doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Low pressure reloads for 12 ga

I am planning to start reloading 12 ga low pressure.
I have found some recipes of 2 3/4" 5-6000 psi on Hodgdon's site involving mostly SR 7625 and 800X powders. The recipes for 2 1/2" run in the 8000 psi and they involve more to do with cutting the shells to dimensions and a different crimp.
What do you say about the 2 3/4" reloads in 2 1/2 chambers. I know the pressures may run 500-1000 psi higher, but they should still be OK? Velocities are in the 1100 to 1200 fps.
Any detriments to these 2 3/4" reloads?
I forgot to mention, the pay load is 1 1/8oz.

I've used PB and 7624 with 1 oz. loads with no problems in guns with 2 1/2'' chambers. This morning I finished loading several hundred low-pressure loads using 2 3/4'' Remington hulls, Winchester primers, 18.5 grains of Clays, CB 4100 wads and 7/8 oz. of shot. 1200 fps at 5200 psi.

Sliver...If I had a 2 1/2" Gun with good bbl wall thickness I'd feel good about shooting the 6 or 7000psi loads, though I'd stick to 1oz myself, thats all I shoot in my 2 3/4" Guns.
From what I've read here, & in Bell's DGJ articles it's mostly about keeping the PSI to the same working pressure the gun was proofed for, or slightly lower if you can to make up for the modest increase in using the longer shells in the shorter chambers.
You should read Sherman Bells great article on this very subject in the dgjOURNAL

Cheers Franc

If the pressures are listed at a certain level, does it matter if you shoot 1 1/8, 1, or 7/8 oz?

Recoil is payload and velocity oriented. Pressure may be the same but more recoil is always more harmful to a gun as well as the shooter. Yes, it could matter.

7625 does not perform so well on those frigid sub zero Montana mornings. In temperatures a bit more mild it works just fine. Now days I tend to give the birds a pass on those mornings anyways.
Steve

Claybuster Lilghtening wads have a bunch of recipes in the bag. I like the Winchester AA hull,Win 209 primer PB powder and the LIghtening wad. The pressure is 5600 psi and very comfortable.

Regards, Gordon

If you find a load that you like in 2 3/4" that is low pressure, you can cut shells to 2 1/2" and roll crimp, it will fit in the hull no problem because the 6 or 8 crimp takes up about 1/4" of hull length.

I also guess that heavier payloads may increase pressures sharper than a lighter load if one drops more powder inadvertently.

Steve, you have some gray hair but you don't look so old. But thanks for the advise.

Gordon, what is the payload for your recipe?

David, I am a beginner reloader and I must keep things as simple as I can. I get lost in so many details. By the way, how do you roll crimp?

My favorite load is Solo 1000 with Claybuster Lightening wads in either a Rem. or AA hull and either Win. or Rem. primers. You can get the recipie from the makers of Solo 1000 or Claybuster wads. Yes, I have also roll crimped or I have used the Hartin crimp. Pressures though will be in the low 6000's. I have yet to have a blooper with these componets. All my loads are either 1oz. or sometimes 7/8oz.