perfect pattern powder usage

[matt koepnick]

Hello all. I have been searching for a good cheap substitute for my Titewad loads. Wound up getting an 8-pounder of Perfect Pattern (Hogdon) last weekend from LGS. Had earlier researched some loads with with this powder for my needs, and components I have. It's an avail powder so I bought it.
Loaded up 2 boxes of 7/8 oz at 7k psi , 1200 fps (advertised numbers).
I used Hogdon load data: 14.8 Gr PerfectPattern, CB 0175-12 wads, Win 209, and GunClub hulls. Loaded and crimped nicely.
When shooting them Sun at the club it seemed I felt a little more recoil than my Titewad 7/8 oz ones. Both loads list the same speeds. The big surprise was looking down my bores after shooting all 50 shells. Both bores and chambers were pretty spotless, and were actually shiny like just cleaned too. ..
Perfect Pattern shells shot with the same results as normal and I scored 70 percent as norm. With current pricing (switching to Cheddite 209) I can load these at 6.41 a box so it looks like this powder is ok as backup for when my Titewad is gone. Mattly

[Mike of the Mountain]

If the Perfect Pattern shells felt a bit snotty, back off one bushing with your powder and try that.

[J.B. Books]

I have gone through about a pound of it recently. It's a very fine grain powder and I thought there would be some leakage on a MEC single stage. With the MEC brass washer under the rubber grommet and the powder bottle screwed on very tight I haven't experienced much leakage at all. For 7/8 12ga loads the Claybuster grey wad gives good crimps in the Winchester AAHS hull. In the older AA Compression Formed hulls I have to use the Claybuster 3/4 ounce wad for a proper crimp. I am using a #16 MEC bushing and it's throwing 14.7 grains of PP.

[matt koepnick]

Thanks J.B. I'm using same bushing with basic same weigh in. I also had no leakage issues, even with bottle just snugged so as to allow bar to travel more easily. My next trial batch was going to be with those gray wads also as I love my titewad loads with them. Thanks for the input. Mattly.

[J.B. Books]

At the present time all powder is quite scarce, Perfect Pattern is probably the most widely available but usually I find only one pound bottles when I see it. It is proving to be a good powder for light 12ga loads and when velocity is kept to 1200 fps or less it gives low pressure. It's also quite a bit less expensive than the old favorites of mine from Alliant, and who knows if Alliant will ever resume production.