Low Pressure 12 ga loads

[Pat Dugan]

Since I now have a 1 frame underlifter made in 1879 I am interested in other peoples favorite load, type of powder ect for 12 ga.
I failed to mention that I just use Winchester AA Hulls.
NOBODY at our skeet range picks them up

PDD

[Greg Baehman]

My favorite low pressure load:

*Remington Premier STS hull
*Claybuster1100-12 wad
*Remington STS 209 primer
*19.5 grains IMR PB powder
*7/8 oz. Magnum shot

1145 FPS
4300 PSI

If you substitute a AA hull it will reduce the pressure to 4200 PSI. If you'd prefer to shoot 1 oz. loads with the Remington Hull, leaving the rest of the recipe the same you'll reduce the velocity to 1100 FPS and increase the pressure to 5100 PSI.

[Robert Rambler]

Have shot 100's of these through my Damascus and twist guns. They work great on the clays course.

Federal paper hull
Win. 209 primer
1 oz magnum shot
windjammer wad
18 gr clays powder
5800 psi, 1180 fps

Rem gun club hull
Win 209 primer
1 oz magnum shot
Rem TGT12 wad
16.3 Clays powder
6500 psi, 1125 fps

[Derrick Stewart]

I'll second Robert's reciepe with Fed Paper Hulls. That is what i use in old my old SxS's. If your instrested in a little more lead i have a 1-1/8 oz load with the same components if you like.

[Paul Harm]

Remington hulls will have lower pressures than Winchesters, Federal hulls even less. I started useing 1oz, then went to 7/8oz of shot because of the price of lead. You'll find they break clays just as well. Matter of fact, just about everyone at my club has gone to the lighter loads. Also, easier on the shoulder. Most of us also use Nitro 100 because we get it in a 25 pound keg. It's only about $12 a pound that way. Pressures are in the 5500 to 7000psi range depending on what kind of FPS you're looking for. Paul

[Ronald G. Garrido]

Hi Pat,
All of the listed loads are excelent, but I will give you my pet load just to toss it out there.
Win. AA hull
Remington 209P primer
23 grains of IMR 7625
Claybuster 1100 wad, or Win. Pink wad
1ounce of shot
3800 PSI
with a Win. 209 primer
5200 PSI
This is an published load in one of the older Remington handloaders guide.

Ron Garrido

[Dave Miles]

Ron,
How fast is this pet load of yours? Especially the 3800 PSI load.
Are they around 1150 FPS?
Thanks, Dave

[Ronald G. Garrido]

Hi Dave,

Sorry, I gave all the info but the speed, yes it is 1150fps.

Ron G.

[Richard Flanders]

Ron, that's incredibly low P from 7625. I use a 4300psi load, 24gram shot 12ga load for target and grouse using light or damascus 12's. I'd be surprised if your load would work well in the cold. Mine don't.

[Ronald G. Garrido]

Hi Richard,
Sorry for the late reply to your last post, I have been in North Carolina visiting a friend.
I can't recall ever having a problem with bloopers using this load, but I am told by fellow shooters that they know when I am using this load by the report. I have shot targets, dove and even pheasants using larger shot (#5).

Ron G.

[Tom Carter]

Hi Pat, Send me your personal email address and I'll send you Sherman Bell's low pressure loads. Cheers, Tom

[Pat Dugan]

My email address is pddugan@bellsouth.net

Thanks in advance

Pat Dugan

[Ed Blake]

American Select is one of the best for low pressure loads at around 1,200 fps when using the Windjammer wad and a 7/8 oz load. You can find loads at 6,000 psi and under that will be easy on your gun. 7/8 oz is all you will need for clays.

[Kurt Densmore]

I have been using this load off from the Hodgman website with good success:

Winchester AA hull
1 oz of shot
CB-1100-12 wad
Rem 209P primer
16 grains 700X
5000psi and 1100f/s that I have chronographed myself at 1250/s for some reason...


I have tried the 7/8 oz (actually 24gm) load with 14.5 grains of 700X at 5600psi and 1150 psi with good success also. Problem is that it doesn't crimp very good with the wad made for a 1 oz load and I had to go to an overshot card or a plastic spreader to get good crimps. If I was going to go to load this load much I would go with the 7/8oz CB wad.

Good luck and shoot straight.
Kurt

[Dave Suponski]

This is the load I use for 12ga. If fact I just loaded up a bunch today.
Remington STS Hull
Remington TGT12 1oz. wad
Remington 209 primer
22.5 grains SR7625 powder

1150ft/sec 5700 PSI

[scott kittredge]

hi, i use the same load kurt densmore uses, i load AA red in 7 1/2's and AA silver(gray) in 8's i shoot these in both my PH twist 1 1/2 frames, and my DH dam. 1 1/2 frame, i shoot trap , skeet, and sporting clays. you can shoot these a day long, very easy on the shoulder. scott

[Harry Collins]

WW AA hull
WW 209 Primer
23.5 gr IMR 7625
CB-1118-12 Wad
1 oz lead shot
1150 fps
5100 psi

This is a great dove and quail load as well as sporting clays. I shoot it through all my 12 gauge Parkers including an 1881 Lifter with Twist barrels.

Harry

[Richard Flanders]

I use the same load as Harry lists and it's almost recoil free and burns reasonably clean until it gets to 10 deg or lower. Very good load for grouse and preserve birds.

[HowardWard]

Hi Guys,
Just picked up my first parker. Couldn't afford anything fancy but it's a nice clean and tight PH #1 frame with 28' "twist" bbls. My question is, what's the difference between "twist" and "damascus" and are you guys actually shooting smokless powder handloads in these things without fear of doing damage?

[Dave Suponski]

Howard,See my post above using SR 7625 powder.And yea we use low pressure hand loads.

[Pat Dugan]

I shot a 23 in ATA trap this week with an 1879 NO 1 frame twist barrel Parker underlifter, choked IM in both barrels. I rotate from barrel to barrel shooting the Winchester AA low pressure loads with PB and 1 1/8 oz #71/2 shot. the Parker is 28 inches uncut.

I wonder how many other wall hangers need to be brought back to life with low pressure loads?

PDD

[Chuck Heald]

Have shot 100's of these through my Damascus and twist guns. They work great on the clays course.

Federal paper hull
Win. 209 primer
1 oz magnum shot
windjammer wad
18 gr clays powder
5800 psi, 1180 fps



My load is similar to Robert's above. I use a full length 2 3/4" Federal paper hull and a standard star crimp. My load differs from Roberts in that I use a Federal wad and primer. Other parameters are identical. Measured pressure 6500 psi. Measured velocity 1150 fps