20/28 vs Unique in 3/4 oz 20 G

[William Davis]

My standard 20 G load for a pair of Trojans, using 2 3/4 inch AA hull, is 14.5 20/28, CB 1075 - 20 wad Win 209 primer 3/4 oz. shot, this straight from Alliant data, velocity 1200 FPS, it’s a soft shooter all I need, about to empty 8 pounder of 20/28 time to buy more.

When powder was short several years ago bought 8 lbs of Unique & have not used any of It. Thinking I ought to use it up in the 20 G. Alliants data calls for the same components & 1 more grain of Unique. 15.5 Grains. Same velocity, bit higher pressure. Unique is bulkier than 20/28, the wad needs to be compressed a bit to get 15.5 in the case, 3/4 oz shot & crimp well. .

I can compress but have some CB 1078-20 wads on hand, thinking they might be a better choice for 3/4 oz, bit more room & no need to compress the wad, . The 1078 is recommended for 7/8 oz loads & 15 grs Unique. I have a bushing that drops 15 exactly. Would load 3/4 oz shot.

Simple terms compress with the 1075 or not with the 1078. Any experience with Unique in 3/4 oz 20 G loads ?

William

[Woodcock survey]

Loaded 3\4 with 14.5 grains Unique and the 7\8 Cb wad with no crimp problems. It is a very mild shooting load, i use it for skeet and load it for the grandchildren. I started them with 1/2 oz. in the 20 and moved them up the next time to 3/4 and now 7/8 with out any mention of recoil.

[William Davis]

Thanks, after reading your reply went down one powder bushing, dropping 14.2 Unique, 3/4 oz wad and shot it’s crimping fine. Back to the 15 gr drop & 7/8 oz wad it’s crimping fine with 3/4 oz.

Think I will load up a box of each & take them around the skeet field. See what I like best, My Grandson shot up most of the remaining 20/28 today. Stevens Youth single shot. It’s light & needs a low recoil load, he is turning 11 next month. Won’t be long he will be Parker size.

William

[William Davis]

After several sessions with Unique & 3/4 oz. adequate charges in AA hulls are a problem. 14 Grs and CB 1075 wads look well crimped but carrying in my car half dozen opened up spilling shot. Wad had to be compressed must have sprung back. Go under 14 grs it’s not up to burn rate. Large quantity of CB 1075-20 on hand want to stick with them.

Remington Gun Clubs & the CB wad handle 3/4 oz fine, no compression needed with 15 Grs Unique. It’s a good published 1200 FPS load Looking at burn rate charts 20/28 & Unique are almost the same, volume in the case same weight Unique is much bulkier. Better suited to the roomier Remington Hull. Will load some Unique for my shooting, youth light recoil load best stick with 20/28.

Willam

[Bill Murphy]

If you are out of room in the hull with your load, you need to change your wad to a shorter wad. I use a Remington 20 gauge wad with 7/8 ounce loads in AA hulls with no problem. I don't know if a 3/4 ounce load would result in dished crimps, but would definitely not overload the hull.

[Harold Pickens]

I use the Claybuster 1075(green) wad in AA and Rem GC hulls and dont seem to have any problem with them opening up. I use 20/28, Green Dot,or Unique following published load data. I recently used the 1075 wad in 2 1/2" 20's, cheddite hulls, usuing Unique and got decent crimps. The 1078 wad would have more space, as Bill suggested, but may need an overshot card to prevent dishing. Wonder if just a little adjustment on the crimp setting would help. I have about a 1000 3/4 oz 20's loaded up--will have to look at them tonight and see if any crimps opening up.

[William Davis]

Thanks all, I am solving the problem in reverse, instead of getting ideal components, working up a load to use the 8 pounder of Unique on hand. Also have 5000 or more CB 1075-20

Found the Remington Gun Club hull is a natural for 3/4 oz 1075-20 Hull and 15 of Unique. Pressure and recoil higher than other combinations but fine in O/U or Pump Guns

I could probably tweak the crimp and make the AA hull work with Unique, so easy to use two different hulls think that’s the way to go.

Will keep my AA hull 14.2 20/28 3/4 oz load separate for Parker’s

William.