I am starting to load some 12 ga 2-1/2" loads for my Atkin. I've got LOTS of Fed GM papers and Winn AA, I have WW Red wads and bags of 1-1/8 oz. Claybusters.

My question is powder. I need a powder for both 2-1/2" an 2-3/4" lite loads - usually 1 oz. or 7/8 oz.

I used to use 7625 and have about 3.5 lbs. left but will run out before too long. I have a little Win SF and some 700X left in the big keg. I need a 'go to' powder that I can actually buy in quantity and plan on having available for the foreseeable future.

Win Super Target? 800X? - any ideas?

Thanks,

Mike

My suggestion would be to review the Alliant website and look for loads using your hulls. Make your selection of other components based a load that reflects the PSI, velocity, etc that you want. Claydot and American Select are good propellants for 1 and 7/8 oz loads.

I’ve been using Xtra Lite powder. I was turns on to it recently by a friend and that’s what I use In 2 1/2” 3/4 and 7/8 oz loads. He also uses it for 1/2 oz loads. Skeetx also shared a light 7/8 oz recipe using red dot.

You need to think outside the box a little. A set of calipers helps. I would go to the Hodgdon powder reloading site and look at Clay powder. Find a one ounce shot load for a 2 3/4" Paper shell. You will notice they use a common wad like WAA12SL for one ounce loads. If you just substitute a Winchester wad with a shorter crush section like WAA12F114 it fits into a 2 1/2" cut down shell. Load six of them and send them out for testing. Depending on your loader you might be happier with one of several wad choices. I have just about every AA wad or clone of them on hand. I just measure them until I find one which looks 1/4" shorter than the one called for in the load. Sometimes that's a 12F114 or a WAA12 or the Red AA12wad. Depends on the load and wad to start with.

Federal Paper hull.
Hodgdon
Clays
Win. 209
WAA12SL
17.5
6,400 PSI
1,180

But use the WAA12F114 wad as a starting point. If you don't have some on hand go to your supplier, with a set of caliper and measure what he has on hand. Once you find a close one load up six of them and sent them out to Precision Reloading.Test results will include velocity, pressure average, extreme variation, and standard deviation of your 5-shot string. Total know peace of mind. Pick a common wad, primer and common powder.

By the way if you like Federal Paper hulls now is the time to stock up on them. The new ones are not nearly as nice as the classic ones. The paper tube is thinner and the head is not brass I am told.

800X

It works in everything from 22 short to 16" naval cannon.

Alliant Clay Dot
7/8 and 1oz (there're a few 1 1/8 oz loads in there too.
I use it with less,,down to 9/16oz w/ cereal filler w/o a problem. But you are on your own when you wander off of the published loading charts.

Just about any hull, wad and primer combination can be found on the list..

A big plus for vintage gun shooters,, PSI ratings on many of the loads in the upper 5K to 7K range.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/p...21&gauge=12

How many .22 shorts or 16" Naval Cannons can you cite which were ever loaded with 800X powder??

Clay Dot was brought out to compete with Clays. Might even be like the H110/296 type issue. Same stuff under different names.

It's just a matter of finding the right charge

See the thread on 800X powder. For the 2 3/4 length use 19.5 gr. 800X, Windjammer Blue wad, Win. 209 primer in Win AA case.
Pressure is 5000 psi. This load patterns beautifully. For the For the 1 oz. load use 16 gr. of 700X, claybuster pink wad, Win 209 in Win AA hull. Pressure is 5500 psi. For the 2" case use 17 grains of 800X and Win AA Red wad, Rem 209 primer. Great load.

Thank you all for the suggestions. Much appreciated.

Mike

As Ky said, use the shorter wad. I've been doing this for 10 years or so. I called CBers and ask about subbing in a shorter wad. He said, unofficially, if the only difference was the cushion area, at low pressures he wouldn't be afraid to do it himself. Contact the powder companies and they'll send you a reloaders booklet for free. Then you can easily compare different loads. You can use the 2 3/4 data in the 2 1/2 shell, you just have to make it fit. Like with a shorter wad. At the pressures guys have listed I wouldn't worry about subbing in a wad and the pressures being too high. I've never sent one in for pressure testing yet, but to each their own.

Psul -- I have several bags of WW 12 red wads - they are short. I was in the gun shop yesterday and saw more bags of red wads - at $11.50/bag of 250!