[Bill Jolliff]

This new thread is in response to a previous thread in this Reloading Section where there were some discussions on light 12 gauge loads.

I’ve been shooting some nice light recoil 12 gauge loads in my old Fox A grade double with very satisfactory results. So for those that might have an interest in hand loading some for your old doubles or for recoil sensitive shooters, I sent some of my loaded 0.5 and 0.6 ounce loads using Alliant Extra Lite powder to Tom Armbrust of Ballistic Research for testing. Also loaded some 0.6 ounce loads using the more available IMR 700X powder and have those results too.

In all cases: I used Claybuster CB 0175-12 12 gauge pink ¾ ounce wads with Craig Smith’s Circle Fly 20 gauge 0.125” thick card wads in the bottom to make the 0.5 ounce loads and a 0.025” thick card wad for the 0.6 ounce loads; used #8 lead shot and Alliant Extra Lite powder.

Hulls/primers: Remington Gun Clubs with Remington STS 209 primers and Winchester AA HS hulls with Winchester 209 primers.

Loaded with a MEC Sizemaster.

Results:
0.5 ounce with Rem hulls, Rem primers, 14 grains EL powder (MEC #26 powder bushing) average of 4766 psi at an average speed of 1343 fps. (A second identical loading tested later produced 4300 psi and 1296 fps.)

0.5 ounce with Win hulls, Win primers, 14 grains EL powder (MEC #26 powder bushing) average of 5100 psi at an average speed of 1367 fps.

0.6 ounce with Rem hulls, Rem primers, 14.5 grains EL powder (MEC #27 powder bushing) average of 5133 psi at an average speed of 1308 fps.

0.6 ounce with Win hulls, Win primers, 14.5 grains EL powder (MEC #27 powder bushing) average of 5400 psi at an average speed of 1309 fps.

Also loaded some 0.6 ounce loads using 13.7 grains of IMR 700X powder (MEC bushing #24) with Rem hulls and Rem primers and they produced an average pressure of 3400 psi and average speed of 1207 fps. Looks like a bump up another powder bushing a size or two would be OK. This reflects the slower burning characteristics of the 700X compared to the very fast burning EL.

I’ve given the average of pressure and speed for each load. There was some variability in the numbers as might be expected for variation in powder drops of as much as 0.2 grains and differences in crimps and wad seating pressure (around zero) but overall probably not more than what might be expected.

These are nice pleasant light loads that sound fine and are quite clean burning. May not be for everyone but for those that want a light load, these work fine. Alliant Extra Lite powder seems to be very hard to find. A suitable substitute might be Hodgdon Titewad powder which is also a very fast burning powder and likely suitable for light 12 gauge loads. Have some of that Titewad powder that I’m going to try because my EL is running out and I can’t find any.

I do not have dedicated 0.5 and 0.6 charge bars. I use brass tubing and thin wall plastic pipe trimmed to insert in a 1 ounce charge bar. Can get pretty precise shot drops of 0.5 and 0.6 ounces.

I also load ¾ ounce loads using EL and 700X using published recipes. Use those in the Full choke barrel for those longer shots!

I’m sure a Disclaimer Statement is not required as anyone who reloads knows of the potential risk associated with doing same.