Shotshell Questions

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Are the Remington green Sport Loads and the black Game Loads the same hulls?

Yes

Do they fit under this category from the Hodgdon Manual? "Remington STS, or Nitro 27, or Gun Club Plastic Shells"

again,yes

Do I need a shotshell checker?

I don't know....I've never heard of 'shotshell checker'. However, I have been reloading for 30+ years and have never found the need for one, whatever it is

How do you convert Drams to Grains?

As previously stated, it can't be done. Drams is a measure of volume, not weight, and is a hold over from black powder times. However, if you wish to duplicate a particular load, you can use the Dram equivelent & payload (# of ounces of shot) to give you a velocity, and can then use that information to find a given charge weight of a particular powder to approximate that velocity. For example, if the box is labeled "3 3/4 dram eq, 1 1/4 oz shot", that load is roughly equal to a muzzle velocity of 1330 fps. Knowing that, you can look up the loading tables for 1 1/4 oz shot and find a powder charge that will give you 1330 fps, and you have basically duplicated the 3 3/4 drams of BP that it would take to get you that velocity.
Have I muddied the waters yet?