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Thread: 4mm steel goose loads in 3" - Advice sought.

  1. #1
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    4mm steel goose loads in 3" - Advice sought.

    Hi chaps, I'm nearly out of 3" magnums for the geese and I've decided to load. I'm going to get a Lee Load All and do some shells for my hideous Hatsan semi (shoots well enough but full camo isn't really me).
    It's chambered for 3 1/2, but from what I can gather 3" should be enough. I used to have a Load All about 30yrs ago...should have kept it.
    I'll be shooting over decoys, mainly inland canadas at say 40yds.
    I've been using Lyevale 36g No1 (can't find the box and there wasn't much on it as I recall). They work okay, but I suspect I can load a bit heavier and faster.
    I'll get the machine and 4mm shot on order, but can I have some help on what powder and wads to buy? i.e. can I scrounge some load data please? Wads seem to quite spefic to how much steel you are loading.
    I'm a little disappointed that there don't seem to be any non plastic wad options out there for reloading yet. I guess they'll come in due course.
    Any help muvh appreciated.
    For reference, I'm Chester/Wrexham area.
    "They fly into it sometimes..."

  2. #2
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    Not a direct answer to your question - but speak to George Young at proper cartridges. He is a manufacturer that specialises in game cartridges - and will sell you components too. He may well be able to sort you out with a cartridge at a decent price without the hassle.

    http://propercartridges.com/

  3. #3
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    Look here www.claygame.co.uk

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by ZAKDINGEL View Post
    Cheers...that's where the shot will be coming from I think.
    "They fly into it sometimes..."

  5. #5
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    Update: I've been loading 36grams of steel #1 (4.06mm) on top of 35grains of Alliant Steel and shooting through modified choke.
    This seems to be a very effective load and has patterned well on the birds I have killed with it.
    I would however like to use non plastic wads and hopefully a source of these will become available sooner rather than later.
    "They fly into it sometimes..."

  6. #6
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    Plenty of fibre wads around

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by mag44uk View Post
    Plenty of fibre wads around
    Please point me to them! I'm shooting high velocity steel #1's with a 36gram load.
    I cannot find anyghing in fibre that will keep the steel shot enclosed and away from the barrel wall as it travels down the bore.
    "They fly into it sometimes..."

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sausagefingers View Post
    Please point me to them! I'm shooting high velocity steel #1's with a 36gram load.
    I cannot find anyghing in fibre that will keep the steel shot enclosed and away from the barrel wall as it travels down the bore.
    You don't need a fibre wad for that - you need a fibre shot cup.

    https://www.claygame.co.uk/12ga-fibr...-and-55mm-pd82

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by aris View Post
    You don't need a fibre wad for that - you need a fibre shot cup.

    https://www.claygame.co.uk/12ga-fibr...-and-55mm-pd82
    Unfortunately it says these only take up to 3.25mm steel. I'm shooting #1 and they are just over 4.00mm.
    They only have the 55mm version in stock, which seems like it's for 3.5" shells...and the final straw is that they cost 21 pence each.
    As the industry changes over I'm hoping some decent biowad options will appear.
    Can't be that magical to start running off decent boidegradable wads with the splits already in them can it?
    Or are we supposed to just buy everything already boxed up as presented by the cartridge manufacturers?
    I'm of the view that steel carts should be a damn sight cheaper than lead as you're stripping out the most expensive component.
    As ever, it seems that some warm words about the environment will be an excuse to jack up the price of what is essentially a steel and cardboard load.
    "They fly into it sometimes..."

  10. #10
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    Sod it...I"m on a rant now. I did email the NGO as a member, asking what they were doing to lobby for biowads. I've had no response.
    What was that survey from a few years ago where it was found that something like 70% of the wildfowl that found its way to market hsd lead shot in it, when it should all have been non toxic?
    Do we wonder why? Bet that figure hasn't changed much has it?
    I'll stick to the steel and plaswad option but I can see the little bits of plastic being next on the hit list and we only have ourselves to blame if we start getting criticised for that, which we will.
    A bit of joined-up thinking regarding the other components of a cartridge wouldn't have gone amiss when our sporting organisations signed us up for a voluntary lead ban.
    "They fly into it sometimes..."

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sausagefingers View Post
    Sod it...I"m on a rant now. I did email the NGO as a member, asking what they were doing to lobby for biowads. I've had no response.
    What was that survey from a few years ago where it was found that something like 70% of the wildfowl that found its way to market hsd lead shot in it, when it should all have been non toxic?
    Do we wonder why? Bet that figure hasn't changed much has it?
    I'll stick to the steel and plaswad option but I can see the little bits of plastic being next on the hit list and we only have ourselves to blame if we start getting criticised for that, which we will.
    A bit of joined-up thinking regarding the other components of a cartridge wouldn't have gone amiss when our sporting organisations signed us up for a voluntary lead ban.
    Eley have brought out cartridges with bio-degradable wads. How long it will be before the wads can be bought from them, if ever, is anyones guess.
    I think it would make sense to market the wads. It is good for the environment and good advertising for Eley.

    https://www.eleyhawkltd.com/media-ev...gradeable-wad-

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by enfield2band View Post
    Eley have brought out cartridges with bio-degradable wads. How long it will be before the wads can be bought from them, if ever, is anyones guess.
    I think it would make sense to market the wads. It is good for the environment and good advertising for Eley.

    https://www.eleyhawkltd.com/media-ev...gradeable-wad-
    As do Gamebore

    https://youtu.be/wbEMSkgAYZE

    They make a cartridge with it too

    https://youtu.be/Z4KSl3MhW5c

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sausagefingers View Post
    Unfortunately it says these only take up to 3.25mm steel. I'm shooting #1 and they are just over 4.00mm.
    They only have the 55mm version in stock, which seems like it's for 3.5" shells...and the final straw is that they cost 21 pence each.
    As the industry changes over I'm hoping some decent biowad options will appear.
    Can't be that magical to start running off decent boidegradable wads with the splits already in them can it?
    Or are we supposed to just buy everything already boxed up as presented by the cartridge manufacturers?
    I'm of the view that steel carts should be a damn sight cheaper than lead as you're stripping out the most expensive component.
    As ever, it seems that some warm words about the environment will be an excuse to jack up the price of what is essentially a steel and cardboard load.
    hell of a lot harder to make uniform steel shot than lead and the market is limited, that`s why they are more expensive

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