Skychief Special

[rollingb]

Has anybody tried the "Skychief Special" technique when loading their fowlers?

I've seen mention of this loading technique over on another forum, and for 28ga. loads it's described as,.... "60 grains 2fg, Nitro (1/8 thick card), 1 ounce #4 shot followed by a .032 over shot card, then a 1/2" long fiber wad soaked with olive oil."

Now I don't have a 28ga., but I do have four 20ga. fowlers, so I'm thinkin' about playing around with this loading technique (with a few minor adjustments to shot and powder) to see if I get improved shot patterns at 25-35 yds. before dove season opens. 

I'll give full credit to "Skychief" if my patterns do improve. 

[Ironhand]

Never heard of it but I would think that putting that much wad in front of the shot would seriously disrupt the shot string. At best it could function as a "spreader" load. I can't see how it could tighten the pattern. It will be interesting to see how it works for you.

IronHand

[Feltwad]

Some say it  gives a few extra yards , I have tried it in my 12 bore percussion and found no difference  but then I am from the old school of volume loads .
Feltwad

[Maven]

rollingb, Here's a link to what I think you're looking for:  http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=47811.0  Scroll down until you see Skychief's post, or read 'em all.

[rollingb]

rollingb, Here's a link to what I think you're looking for:  http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=47811.0  Scroll down until you see Skychief's post, or read 'em all.

Thanks Maven! 

[Maven]

 

[Rob DiStefano]

never heard of that shot loading, but i'd not be happy messing around with messy olive oiled cushion wads.

[rollingb]

never heard of that shot loading, but i'd not be happy messing around with messy olive oiled cushion wads.

Loading the oil soaked cushion wad last seems a little backwards to me, but I'm gonna give it a try and see if it helps my patterns.  As they say,..."nothing ventured,... nothing gained".

[blackpowderbill]

Nah that heavy wad out front IMO isn't even correct.
 I load my 12 bore smoothie with powder - 3/8 waxed wad -#5 shot by volume then a 1/8" cork wad. It will dust pheasants out to 30 yards.

If you want more pressure then load a powder wad/cup- then your fiber wad -shot and a 1/8" top card or cut down a fiber wad.

   

[Semisane]

Nah that heavy wad out front IMO isn't even correct. ……...

I may not be "correct" Bill, but if you check out the Smoothbore section of The Muzzleloading Forum you will find that a significant majority of the guys who actually tried Skychief's load had major improvement in pattern density from cylinder bore barrels.

[AxelP]

seems very counter-intuitive at first glance.

[Eric Krewson]

I tried it, my friend tried it, we both have jug choked 12ga fowlers, our patterns improved significantly.

It does sound like a bad idea but everyone who has tried it was impressed with the result.

[Stormrider51]

Reminds me of something Dutch Schoultz said about "squirting out of there like a hot suppository".  (sorry, I couldn't help it)  But each gun has its own likes and dislikes.  Never know until you try it.
John

[Bigsmoke]

"squirting out of there like a hot suppository".

Oh my, don't that just conjure up an image that would best be forgotten.  But how does one unsee something like that?

[Rob DiStefano]

don't matter to me whether this load method is great or not - i won't even try it.  i don't have a need to deal with messy olive oil wads.