Red Dot suitable for 20 ga loads?
 

Is Red Dot suitable for 20 ga reloads or should I use Green Dot?

Allan, I would go with a different powder. Have you checked the Alliant online reloader's guide? Alliant 20/28 is very good from what I have heard. I personally use Longshot and 800X for my 20 gauge loads.

Thanks Frank, I'll check the online guide

I doubt you will find published data for Red Dot in a 20. I am assuming you desire to load 7/8 oz.

Years ago I did extensive pattern testing of 8's through chokes ranging from cylinder through .012 or Lt. Mod. I tested 800x, Unique, Universal, 20/28(which was new at the time), Green Dot, and Winchester WSF. I also tested International but discarded it because of the pressures it generates. Shortly thereafter Alliant pulled all of their 7/8 oz Green Dot loads from their published data citing erratic pressures in some load combinations. Regardless the load, I never achieved anywhere near suitable results through cylinder choked guns (4 tested). I did achieve the most consistent results through chokes .006-.012 but never tested any chokes tighter than that. The criteria I used to make my decision was clean/complete burn, pattern consistency and repeatability, velocity consistency, load metering through a Mec 9000, hull life, and availability. My results were 1)WSF, 2)20/28, 3)Universal, 4)Unique, and 5) 800x.

Since then I have loaded close to 70,000 WSF shells and have had not one problem through all temperatures. Even during the powder shortage I was able to locate WSF with a bit of searching.

My current load:
Remington STS hull
Win 209 primer
Claybuster 1078-20 wad
7/8 oz of Eagle magnum 8's
16.7 gr. WSF
Velocity at approx. 1175 and pressure in the low 10k range.

Hope this helps.

I have used Unique for tens of thousands of 20 gauge loads for decades. I used these loads on two trips to the NSSA World Shoot in 1990 and 1992 and never missed a 20 gauge bird. Green Dot and Red Dot are not suitable for 20 gauge 7/8 ounce loads because of high pressures. The burn rate is too fast for the smaller bore.

If the load is not currently listed in the powder manufacturer's guide do not use it. Stick with that and you will not go wrong.

I was simply passing along information gained from 6 months of pattern testing and statistical analysis of over 220 patterns. My choice for best was based on [my] parameters, some of which are subjective. Yours may be different.

Unique is the better choice in my ALWAYS biased opinion !

I use Unique in the 12 , 16 , 20 and 28 with more then adequate results in them all .

Over 25 years ago I used 473AA in the 20 gauge exclusively then Winchester in their infinite wisdom saw fit to do away with 473AA and bring out WSF . After that I used about 40 pounds of WSF in the 16 and 20 gauges . But back then I was devoted almost exclusively to WIN products . Of your list I keep and use 3 of the 5 on your list, never tried 20/28 and never cared for 800X .

Well if all of us had done that in years past we wouldn't have many 2 7/8" 10ga loads to pick from, just saying...............

Pete you are right , the short 10 is not the same as the common gauges that have a wealth of information readily available. We are very fortunate that we have you and others who have researched the old and done new testing and given us the information that is no longer published.

I have used and like Green dot for 3/4 oz 20 ga loads using AA and Rem GC hulls. I used the Claybuster green 3/4 oz wad. I can look up the powder grains if you like. I also really like 20/28 for 3/4 and 7/8 oz loads. I also use Unique in my 2 1/2" 20 ga loads with cheddite hulls. All of these are low pressure loads for 20 ga. The recoil is minimal( yes, I know that pressure is not a factor when calculating recoil).

You know truth be told it doesn't hurt to have several suitable loads for anything you shoot a lot . I mean suppose at the next presidential election the democrats get someone in like the evil thing that was running against Trump , if that happens it could revert back to the way it was when the obamite was in office . So with all that being said I like to buy in large quantities and in several different things that way if it gets a little difficult to get stuff I have options . Other then Blue Dot or Herco I do not buy shotgun powders in less then eight pound containers any longer .