Powder for low pressure shells

[John Powers]

Since PB, which was the powder I've used for loading low pressure shells for Damascus barreled guns are not available anymore. I have seen 700x mentioned in several threads. Are you guys loading 700x for 12ga low pressure loads? I see 700x frequently. Thanks

[john pulis]

John,

Hogdons has several low pressure 3/4 oz. loads for 700x. I, too, used PB in damascus guns and have loaded and shot 700x 3/4 on sporting clays. Works fine and breaks them well if I am on target. 700 is not as fine as PB but seems to meter well with my MEC 600. Good
Luck.

[Mike.Smith]

So, not to throw fuel on a fire that I think has gone unchecked for some time, but is PB really discontinued? I feel like I've never seen any OFFICIAL announcement from IMR or Hodgdon, and I've looked at their pages several times for it. I have to wonder though, if you're going to discontinue PB, why bother to re-brand it under the Hodgdon name?

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5467/17490176351_5a2eee760e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sDxJ5F)Discontinued or not? (https://flic.kr/p/sDxJ5F) by Mike Smith (https://www.flickr.com/photos/smithshady/), on Flickr

Again, this is a second hand story from a powder retailer that I talked to this past weekend, so again second hand information not from the source. His story (from his Hodgdon Rep) was that the R Series of Powder was the only one being discontinued, so SR-7625 and the like. Is there an official announcement that anyone has seen? Have I just missed it?

I use PB and SR-7625 almost exclusively and have some reserves, but like you guys stared at several containers of 700x for sale at the show wondering if I should pick some up or not. Not having researched loads for it, I passed.

Mike

[John Powers]

Mike, I personally spoke with Hodgden rep this year at the shot show. It along with 7625 are discontinued.

[scott kittredge]

i shoot mostly 700-x from 3/4 oz 20 ga to 1 1/4 oz 10 ga, yes low pressures and good in cold weather too.

[John Campbell]

John:
To paraphrase one of America's most (in)famous Presidents, "it all depends on what your definition of low-pressure is."

If you check the Claybuster data, you can find 3/4 oz loads under 7000 psi with Red dot, Clay Dot, Extra Lite, and more. You can't get much lower pressure than that.

I've tried 700-X with 3/4 oz of shot. It works fine but is a tad "dirty" in the burning. Try Federal primers with that powder.

[Bill Murphy]

If you are searching for low pressure loads, you should start in the loading charts that are available from all powder manufacturers on their internet sites. I like the Alliant site. The best place to start in searching for low pressure loads, safe for older guns, steel or composite barrelled, is in the lower shot weights per gauge. By lower shot weights per gauge, I mean 1 1/8 ounce for ten gauge, 7/8 ounce for twelve and sixteen gauge, and 3/4 ounce for twenty gauge. If you want to shoot heavy shot loads, the search and the knowledge bank gets a bit more difficult to confront.

[John Campbell]

In case you need more 3/4 oz help, Please check this site page:

http://www.claybusterwads.com/index.php/winchester-style/53-cb0175-12-load-data

[William Davis]

My regular powders for 12 G loads 7/8 oz about 1160 FPS are Red Dot and Titewad. Lot of published data on Alliant and Hogdens web sites. Both powders I use the lightest load listed, and both have been available recently. With either powder you can duplicate the factory B&P Competition One 7/8 oz load

William

[Bill Murphy]

If you plan to load 1200 fps 1 1/8 ounce 12 gauge loads, 700X will not give you low pressure. A slower powder would be a better choice to lower the pressure.

[John Powers]

I load ⅞ oz with PB right now and will stay with that load. I use s Dillion and can vary my load pretty easy. Thanks for the info.

[Paul Harm]

American Select and Promo [ same as Red Dot only cheaper ] also work fine.