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Old 02-15-2008, 10:33 PM
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Pawildman
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Default RE: what is a magnum shotgun shell?

ORIGINAL: SwampCollie

ORIGINAL: bigbulls

We don't use actual drams of powder any more. Dram measurements were used with black powder. However, the word "dram" is still used to describe the velocity that you can get from any given shot shell load.

What all this means is this... Back when drams of black powder were used it was measured in drams. "X" drams produced "X" velocity with "X" amount of shot. Modern smokeless powder that produces "X" velocity with "X" amount of shot is listed with the same "dram" rating as was used with black powder cartridges.

Basically all this dram stuff is just a modern equivalant velocity rating with any given weight of shot.

Essentially they just did it to confuse the hell out of everyone.

Toros grande is correct.

The reference charge they used was a 3 dram of black powder with 1 1/8oz shot which gave a velocity of 1200fps. So when you see a target 12ga load that reads across the box: 12 1 1/8 3 8 that means you have a 12ga with 1 1/8oz shot, going 1200 fps, size #8 shot. Most companies now just list the fps, which makes a lot more sense to me. Some list both. The MAX loads depend entirely upon the shot charge... you can get MAX loads in 1 1/4oz or 2 1/4oz in a 12ga 3.5" shell.
I haven't bought a box of shotshells for so long it's pitiful. But I think I remember that when the term Dram was used, it was printed "dram equiv." on the box. It was always my understanding that it meant the amount of smokeless powder loaded in that shell had the equivalent of that much black powder (3 3/4 drams, for example),that it took to achieve a certain velocity, but it is definitely NOT on a weight-to-weight basis.
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