull and poured in 80 grains of FF then seated an over powder wad(.08) and a cushion wad 3/8" thick and then dropped in 1&1/4 ounces of #4s. I put it on my MEC and it crimped perfectly. I was reading that because Black Powder ignites faster than smokeless that this load will have some pretty stout recoil? I'm not sure I want to test it.

I'm going to jump back to that WAA12R wad that is supposed to hold up to 1&3/8 ounces of shot. If 1&1/4 won't fit what is going on? I also have the Remington RP12 that is also in the Bismuth data and while I didn't try filling it, it appears capable of taking the 1&1/4 ounces of shot. I don't understand the WWAA12R? Also, if I'm correct, weight for weight Bismuth takes up more space than Lead. Any thoughts? Thank you.

Bismuth has lower density than lead, thus the same weight occupies more volume.
Many published loads use wads that don't completely protect the shot column.

Black powder is more of a "shove" instead of the "punch" of smokeless.

Recoil is subjective, but unless the gun is very light or there are health issues involved the load of 80 grs of FF and 1 1/4 oz of shot shouldn't be too bad.

I routinely shoot 1 oz of shot and 80-100 grs of FF for cowboy shooting (CZ Bobwhite G2, factory pad) and I often use a 10 gauge with 120 grs of FF and 1 1/2 oz of shot. That's a firm shove, but not painful. I will note that the 10 gauge weighs 12 1/2 pounds and has a oversized recoil pad. I have had several women cowboy shooters volunteer to shoot the 10 gauge and I got big smiles out of all of them and no complaints about recoil. One woman said it kicked LESS than her 20 gauge (Stoeger or Stevens) with factory ammo