16 ga load tinkering
 

19.9 gr universal in a chedite 2.5" hull with ched primer gulandi wad and 7/8 oz of shot.
Looks like a nice load but I have read that its not very popular on this site. Ive shot plenty of these in the woods but found that I could back off the powder quite a bit and have a more pleasant clays experience. 2 bushings less and I was measuring 18.4 gr of same powder with the cx2000 primers. They all shoot fine at least in summer, no off sounds or feel. Very little unburned powder. I have no access to a chronograph but must assume they are going slower than the 1150 posted velocity. perhaps someone else knows?

Aaron, I shoot that load alot also, taking it off the Hogdon reloading site. It does seem to have a bit more recoil than anticipated. I may back off to around 19 gr. I currently have around 500 of those loaded up and havent been shooting clays much this summer, so will be a while before I reload more.

My go to recipes for 2 1/2" 16g are

-RST hull, 7/8 oz, Sporting 16 wad, 16.3g Unique

- RST hull, 7/8 oz, BP 16 Short wad, 16.4g PB. For spreader I cut an X-Stream insert in half (crosswise)

Nice load from John Davis for 2 3/4" hunting (I adapted it for clays)-

RST or Fiocchi hull, 1 oz, SG16 wad (I add 1/2 of a 1/4" 16g fiber wad to fill), 22.3g Longshot. Tested by Tom Armbrust to 1196 FPS and 5440 PSI. For a 2 3/4" clays load drop the shot charge to 7/8 oz and add more fiber wad to fill the column. This recipe is good for upland birds and clays!!

If anyone is sitting on a supply of Red Dot I would like to add this load. RST hull or any Cheddite 2 1/2 in hull...SG 16 short wad...14 gr. of Red Dot under 7/8 oz. of shot. Mild load, not pressure tested, but chronographed at 1160 fps. I've used this load for clays for many years with no bloopers. It also burns very clean.

Any preference to primer Mike? (I think I know your answer....)

Not at all. If one is concerned about Cheddite then drop your powder charge by 1 to 2 grains.