Unique powder & 16ga.

[Matt Valinsky]

Found some Unique, does anyone have any low pressure recipes for 16ga. cheditte 2-3/4" and 2-1/2" hulls? I have DR16 and BPI z16 wads on hand. 7/8 or 1oz. of shot would be good.

Boy, this powder shortage is a real pain in the shorts.

[Steve Havener]

Unique is possibly the best powder available for 16 gauge in 7/8th and 1 ounce loads. I don't use either of the wads you reference but there will be data available for the DR16 wad on 16ga.com and may be some for the BPI wad as well.

[Matt Valinsky]

Thanks Steve, I did check the 16ga. site. i've loaded up two different loads with Unique that I'll be sending off to get tested. Hope they turn out okay.

[Steve Havener]

Using Cheddite and Federal hulls, Winchester 209 primers and Gualandi 1621 wads I load17.5 grains of Unique for 7/8th ounce loads and for 1 ounce loads I use 19.5 grains of Unique and the Gualandi 1618 wad. Both are in the 1150 fps MV range and chamber pressures are sub 9K. I'm pretty much old school so I trim my hulls to 2 9/16th inches and roll crimp. I think BPI sells the Gualandi 1618 wad as the SG16 and the 1621 wad as the SG16L. I really hate it when some retailers change the names from the manufactures designation, there is enough confusion in this world.

[Mark Garrett]

WW 16 Poly 1 oz. Unique 19 Win 209 BPI Z 16 1156 7,300 Precision reloading
WW 16 Poly 1 oz. Unique 20 Win 209 BPI Z 16 1209 8,200 Precision reloading

Cheditte hulls load the same as the win poly . I used this load in a 2 1/2 chedditte hull , but trying to remember if I drop the shot charge to 7/8 oz . Both should work . With 7/8 oz Unique will be a little dirty but will shoot just fine . Unique is better suited for 1 oz in 16ga

Also
Cheddite 1 oz. Unique 21 Win 209 BPI Z 16 1254 9,200 16 gauge forum Dogchaser

[Matt Valinsky]

Mark, the first load you listed is one I have loaded using the Cheditte 2 1/2 hull. I
did have to drop to 7/8 to get a good crimp.

I loaded the same recipe in the Cheditte 2 3/4 hull but used the DR16 wad, crimps dished so need a filler in the bottom of the shot cup. i was going to send this load to Precision to test. Think I'll try it with 1oz of shot and see how it crimps. If the crimps are good I'll get it tested.

I'm going to try Dogchasers recipe in the morning. It's more psi then I want (I'm loading for Damascus and Twist barrels), curious how that stack will crimp. With 19gr. in a 2 3/4 Cheditte really deep dished crimp but I only dropped 7/8 shot.

[Matt Valinsky]

Steve, Thanks for the info. Are these tested recipes?

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Matt
Ive got some info on Unique low pressure loads at home , but am on vacation. I don't have any Unique, so haven't tried them. I'll get them to you when I get back.

[Mark Garrett]

The 19 grain load would make a good low pressure for Damascus barreled guns , should fit fine in a 2 1/2 hull . They are all tested loads .

[Matt Valinsky]

Thanks Mark.

Harold, hope your having a great time!

[Steve Havener]

Steve, Thanks for the info. Are these tested recipes?

Both loads were tested by Tom Armbrust. The 7/8th ounce load was tested using a Federal hull. Average pressure 7333 psi average MV 1150 fps.

The one ounce load was tested in a Cheddite hull with a folded crimp but by using a roll crimp you reduce chamber pressure by an average of 400psi. It tested at 9006 psi (folded crimp- 400 psi for the roll crimp) puts the chamber pressure at about 8600 psi. MV is pretty good at 1212 fps. I shoot both loads in my Damascus Lefever F and G grades.