Substitute for 20/28 20 G 3/4 & 7/8 oz

[William Davis]

Running out of 20/28, only possible substitute I can find is Unique. Have used up my supply of International which worked well now unavailable. Little bit of Green Dot Left I use it in a 20 G Beretta 391. Don’t think it’s suitable SxS powder, hard to find too.

Besides Unique any advice ? AVALABLE in 8 pounders !

William

[Mike Koneski]

Unique and Longshot

[Daryl Corona]

Unique and Longshot.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Didn't realize Unique was still.available, but still have a good supply of 20/28.

[Pete Lester]

Running out of 20/28, only possible substitute I can find is Unique. Have used up my supply of International which worked well now unavailable. Little bit of Green Dot Left I use it in a 20 G Beretta 391. Don’t think it’s suitable SxS powder, hard to find too.

Besides Unique any advice ? AVALABLE in 8 pounders !

William

Winchester 572 might work for your application. Go to the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center online and look at 20ga loads using Winchester W572. A couple of examples:

AA hull, Win 209 primer, 15.5gr W572, CB-1078-20 wad, 7/8 oz shot - 1150 fps 8100 psi

Fed hull, Win 209 primer, 16.8gr W572, CB-1078-20 wad, 7/8 oz shot - 1150fps 7800 psi

I don't see any 3/4 oz loads listed.

NOTE: you won't find bushing information for W572 use the data for Hodgdon Longshot to get the weight of W572 you want in a powder drop.

[William Davis]

Thanks all, I’m well supplied with Unique use it in pistol caliber lever actions and gallery loads 32/40 & 38/55. Depending on which quickness chart Unique and 20/28 very close. Many old manuals show Unique loads

I hear about Longshot as an 20G option. On the quickness charts it’s a long way from 20/28 like to hear specifics, private message is OK.

On bushings, Working up new loads, dozen shells I throw from adjustable Rifle measure. Find one I like open up a small PW bushing with a boring bar in the lathe. Stamping it with my code to avoid mistakes. PW bushings on eBay often, small ones not many buyers.

Probably going to end up with Unique

William

[Mike Koneski]

Examples-

Hodgdon Longshot

Remington hulls Ched. 209 WAA20 15.3g 9,600PSI 1,150FPS

Hodgdon Longshot

Winchester AA hulls Win. 209 Rem. RXP20 16.8 9,200 1,200

Hodgdon Longshot

Remington hulls Rem. 209P Rem. RXP20 16.6 8,700 1,200

[Mike Koneski]

You can always reduce those powder charges. Just test them with a chronograph or watch for flame coming out of the barrel. Too much flame means the charge is too light. Shoot over the chrony at 6'-8' and you'll get good results.

[Craig Larter]

I use longshot on 20ga 7/8oz loads and Unique on 3/4oz 20ga loads.

[William Davis]

Good advice. Going to load up some 3/4 oz with Unique and see if I can find a pound of Longshot to test with 7/8 oz

Thanks all

William

[Mike Koneski]

Plenty of Longshot to be had out there.

[Pete Lester]

Examples-

Hodgdon Longshot

Remington hulls Ched. 209 WAA20 15.3g 9,600PSI 1,150FPS

Hodgdon Longshot

Winchester AA hulls Win. 209 Rem. RXP20 16.8 9,200 1,200

Hodgdon Longshot

Remington hulls Rem. 209P Rem. RXP20 16.6 8,700 1,200

Where are you finding RXP20 wads for sale? They seem to have gone the way of the SP10 wad after Remington went out of business. I felt fortunate to find 4000 of them at a yard sale this year. I have found it to be the best wad for bulky powders in the AA and Rem hulls. FWIW the Ballistic Products SG20 Short wad has the same wad height but less shot is inside the cup.

[Clark McCombe]

Until a few weeks ago I had no idea what "Claude" was. It's an AI app that I now have on my phone and basically you can ask it anything.
Main application for me is to list a load, charge, powder, primer, hull, wad, and ask its pressure and FPS. It will come back with an answer and the source, Hogdon, Lyman, ballistic etc, so it can be checked. If there are no published results, it will tell you that and give some parameters.
"Claude" must search hundred of thousands of entries in seconds. This is where I can see the benefit of AI, and if you wish you can double check. Chat GPT is similar but I don't think lists as many sources. Claude also seems to check privately tested loads that have been discussed on various forums.
Crazy as its is, you can get into a discussion with Claude and it will make suggestions on adjusting a load for lower pressure or increased FPS, whatever your desire.
Actually, its kind of frightening.

[Mike Koneski]

Where are you finding RXP20 wads for sale? They seem to have gone the way of the SP10 wad after Remington went out of business. I felt fortunate to find 4000 of them at a yard sale this year. I have found it to be the best wad for bulky powders in the AA and Rem hulls. FWIW the Ballistic Products SG20 Short wad has the same wad height but less shot is inside the cup.

I'm not the only one with a boat-load of SP10 wads and plenty of RXP20s. I've bought them when I found them, usually from private sources and well under market value.

As for the BP SG20 wads, some pellets outside the shot cup has never caused me to miss a clay or a bird.

[Frank Srebro]

I still have a good supply of Alliant 20/28 powder but have been experimenting with Longshot for 20-gauge for when it runs out. I've done about (600) 7/8 ounce reloads with Longshot so far; it's readily available and works well. A friend has been doing the same for 3/4 ounce in 28 gauge.

We both shot the 100 bird sporting course today. Loads straight from the Hodgdon reloading site and both of us did well against three 12g competition guns.

So, you want a somewhat lighter load for vintage SxS guns? Just use a powder bushing that’s one or two numbers lower than the one for a higher velocity published load. Of course that's after weighing the average powder drops for that load.

[john pulis]

Someone recently posted several Red Dot and 700x loads on Shotgun World for 20, 7/8 and 3/4 oz loads. I have not tried them, but I did load and shoot Red Dot for 16 3/4 oz from the 16 gauge lovers forum. They shot just fine and shattered clays.

[edgarspencer]

Actually, its kind of frightening.

Trust, But Verify!

[Mike Koneski]

Shot these today with Keavin Nelson. I love making diesel smoke!

[keavin nelson]

And they do make diesel smoke! I was shooting Longshot in my 28, smaller load of coarse.

[Frank Srebro]

Mike’s loads pictured here at ~1200 speed will duplicate common factory 20g - 7/8 ouncers. I’ve settled on using somewhat less Longshot for 7/8 ounce that develops ~1150 speed for lower recoil in lightweight 20g guns; and that load reaches out to the farthest sporting targets with short time of flight. I shoot enough to know, and don't perceive any time lag difference between my 1150's or factory 1200's, but recoil is definitely less. Sorry, I’m not one to share exact loading recipes on-line but most anyone should be able to research published data to develop the same lighter load with Longshot for 20g - 7/8 ounce.

[William Davis]

Thanks to all that responded, based on aggregate recommendations ordered a 4 pounder of Longshot today. Will use it on 7/8 oz 20 G. Wanted a 8 lb jug had to settle for 4.

William