NO LEAD, NO POWDER AVAILABLE

[Kensal Rise]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

Another observation, many sources have told us the shortages are the result of hoarders and opportunists...

I must plead guilty on both counts. Whenever I have the "opportunity" to buy some usable powder at a fair price, I buy it!

My resulting sin is that I then "hoard it" with the intention of using it myself!

[William Davis]

I had to go on a hunt for suitable 20 G powders. I recommend anyone looking for substitutes go to one of the "relative quickness" charts list the powders that are about the same burn speed as the one you want then cross check with several loading manuals to confirm they are good alternates.

With half a dozen powders to chose from found a good supply of something I would not have thought about that is working very well

Bill

[C.O.B.]

Bill would you share that powder substitute? I have used Unique, Longshot and 20/28 for my 20ga loading.

[paul stafford jr]

hi rich , I use 800x in 12-20 and 28 ga.

[C.O.B.]

Paul I used that in the 12ga when I was shooting registered skeet. Never tried it in anything else. Are you loading low pressure shells in the 20?

[paul stafford jr]

I load them to shoot registered , but I have loaded down for low pressure loads , its about as dirty as unique in light loads for Damascus guns

[Big D]

Be careful of using low pressure 800X loads in cold weather. Many years ago, I loaded about 20 boxes of a 12 gauge 1 1/8 oz load from the DuPont loaders manual. Tried to use them in cold weather. Blooper, poppers etc. Had to throw them all away. Questioned DuPont - they said - "whoops we should never have put that load in the manual. Sorry". That being said., I think 800X in a 12 qa 1 1/4 #6 pheasant load is better than anything the factory has put out. I used in field trials for years, where the name of the game is to shoot the bird as far away from the dog as possible in order to see if the dog can mark and retrieve

[William Davis]

Here is the chart I made up numbers are quickness. Relative quickness is subjective not the final word but a good indicator of what may work that's similar to your preferred powder. All were cross checked with Hodgdon's on line loading manual to confirm they were acceptable low pressure 3/4 oz 20 loads. Longshot was not recommended for 3/4 oz loads for some reason. Wanted Unique could not find any, kept the chart in my shirt pocket scouring Internet sites and stores. Ended up with Hodgdon International which is working fine.

Unique Alliant 31
20/28 Alliant 30
PB Hodgdon 23
Int Hodgdon 21
Super Hcp Winchester 20
Green Dot Alliant 17
Am Select Alliant 15

Bill

[10 bore]

I use 13 grs of 700-x for 3/4 oz. 20 ga loads. I use 700-x from 3/4 oz. 20 ga to 1 1/4 oz 10 ga. works great in all temps. and 1 powder to buy, clean burning, low pressure win win for me, scott

[Double Lab]

I've been using 20/28 in my 3/4oz. 16 and 20ga. loads and I just love it.