Home Forums Reloading 16 Gauge Society Pressure tested a 2.5"/ 16 / 1oz / Herco

OK, so I was able to load 10 rounds of the above load and do some cold soak testing. The results were not great. The load lost slightly more than 10% velocity between 70 degrees and 32(ish). I've never done this before so I don't know what to expect exactly.

Ambient Temp: 46 deg

Chrono: MagnetoSpeed V2 set to "shot/slug"


Sanity Check: 2 shots of RST 7/8 with an advertised velocity of 1,125 fps

Shot 1: 1,064
Shot 2: 1,091

Ambient 46 degrees Shot Test - Load from OP - Fiocchi - 420g pb 7 1/2 - SG16 - 23.0 g Herco - Roll crimp to 2.4"

Shot 1: 1,207
Shot 2: 1,179
Shot 3: 1,161
Shot 4: 1,183
Shot 5: 1,146

Average: 1,175
SD: 23

Cold Soaked Test - Load from OP - Fiocchi - 420g pb 7 1/2 - SG16 - 23.0 g Herco - Roll crimp to 2.4"

Procedure: 5 rounds placed in the freezer overnight. Rounds transported to the range in a cooler with cold packs. Barrel and receiver cold soaked for 5 minutes with cold packs before starting the string, and for 2 minutes between each shot. Do not have a non-contact thermometer, but I believe the freezer and cold packs are well below freezing, but who knows.

Shot 1: 1,125
Shot 2: 1,164
Shot 3: 1,100
Shot 4: 1,129
Shot 5: 1,167

Average: 1,137
SD: 28


__________________________________________________________


Thoughts: The load lost considerable velocity from room temp down to 46 (approx 100 fps), and another 40 fps when cold soaked down near freezing. I'm a bit disappointed it lost that much velocity, but I know low pressure loads are reputed to be temp sensitive. The loads shoot, and velocity SD doesn't seem to indicate it has become unstable at below freezing temps.