The best all around powder ?

[Snap Cap]

Chris, if you are set on one smokeless powder for all the loads I would start with Blue Dot for the 10 bore 2 7/8" Bismuth load. According to current published data I can locate, it will do all the types of loads you asked (except the 2 5/8" 10ga Bismuth), but it will be less efficient in the smaller bore loads and may require you to go up to a one ounce load in 20 ga.. This is predicated on you being willing and able to acquire very specific hull and wad combinations for each load. It may prove more time consuming and onerous than just using multiple powders. I liked Daryl's suggestion of two powders but I would go with Blue Dot for the 10 and 12 gauge Bismuth loads and 20/28 for the 12, 16 and 20 gauge lead loads. Blue Dot and another powder might be equally well suited. HTH.

[chris dawe]

Thanks guys for all the help,I'll run through some load recipes and see what I can come up with re; the powders mentioned.

[Mike Franzen]

Hey Chris! My 2 cents worth is I'm inclined to agree with Hammer Fan about FFF Black Powder for hunting. I have been using it lately and I believe it will do anything smokeless will do. Plus it's more forgiving, easier to obtain, loading tools are cheap if you shoot solid brass hulls and in a pinch a guy like you could make your own BP. It is dirtier than smokeless but clean up isn't that big of a deal. Now if I was going to be shooting a lot of trap or clays I probably wouldn't use it. But for the amount of hunting shots you are going to take it might be a solution. And it seems my Parker tend to pattern a little better with BP.

[charlie cleveland]

blue dot powder is a good choice for hunting loads in the 8 ga 10 12 16 and 20

[Bill Murphy]

I can load well balanced low pressure loads in all four gauges with Unique. I can also load pretty hefty hunting loads using the same Unique.

[William Davis]

Agree with Mr Murphy, .410 excepted, Unique will load any Shotgun shell. It's as close to a universal powder as you can find.

William

[Mark Garrett]

If was going pick just 1 , I would go with want Murphy said , Unique or Universal .

Herco would do what you want to do also .

[Paul Harm]

Why won't the Green Dot work in 2 5/8" Bismuth ?

[Steve Kleist]

I agree with Mr. Lester.
I load Green Dot in 28, 20, & 12 ga target loads. They are fast and seem to pattern perfectly. Green Dot also makes a nice 1 1/4 oz field load in the 12 gauge.
I must confess that I don't experiment much...just find a load that works and stick with it. Green Dot has served me well for the past 45 years or so and I'm too old to change now.
However, "If it's any good they'll likely quit making it."
Steve Kleist
Ely, MN

[Paul Harm]

I normally use Promo, 700X, or American Select for my 10 or 12ga loads. Our supplier for reloading sent us a email and they were holding some powder we had wanted in the past. One was Green Dot - no one wanted it - and seeing how I didn't want to let it go because they were nice enough to hold powder for us, I bought a 8 pounder. These are all Allaint powders - they seem to still be able to get some of this so I've been pretty lucky getting powder - I have about 40 pounds of different powders I can use or have used in the past. Now I get the chance to load some GD and see how it works.