theinvicta

I have used a 32gr SSB 76mm load in a 70mm case with a RTO with a plastic frangible disc.

Only stating that I've shot many geese from these shells and some of these cases have been reloaded many times. I only load my goose loads with the gold cheddites and I only started the season with 30 new cases. My empty shells get thrown into mud and water on every outing, so I cannot fault them for performance when reloaded. If I was to be picky, then the gold colour would be my only issue. What is one mans trash is another's treasure. I hope this clears up your confusion.

Lol, That's the only problem I have, is the gold colour. I loose at least one from every 3 shots I fire on land from my auto. If I'm shooting from the boat, they all end up floating down the river, I then end up trying to collect them as they wash up against the reeds. They then blend in with the reeds, so it's a no win situation

You must be reloading too hot then, as I get over 4 reloads out of the 3" gold cheddite cases @ 1600fps and have taken over 70 geese with these. Brilliant cases when used with a gaep finisher.

Just noticed this post, but if you are staying around The River Tay area, then drop me a pm and I'll get you out on a few flights with the boat.

I shoot thousands of crows per year and I have found that my best results are from the Italian #6's on crows. They are equivalent to uk #5.5 and are a brilliant all year shell, from early season decoying to late season when the crows start getting wary of the decoys and you then have that bit more punch when required.

Tides for Newburgh (24/10/15) Low water 08:24 and 20:52 High water 00:52 and 13:45 Tides for Newburgh (31/10/15) Low water 00:20 and 12:46 High water 05:35 and 17:55 It will probably be an hour difference each way between Perth and Dundee.. Hope this helps

Last time I spoke to Alan, he had his own little shoot now for pheasants etc. I met Alan after he finished guiding, when I was asked to take Alan and Robin Scott out shooting geese on one of my fields, when they were up staying and i have kept in touch with him since.Up till last year, Alan has come up to Newburgh to stay, every 1st of September, where he would go out in the boat with a friend. After morning flight, he would join us for the famous wildfowlers pub crawl through the town. The story's he tells are priceless and a huge knowledge of goose shooting. My opinion still does not change on goose guides as they are all vermin and have told him that often over a few rums, but as a person he is a great guy.

For me it has to be the SBE2. I have a Beretta, Winchester SX3, Benelli M2 and SBE2 semi autos. The SBE2 is absolutely perfect for Wildfowling and I certainly don't know why people cry about the recoil, as I put the hardest hitting shells through it with no recoil issues. The M2 and SBE2 are lighter and far more pointable compared to equivalent beretta semi autos. Everyone will tell you that their gun is the best, but out of all my guns, the Benelli's will always be the first guns out my cabinet.

Sorry but the guides up my way are vermin. They drive around chasing the geese and flashing cash at farmers. They then spoil the shooting for some local shooter who has been helping the farmer out all year, by shooting his pigeons, crows, rabbits and foxes. I know many people that ended up being asked to pay for there shooting because of guides offering to shoot a field. Sorry, but certain guides had been in flashing cash at a few of the farms that I shoot last year and luckily they got chased. Sorry if I'm bitter, but shooting should be done by trust and loyalty and not by poaching ground at the expense of another shooter. I'm not prepared to name drop on a forum, but If I have offended anyone with my rant, then i have got my point across. Safe shooting and some day we may meet in our travels.

1500fps can be easily achieved, but I cannot confirm the pressure in these loads. If anyone wants to get them proofed, just pm me for the load details or chrono results. Out of the two weights that I tested (35gm & 36gm), the 35gm had the most consistent results. I've only tested these 3" loads in my SBE2, so in 3" chambered guns, use at your own risk.

Best bet is to train your dog in situations where you plan to work them. I work a cocker and a lab and both are first class Wildfowling dogs. My dogs were trained from pups, on the foreshore in tidal water and mud, which builds up there stamina and muscles. I also trained them at my local reservoir, jumping from the boats and jetties to retrieve dummies. This prepared them to be comfortable when travelling in and jumping from the boat when out Wildfowling in tidal water or mud.

Welcome to the forum

It's an old topic, but leave the boats to the locals who know the water. Tides, deep mud and rough water, can all result in a fatal accident. Don't let anyone charge you to shoot on the Tay, as they are only low life scum. I've stayed on the Tay estuary all my life and it's free. Speak to the locals as they are friendly and will point you in the right direction, free of charge.

I stay on the Tay Estuary in Fife and been shooting the Tay for years. Where I shoot, the reeds can be over 200m deep at parts and the water floods through them, so access to the foreshore is limited. I use the boat to allow me to do that and the shooting is brilliant, as it's the best way to get under the Geese.

Clay and Game

I chronographed a few SSB loads today and worked up to a load of 35gms of #B, with a five shot average of 1488fps. Now what impressed me was, that there was only 18fps between the fastest and lowest speed. (I certainly can't get Alliant Steel that consistent). There was no signs of pressure, but I was putting these through a 3 1/2" chambered gun, my SBE2. The patterns were good at 40 yards with a Kicks Modified. I can probably get these over 1500fps, but I would prefer to find out the pressure in the 1488fps load first, before tweeking it more. I tested a varied selection of 35 - 36 loads with various charges and wads, with some interesting findings.

SSB-150 was a new powder that was brought on the market as a replacement powder, to produce lower pressures at higher velocities. I've loaded up a few 36gm with SSB-150 to try out in the next few days, so i will report back with findings. The new Lightening Steel are SSB-150, so if Eley say they can get 1430fps, I'm sure I can easily improve on that. With Alliant Steel, you are only going to get at best, around 1500fps for a 35gm steel load. I can confirm I have used this and it is a great load, but I feel we can get a European powder, which will be suffice for our needs, at half the price and availability. Eley Lightening Steels and VIP (high performance) steel shells are getting rave reviews, so as Reloaders, let's try and better them.

They are Federal 3" (Maroon in colour) and are a well made, solid case.

Try reloading into Federal cases. You can get up to 37 grains of SSB150, with 36grams of steel into a B&P35, with a perfect crimp. I have never fired this load, so please don't use it as a recipe. I only loaded it up for a volume test. Could probably push it to 38 grains without crimp issues. I'm going to work a few loads from 30grains up and see what kind of results I get.

Best bet, is to meet up with someone who reloads. They will show you their equipment in action and give you advice on powder and components etc. Everyone has there own prefered loads that works for them and these loads sometimes take years to perfect. Everything from crimp depth to pressure signs can be explained and you, with the advantage of an unlimited source of answers to your questions. They will also tell you where they went wrong with various components, saving you time and money. This is why I would recommend meeting up with someone.If you can't meet up with anyone, then I'm sure you will get great advice from the Reloaders on this forum.

Excellent, thanks.

Thanks for that. Would be good to know what powder weight is in the Eley Lightening Steel 32gm and 36gm shells as they use SSB-150. I can't source them near me to get one to cut open, so if anyone could assist, that would be great.

Interesting, as I only ever reload steel shells for the Wildfowling. I've never even cut open a Sipe, so what powder and wads do RC use in them?

Hi, I've been looking for an alternative to Alliant Steel powder and have managed to source some Maxam SSB-150. Has anyone worked with this powder as I'm looking for a Steel load in 35gms. Just need a starting figure, to work up to a suitable alternative to my Alliant Steel loads. I've got SAM1, B&P35 and LBC-48 wads and will be loading into Federal 3" hulls, so any advice would be great.