Green Dot and 20 ga.

[Matt Valinsky]

I've looked back 22 pages on the reloading forum and found no help (probably on page 23) or I may have just missed it. But, looking for a "low pressure" recipe to run through my G grade composite barreled gun.

I have a fair amount Green Dot (black cap) and would like to save my remaining Unique for the 28ga.. Have WAA, AAHS and Ceddite hulls, W209 and Cheddite 2000 primers and a variety of wads.

Maybe there's no such animal? Thanks

[Bill Murphy]

Why not look on the Alliant website? They show many GD loads for 20. You should probably look at 3/4 ounce loads if you want low pressure in a relatively fast powder like GD.

[Mark Garrett]

Don't think Greendot is the right powder for low pressure (below 7000 psi) in 20ga

[Matt Valinsky]

Originally Posted by Mark Garrett

Don't think Greendot is the right powder for low pressure (below 7000 psi) in 20ga

I think you are right.

[Matt Valinsky]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Why not look on the Alliant website. They show many GD load for 20. You should probably look at 3/4 ounce loads if you want low pressure in a relatively fast powder like GD.

Did that, only 6 recipes listed for what I have and none appropriate.

[10 bore]

Originally Posted by Mark Garrett

Don't think Greendot is the right powder for low pressure (below 7000 psi) in 20ga

very hard to find a 20 ga load 7000 psi or under

[Aaron Beck]

What about longshot? very low pressures in 16, perhaps its right on for 20?

[Bill Murphy]

Like I implied, GD is too fast for low pressure loads in 20 gauge. Look on the "burn rate chart" for a much slower burning powder.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Why not look on the Alliant website. They show many GD load for 20. You should probably look at 3/4 ounce loads if you want low pressure in a relatively fast powder like GD.

Alliant currently has only four 7/8 ounce loadings with Green Dot on their web site. All of them with a Federal hull. Pressures are on the high side. They have many more Green Dot 3/4 oz loadings.

Hercules/Alliant used to have many more Green Dot 7/8 ounce loadings for AA, Remington and Federal hulls, lots more. I have read where many people have said Alliant stopped publishing those load because the Green Dot reloads were cracking the aluminum 20ga tube sets popular with many Skeet shooters. If recall correctly Kolar recommends a pressure of no more than 10,700 for their 20ga tubes.

The Lyman 5th edition reloading manual still has Green Dot 7/8 load in the AA hull.

I have also read where people believe that Alliant changed the formula, black cap to green cap and pressures are higher. I don't believe that to be true because current 12ga loadings with Green Dot on their website have the exact same pressure to a pound as the loads published by Hercules many years ago.

Personally I still shoot and have shot a lot of 20ga 7/8 in AA and Remington hulls using 13.8 gr (nearest I can get to 14 gr with a MEC bushing) Green Dot in fluid steel guns without issue.

If low pressure is your goal, Bill is right, you should look at 3/4 ounce loadings with other powders. Winchester 572 has several 7/8 ounce loadings in a Federal hull at 7000 to 7800 psi range with components you should be able to find (Cheddite primer, Claybuster wad). Hodgdon doesn't publish many 3/4 ounce loadings in 20 gauge.

Good luck