doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 800X Powder - Any Users

Hi all, I was looking for a nice low pressure load and found one on the IMR Site, here's the load:

12ga Federal Gold Medal Hull (Plastic)

Windjammer Wad

Win 209 Primer

24grs of IMR 800X

1 1/8oz lead shot

5900psi and 1200fps

I've posted this on a couple other sites and it seems that 800X has some problems metering correctly and that the wad and hull are not the best choices. As this is a published load, I really can't see a big problem with it.

So...your thoughts on the load and 800X in general would be helpful.

Thanks so much!

Greg

I've used 800X in 16 gauge load from a Mec 600 jr and had no problems loading or firing. 1 ounce load.

Greg

There are better loads and better powders for low pressure loads.
BUT
Works just fine, a small bit of cold weather consideration.

For my low pressure loads I use 7/8 ounce of shot.
If you are on with the shot, the 7/8 ounce should do the do.

Mike

I think folks get overly caddied away with "Low Pressure". Think in terms of the shot load & velocity you want the old gun's wood etc to stand up to. You use that slow powder to get real ,ow chamber pressures vs a faster powder which gives the same load of shot the same velocity then at about the end of the chamber to the end of the forcing cones those pressure curves are going to swap places & from there on out the "Low Pressure" load becomes the "High Pressure" load. A gun that won't stand up to 7500-8000 PSI chamber pressure needs to be relegated strictly to Black Powder or preferably hung on the wall. I would much rather have a slightly higher pressure in the chamber where the walls are thickest than have a Squib out in the boonies or swamp.
If it is strictly a moderately warm to hot weather target load you can get away with a bit lower chamber pressures, but I Just Don't Trust those super low pressures with slow powders for hunting loads.

I've loaded a lot of 800X. I think it is great for 1 1/4 Pheasant loads. Used i8t in Springer Field Trials for years. Good velocity and patterns, but easy on the shoulder.
As a lighter load, I would be careful if you are using it in cold weather. I ended up throwing away a case of shells I had loaded from the IMR/duPont loading manual. Bloopers, squibs and so on. It is dirty (I think most slow burning powders are also) but since I clean my guns after each use, that is of no concern to me

In the winter, before I shoot skeet, I put them on the floor board of the truck and turn the heater on to floor.
Very nice and on a round of skeet, you can put your hands in the shell pocket of the vest and warm up your hands

Mike

800X is far from ideal in the mentioned application.

Just because a load is 'published' does not means it's worth a crap.

There are loads published that either will not fit in the case or don't take up enough room to get a decent crimp. The manuals are FULL of such ill advised loads.

I wouldn't even fool with a load in a Federal hull that does not use a Federal wad. The low pressure in the Windjammer load I'd bet is a result of a piss poor gas seal and unburned powder.

No idea why they publish such rubbish.

Hi Greg,your question is timely as I recently ran out of 700x which I load for my light 7/8 and 1 oz. loads but had some 800x that was on the back of the shelf for a couple decades.I started with 23 grains,1 oz.shot,Fiocchi primer,Federal SO wad in a Federal top gun case.This didn't cut it.Very dirty,slow,and not great ignition. Not a squib, but obviously too low pressure to burn properly.Spent some time checking various reloading info and
came back with the same formula except a Fed 209A primer in a Win. AA case.Shot a couple rounds of sporting clays with it and it was much better.Still a bit dirty but much better performance.Interpolating various reloading info suggests a pressure of 6500-7500.Works for me. Will use up my 800x and finally found some 700x, so life will go on.

Thanks all, so....how does this load sound to you?

Federal Gold Medal Hull - Plastic

1 1/8 oz

Federal 209A Primer

CB 2118-12 wad or Federal `12S3

23grs 800X

6700 to 6900psi

1200fps

Way better.

But only if I had the 800X on hand.

I wouldn't buy powder just for this.