Cartridge Weights

Limestone1

I wonder if someone could clarify this for me please. I noticed over the weekend that different types of cartridges we were using have quite a range of weights for the same shot number i.e. using no 7s , some were 28g, others 32g and a few were 34g.
Now I know that the lower the shot number, the larger the shot and the smaller the pattern (for the same choke) so what I am wondering is what difference do the heavier pellets make assuming everything else is the same ? Is it for better penetration of the target or could it be less distortion of the the pattern ?

Vegeta

Limestone1 wrote: »

I wonder if someone could clarify this for me please. I noticed over the weekend that different types of cartridges we were using have quite a range of weights for the same shot number i.e. using no 7s , some were 28g, others 32g and a few were 34g.
Now I know that the lower the shot number, the larger the shot and the smaller the pattern (for the same choke) so what I am wondering is what difference do the heavier pellets make assuming everything else is the same ? Is it for better penetration of the target or could it be less distortion of the the pattern ?

its simply the amount of pellets (therefore more weight)

a 32g cartridge has more pellets than a 28g

Mellor

Pellets aren't heavier, just there is more of them.

Limestone1

Tks - so more pellets means less gaps in the pattern ? Is there a sacrifice associated with using more pellets i.e. does power dissipated through launching more pellets mean less velocity and consequently reduced range - or is that negligible ?

Jonty

Limestone1 wrote: »

Tks - so more pellets means less gaps in the pattern ? Is there a sacrifice associated with using more pellets i.e. does power dissipated through launching more pellets mean less velocity and consequently reduced range - or is that negligible ?

Technically that is correct, assuming the same propellant charge is used, but more pellets mean a denser pattern which means a greater hit % and more energy is dissapated to the target.

Vegeta

Jonty wrote: »

Technically that is correct, assuming the same propellant charge is used, but more pellets mean a denser pattern which means a greater hit % and more energy is dissapated to the target.

Not sure on this one, but I always assumed to propel the extra weight they use more of a powder charge. Which is why they recoil more, would I be right in thinking this?

Mellor

Jonty wrote: »

Technically that is correct, assuming the same propellant charge is used, but more pellets mean a denser pattern which means a greater hit % and more energy is dissapated to the target.

That wouldn't make sense. If the same charge was use, energy in the extra pellets that hit, would be cancelled out by the fact that the energy from the charge is spread over more pellets (ie, each pellet would have less energy)

I'd be with Vegeta, extra charge is needed, so that each pellet is the same, and the increased hit rate, means more energy

Vegeta

Mellor wrote: »

That wouldn't make sense. If the same charge was use, energy in the extra pellets that hit, would be cancelled out by the fact that the energy from the charge is spread over more pellets (ie, each pellet would have less energy)

I'd be with Vegeta, extra charge is needed, so that each pellet is the same, and the increased hit rate, means more energy

Lets just put it this way, I have shot some 64 gram 3.5 inch magnums and they definitely had more of a powder charge. Not a great cart though and more of a novelty to fire a few at clays

Jonty

Vegeta wrote: »

Lets just put it this way, I have shot some 64 gram 3.5 inch magnums and they definitely had more of a powder charge. Not a great cart though and more of a novelty to fire a few at clays

One word............ OUCH:eek:

Da Frog

Be careful. It is also very important to pay attention in what kind of Wad you use. A 30g load will be more concentrated in a plastic wad with container rather than a 34g shell with a simple cork wad.

I shot at a woodcok yesterday with a Remington shur shot on 32G pellets 7 at around 25 yards and i was in shock to see the damage !! it took the head off it ... . Shur shots have a plastic container wad ( the norm in clay shotting for exemple ) with an obturation system that creates a very dense concentration of the load of pellets when shot. the classic wad made with cork and fibers will have a much wider spray. For Woodcock in France they shoot up to 38G but the Wad has a divider running along the shell in the center that creates 4 compartiments, so when the pellets are expulsed from the barrels it sprays widely. the load is then used to have a more consistent repartition of the load. it avoids to have too much gaps between the pellets in fact.

pullandbang

Vegeta wrote: »

have shot some 64 gram 3.5 inch magnums and they definitely had more of a powder charge. Not a great cart though and more of a novelty to fire a few at clays

Novelty? You'd probably do the whole box with one shot:D:D

alan123

I use GBs 7.5 28grm for pigeons/clays, GB or eley 32grm 6 for pheasant/pigeon and eley or Hull 34grm 5 for duck/high pheasant/rabbit. Its just from trial and error that I know the killing power of these shells at different ranges. There is a bigger bang from the heavier load. I wouldnt fire a couple of hundred 36grm 5's at pigeons!!!!!!

patrickdt10

Limestone1 wrote: »

I wonder if someone could clarify this for me please. I noticed over the weekend that different types of cartridges we were using have quite a range of weights for the same shot number i.e. using no 7s , some were 28g, others 32g and a few were 34g.
Now I know that the lower the shot number, the larger the shot and the smaller the pattern (for the same choke) so what I am wondering is what difference do the heavier pellets make assuming everything else is the same ? Is it for better penetration of the target or could it be less distortion of the the pattern ?

the weight you see on the cartridge is the amount of powder in a cartridge. the amount of shot is usually measured in ounces! generally with the 28q(or the lighter weights) therw would be 1 oz of lead. and as you go up in weights generally speaking the load of lead gets bigger.

patrickdt10

Vegeta wrote: »

Not sure on this one, but I always assumed to propel the extra weight they use more of a powder charge. Which is why they recoil more, would I be right in thinking this?

newtons law.for every action there is an equal but opp......... anyway. your pushing a heavier weight down the barrel, and what it takes to push the extra weight is also being pushed back towards your shoulder!

Whizzo

On the same subject, in this months Irish Shooting Digest, there was an article about matching cartridge sizes / shot loads to gun weight.
The article based on a theory by Greener stated that the cartridge load should be in that ratio of 95:1 to the guns weight.
A 32g cartridge x 95 = 3040g = 6.7 lbs. Apparently many manufacturers follow this rule of 95.
Using this ratio will ensure the cartridge matches the guns weight and recoil is manageable.

Jonty

patrickdt10 wrote: »

the weight you see on the cartridge is the amount of powder in a cartridge. the amount of shot is usually measured in ounces! generally with the 28q(or the lighter weights) therw would be 1 oz of lead. and as you go up in weights generally speaking the load of lead gets bigger.

I was of the opinion that the weight on the side of the cartridge in grams was the lead. 28grams of powder is a huge charge:eek:

Vegeta

Jonty wrote: »

I was of the opinion that the weight on the side of the cartridge in grams was the lead. 28grams of powder is a huge charge:eek:

Yeah Patrick I think Jonty is correct, the weight is the lead.

Powder weighs very little in comparison (due to their density) and can you imagine how much powder it would take to make up 28g let alone 64g

The weight is definitely the lead weight

Mellor

patrickdt10 wrote: »

the weight you see on the cartridge is the amount of powder in a cartridge. the amount of shot is usually measured in ounces! generally with the 28q(or the lighter weights) therw would be 1 oz of lead. and as you go up in weights generally speaking the load of lead gets bigger.

I'm with the two above. The weight is the lead, not the powder.
THere is one oz of lead in a 28g shell, as 28g is an oz.

patrickdt10 wrote: »

newtons law.for every action there is an equal but opp......... anyway. your pushing a heavier weight down the barrel, and what it takes to push the extra weight is also being pushed back towards your shoulder!

This isn't exactly right either.
Vegeta was more accurate when he refer to the extra charge.
If the amount of lead was increased, but the charge remained, the recoil wouldn't change. Its the energy that counts, not the weight.