Reloading-Basic Question

[Aaron Beck]

Ive been successfully reloading some 16 ga loads for hunting using some favorite loads of users here and on the 16 ga site. Since 7625 is in short supply and universal out of stock.. universally, I would like to use up some other powders.
I have the 16 ga pdf I downloaded from someone's post here and find it a wealth of info.
I am using rst once fired hulls so that limits the published info but there is still plenty of options. lets take unique powder as an example.
There are several posted options for unique powder 3/4 and7/8 oz but all the velocities are in the 1400fps range. So the question, who uses this kind of speed? or is it posted as an upper limit and commonly underloaded by the reloader to his approximate velocity intentions.

[Victor Wasylyna]

1400 fps? Way too spicy for me.

-Victor

[Bill Murphy]

Those loads are published to keep the pressure up to a range that eliminates bloopers in very light shot loads. There is no reason to publish such loads when faster powders are available, like Red Dot and Green Dot. Not all published loads make sense.

[Aaron Beck]

Is unique suitable to some 7/8 oz 1150 +/- loads with reasonable pressures say less than 8k psi?

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

I've had excellent results with 7/8 oz. loads using 14 grains of Red Dot or 16 grains of Unique with the SG16 wad. Pressure should be around 7000 psi., and velocity around 1200 fps. Both loads burn clean and without any bloopers so far. Some folks are reluctant to use Red Dot, so if you do also, stick with Unique.

[Double Lab]

I've successfully used Longshot in 3/4oz. loads.

[Aaron Beck]

longshot is still available but i dont own any.
The 16 grains of unique 7/8 oz shot and sg16 wad looks pretty good.
cheddite hull?
tested?

[Harry Gietler]

Originally Posted by Austin J Hawthorne Jr.

I've had excellent results with 7/8 oz. loads using 14 grains of Red Dot or 16 grains of Unique with the SG16 wad. Pressure should be around 7000 psi., and velocity around 1200 fps. Both loads burn clean and without any bloopers so far. Some folks are reluctant to use Red Dot, so if you do also, stick with Unique.

I have been loading shells with Red Dot powder for years, and never had a
BLOOPER.
Harry

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

Yes Aaron...Cheddite hull and CCI 209 primers.
Not tested but used for many years.

[Bill Murphy]

Aaron, Unique is too slow for reliable ignition in 7/8 ounce loads at 1150 fps. Red Dot is a much better choice for reliable ignition.