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The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 4, 2024, 2:14 pm

Hi all, does anyone out there have a decent recipe for a pheasant load and my 1926, 12 gauge, Ideal Grade Elsie. Somehow, amongst all the junk, I managed to find an old Lee load all press. It was not an easy task. If I can get fifty rounds out of it, that will last me a lifetime in the field - 75 might be better. I'm just looking for something that will do the job without hurting my lady. To me, she is a jewel. I was going to simply change shot in some Winchester AAs, but I'm not sure how well that is going to work. With luck, the Lee will do it and my wife won't kill me.
Thanks in advance,
Dick Willey
Knoxville, TN

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Thomas carrier on January 4, 2024, 8:08 pm, in reply to "Recipe for pheasant load "

When I went out west north n south Dakota I just bought some old win super x from 60s from local dealer that goes to estate sales. Work great in my specialty grade

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Tom Garver on January 4, 2024, 9:17 pm, in reply to "Recipe for pheasant load "

Richard, I can help you out with some hotter 3,4,5 or 6 shot all in factory loads with plastic hulls. Call me at 717-887-0545. Thanks, Tom

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 5, 2024, 8:30 am, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Thankyou sir, Not sure how easy it is going to be to find 60 year old ammo, especially 5 or 6 shot. Good thought though, I'll keep my eye out.

Thanks,

Dick

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 5, 2024, 8:33 am, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Thankyou Tom, but its not hotter loads that I am looking for. I don't want to abuse my near 100 year old Elsie. But thanks, I appreciate your willingness to help.

Dick

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Brian Sloan on January 5, 2024, 6:11 pm, in reply to "Recipe for pheasant load "

I use to shoot in nwtf still target tournaments all over. If your interested in tight patterns I believe the wad you choose is the most important part of the load. I like ballistic products turkey ranger wads.

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 5, 2024, 7:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Thankyou sir, I did find a half dozen or so low pressure recipes now I have to find some hulls. To paraphrase Pete Seeger, where have all the hulls gone. Will I have a problem if I substitute wads from what is called for in the recipe? All this may end up being for not if my old Lee press refuses to cooperate. I wasn't even sure I still had it. One step at a time, I guess.
Thanks again,
Dick Willey
Knoxville, TN

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by David Williamson on January 6, 2024, 7:39 am, in reply to "Recipe for pheasant load "

Changing the shot size in a previously loaded hull will not be a problem but you should pattern the load to see how it looks.
If you are thinking of loading up some hulls I suggest the Hodgdon site. Their powders are very good and priced decent compared to Alliant. Look for loads not exceeding 8,000 psi and 1200 fps and your elsie and you will appreciate them.
Changing wads or other components is not a wise thing to do because you can increase the pressure.

Ballistics Products carries once fired hulls by the 100 that are reasonalble, or go to your local shooting range and dumpster drive for spent hulls. Try to stay with one brand and not mix them. I find that Remington Gun Clubs to be a great hull for reloading.

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 8, 2024, 7:54 am, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Thankyou sir, I will give the Hodgdon site a whorl. Been years since I've done any reloading of shot shells. Something to keep me busy this winter.

Truly appreciate the help.

Dick Willey
Knoxville, TN.

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Doug Precourt on January 8, 2024, 7:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

That is terrific advice David. I recently started reloading myself and the website you recommend has been terrific as well as the guidance of a very good friend from this forum.
- Doug
Aurora, CO

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by John Reed on January 9, 2024, 5:26 am, in reply to "Recipe for pheasant load "

Dick, do you shoot clays much in the knoxville area? I'm just south of you in Maryville. I'm glad to see another local LC Smith shooter! My son and I shoot at Iron Mountain in Sevierville quite often.

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 11, 2024, 12:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

John, pleasure seeing your post. I only shoot clays occasionally. It is something I need to do more often. Truly, never was much good at it. I do enjoy the field though and intend to get out more this autumn. Since I lost my brace of Brits it just hasn't been the same. Not sure where Iron Mountain is, but I have to load up some shells before I do anything with the Elsie. First and foremost, I have to find some once fired, 12 ga. plastic Cheddite hulls. Look as I have, there doesn't seem to be any available. Probably have to wait spring and people start burning them up.
Possibly we can get together at some point in time. I would like that.

Regards,

Dick Willey
Knoxville, TN.

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by David Williamson on January 12, 2024, 6:46 am, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

You are not going to find any fired hulls marked Cheddite, look at ones that have *** (3) stars on the head. Rio's are Cheddite hulls. You might get a few reloads out of them....maybe. Remington Gun Clubs are your best best. Most Remington hulls are compatible, Nitro, STS and Gun Clubs. I would stay away from the new Remington Field hulls they are a cheaper made hull.
Ballistics Products have Cheddite hulls on sale.
https://www.ballisticproducts.com/12-gauge-2-3_4-hulls/products/104/

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 12, 2024, 10:30 am, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Thankyou sir, I had no idea Remington STS hulls were interchangeable with Cheddite's. That opens up the field quit a bit.

Thanks,

Dick Willey
Knoxville, TN

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by David Williamson on January 13, 2024, 7:13 am, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Richard I did not say that Remington hulls were interchangeable with Cheddites. Remington hulls are interchangeable with other Remington hulls.

Don't get confused by mixing hulls, some have straight interior walls and some are tapered and use a different wad. Some have a different base wad height and basically there is no difference in high brass or low brass within the same manufacturer, the interior of the hull is the same.

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 13, 2024, 7:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Thanks David for clearing that up. Fairly new to shotgun reloading, but not reloading in general. I rarely, if ever, deviate from the components/amounts called for in a specific recipe. You did have me questioning myself for a while though.

If you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate some input on this one though. I read on another site that if you roll crimp a 2.5 hull, you can use the same load data as you would for a 2.75 hull. I intend to keep my recoil/chamber pressures low. <1,200 fps @ <8000 psi. Does that sound right to you?

Thanks in advance,

Dick Willey
Knoxville, TN.

Dick Willey
Knoxville, TN.

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by David Williamson on January 14, 2024, 6:36 am, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Richard, any load that fits into a 2 3/4" hull will fit in a 2 1/2" roll crimped one. The pie crimp legs are close to a 1/4" long whereas the roll crimp is about 1/8".

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 14, 2024, 7:01 am, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Thank you sir, Sincerely appreciate the information. This opens up a lot more options for my 16 ga.

Dick Willey
Knoxville, TN.

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by John Reed on January 14, 2024, 8:56 am, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Dick, Iron Mt is in Kodak back behind Bass Pro. If we meet up sometime I can fix you up with plenty of hulls.

Re: Recipe for pheasant load

Posted by Richard Willey on January 14, 2024, 8:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Recipe for pheasant load "

Thanks John. Sounds good. I'm not all that paranoid, so here is my e-mail address. Let me know the next time you are planning to go and I'll try and work it through. rdwilley38@gmail.com

Regards,

Dick Willey
Knoxville, TN

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