Light load advice
 

Loading 7/8 oz for my well stocked VH 12. Straight out of the Hodgdon manual 17.8 (my Mec is throwing 17.7) Titewad @ 8,600 psi 1250 fps. Works well on Clay targets.

Have my eye on a older Damascus Parker though. Hodgdon has a 3/4 oz load, 15.3 of Titewad. Manual says 6,700 psi 1150 fps.

Think it's a good idea to go to the lighter 3/4 oz load for Damascus guns ? This one could afford to give up a little performance on clays. What do you guys usually run in the older Parker's.

Bill

I've been using that exact 3/4oz load for a while now and found that I've given nothing up in performance compared to the 7/8oz load. What with the cost of lead lately it's a win/win situation. You will love it and so will your Parker.

For what it is worth, I've been shooting thousands of 3/4 oz loads for years now. And I would NEVER go back to 7/8! As noted, you give up nothing and gain much. My Damascus guns love them... and so does my shoulder!

Thanks all

Think I will keep my eye open for 3/4 oz charge bar and lighter powder bushing. If
Going 3/4 for one might as well load 3/4 for all. Save complication.

Bill

bill you will save money and will love those 3/4 ounce loads but those old damascus barrels will take heavier load every once in a while and keep up smiling...charlie

Bill;
If you are using a MEC, buy an adjustable charge bar. No more bushings and bars to fool with and you can dial in exactly what you want with accurate repetition from load to load.

Yes to all above - especially the ACB. I have them for my 600 and 9000H. They're just great. All I shoot is 3/4oz for SC's, 5-stand and skeet or trap. You won't notice a difference.

Define light. I have had excellent results with a 1 1/16 oz Bismuth 12 ga load (notox reqd on public lands in Iowa) on wild roosters. Go below an ounce and you are going to cripple a LOT of birds I don't care how good a shot you think you are. I haven't lost a bird yet- more attribute to the quality of the dogs than my shooting. I have used this load in both fluid and Damascus barreled Parkers. I too like the 7/8 and 3/4 oz loads on clay targets but won't go that route on something that lives.

Jeff, that's fine. If you like what you're shooting then keep on doing it. I believe most of the guys are talking about target shooting - clay birds. An 1 1/16oz load for hunting in a 12ga would also be a light load in my opinion. But it also sounds like a damn fine load. Glad to hear you're not losing any birds.

I share your sentiments on clay targets. When I miss w/ a 3/4 or 7/8 oz load, I wouldn't have chipped it with a normal trap or skeet load. It is just wild (not preserve) birds that I believe require an ounce at a minimum.