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.

[Daryl Corona]

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?

[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.

[CraigThompson]

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

Harry glad you posted this ! After the spring Southern I recieved a 12 pounder of Red Dot from a friend as well as another 14 pounds recently . Anyway I was using SR4756 for 16 gauge ounce loads but have used all I had . Couple months ago I loosely worked on a load using RD with the SP-16 in the old AA style hulls and an ounce of shot . Yeah I know there are better/easier combinations but I have a pile of SP-16’s and plenty Red Dot .

[Aaron Beck]

Bill, That may be so, however I was operating under the assumption that unique is similar to universal which is apparently viable (but i dont have any of this powder). I recently asked tom armburst what the best substitute for 7625 was and he said universal, apparently there is a reloading article to that effect in a current issue of double gun journal.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Green Dot makes very nice 3/4 oz loads I have the data if you wnt/need it

[Mark Garrett]

Green dot also makes great 7/8oz loads

[Rick Losey]

longshot is still available but i dont own any.


reloading is like fly tying -

what ever recipe you want to follow- you'll always need to buy something to do it right


of course, if you mix a fly's ingredients. the fly rod is not going to blow up in your face :rolleyes:

[Tom Pellegrini]

Check out the loads for Clay Dot. I use it exclusively for clays and hunting. Never had a problem of any kind whether in the heat or cold.

[john pulis]

Second that on Clay Dot.

[charlie cleveland]

clay dot is a good powder I ve used it even in some 8 ga loads....charlie