light 12 gauge loads

Ray Dunkum · 02-12-2022, 08:59 PM

This may not be the forum to post in but wanted to share. Finding light loads for our old guns are a challenge with the advancements in powder and higher pressures. Here are 3.

B&P Competition One, 1 ounce, 7.5,8,9 shot 1160 fps (6530 psi)

NSI (Noble Sport Italia] 1 ounce, 7.5,8,9 shot 1200 fps (7200 psi)

Winchester Low Recoil Low report, 15/16 ounce, 8 shot, 980 fps (6200psi)

The B&P and NSI shells are very comfortable to shoot . The Winchesters are very light recoil but some people are turned of by their sound.

Tried the NSI's on the Armadillo intruders in my yard but need to be close for the 7.5's to crack the armor. Oh darn.. Will need to tell the wife I need to buy more reloading equipment to rid the pests.

Harold Pickens · 02-13-2022, 07:27 AM

Thanks Raymond, will file that info in my reloading notebook. Havent seen any of those around here, but able to find a lot of 12 ga 11/8 oz loads , Feds and Wins, going for $7.50 to $8.50/box. I dont shoot a 12 much but picked up a 1000 rounds of it. I used to shoot the Cabelas/Herters Low Recoil 12 ga 1 oz in my Sterly 12.

Mark Britton · 02-13-2022, 08:49 AM

A 12ga shell my shoulder likes and breaks targets just fine. I think would be ok in a vintage gun .Clever Competition Mirage 1150 FPS 7/8 oz shot. 7.5 shot I don't know where you can get them I bought them on a gun club order a while back and still have about a dozen flats.

Harold Pickens · 02-13-2022, 09:30 AM

Mark, wish I could find those Clever shells, heard good things about them, they also made a soft shooting 20 ga 3/4 oz load.
I load 7/8 oz for my 12 and 3/4 oz for the 20's( 3/4 and 7/8 for the 16's)

John Davis · 02-13-2022, 10:46 AM

The B&P's look good, even the 1 1/8 oz. are just over 8000 PSI. Probably make great singles and doubles trap shells. I tried the low recoil/noise Winchesters and did not like them at all.

Gerald McPherson · 02-13-2022, 10:53 AM

I didn't like them either John.

Bruce Hering · 02-13-2022, 12:16 PM

Does anyone think the B&P Competition One, 1 ounce, 7.5,8,9 shot 1160 fps (6530 psi) is suitable for a "checked out" Damascus gun ? 6530 seems to be within the parameters of pressure for Damascus barrels as I understand it.

Andy · 02-14-2022, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Britton

A 12ga shell my shoulder likes and breaks targets just fine. I think would be ok in a vintage gun .Clever Competition Mirage 1150 FPS 7/8 oz shot. 7.5 shot I don't know where you can get them I bought them on a gun club order a while back and still have about a dozen flats.

That's an awesome shell. I had two flats from a local gun store over a year ago, and wish I could find them again. I had them in #8 I believe.

MattHaney · 02-14-2022, 07:59 PM

I've shot a lot of the NSIs. Didn't know the pressure was that low. Even better!

Randy Roberts · 02-14-2022, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hering

Does anyone think the B&P Competition One, 1 ounce, 7.5,8,9 shot 1160 fps (6530 psi) is suitable for a "checked out" Damascus gun ? 6530 seems to be within the parameters of pressure for Damascus barrels as I understand it.

Bruce I would shoot that in my Damascus barrels for sure. The key as you alluded to is good barrels. I have shot that BP load a lot and liked it. Didn't know the pressure was that low. Now I really like it.