Steel Shotshell loading questions

rbf420 · January 25, 2012, 12:01 PM

I acquired some Fiochi 3" Shells and 10lbs of #2 steel shot for xmas and have been desperately trying to get the right wad and powder combo for this load. after a few returns to midwayusa, i got the advantages load manual and found a good load... 42grains of steel 1 oz of #2 shot and a VP 65 wad and X12X gas seal. after getting these components and trying to load the first one the wad extrudes too far above where the crimp should be. Without the gas seal the wad is then to low. I have double checked the powder and grains and double checked the loading manual. I called Ballistic products and they said to put pressure on the seal and wad separately to "compress" even in doing this it still does not solve the problem...

I tried cutting some "excess" plastic off of the bottom of the wads and this seems to solve the problem... is this a safe practice or should i just scrap everything and start over?

oneounceload · January 25, 2012, 03:56 PM

What wad pressure did you set your press to apply?

January 25, 2012, 12:01 PM	#1
rbf420 Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2009 Posts: 166	Steel Shotshell loading questions I acquired some Fiochi 3" Shells and 10lbs of #2 steel shot for xmas and have been desperately trying to get the right wad and powder combo for this load. after a few returns to midwayusa, i got the advantages load manual and found a good load... 42grains of steel 1 oz of #2 shot and a VP 65 wad and X12X gas seal. after getting these components and trying to load the first one the wad extrudes too far above where the crimp should be. Without the gas seal the wad is then to low. I have double checked the powder and grains and double checked the loading manual. I called Ballistic products and they said to put pressure on the seal and wad separately to "compress" even in doing this it still does not solve the problem... I tried cutting some "excess" plastic off of the bottom of the wads and this seems to solve the problem... is this a safe practice or should i just scrap everything and start over? __________________ My Calibers- 9mm, .38spl, .357 mag, .45 acp, 30/06, 303 brit, 7.7 jap, 7.5 french.

January 25, 2012, 03:56 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	What wad pressure did you set your press to apply?