I haven't loaded any 16 ga shells for awhile. I drug out my single stage MEC, found some once fired Fiochi hulls, found some Green dot powder, Claybuster CB1610078 wads, and grabbed some Cheddite primers. My bar is set up for 1 oz loads. Since I could find no one ounce wads on hand I loaded a few hulls with the 7/8 oz wad and 1 ounce of shot. The shot completely filled the shot cup, but the level of the shot was quite a ways from the top of the hull and there was a decided open crimp. I then added four soup beans on top of the shot prior to the final crimp stage and the crimp closed up nicely. I have about One Thousand 7/8 wads on hand. I only shoot the 16 gauge on rare occasions and don't really seen a need to stock up on one ounce wads. Any see a problem with sticking with what I doing ?
I have 4 16s and tend to buy any ammo at a good price. However, my favorite loads are fiocchi golden pheasants and federal wing shok. Both are plated lead 1 1/8oz loads (fios are nickel, federals are copper plated), and the federals are buffered. Bought several boxes of hevi-bismuth #4s last year too. Aside from the hills being absolute garbage, they killed ducks and pheasants with authority.
