Advice for 3/4oz 20ga loads
I picked up a flat of 3/4oz 20ga from RST. I've reloaded them using Windjammer wads, Universal powder and Win 209 primers per a Hogdon manual. I've had unsatisfactory results. With the factory RST loads, I get dirty barrels and consistant ignition, but with my 3/4oz reloads I get very dirty barrels and inconsistant ignition. I think the compression is about the same although its hard to tell with a worn out Mec 600 and I know I need to buy a new reloader but I get good crimps. The shells will fire but some are small pops and others are bangs. I had to push out wads three times. I was running these through 24" barrels which normally get a little dirty anyway, but these were extremely dirty.
When I go back to 7/8oz loads, same wads, powder and primer, no problems. I tried upping the powder charge to the same as for 7/8oz but it had no discernable effect. So should I just give up trying to load 3/4oz or what? I never would have thought 1/8oz shot would have very much difference and I've played with light loads in 16 and 12 ga with good results but this 20ga is giving me problems.
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