Shotgun Powder - What Do You Recommend

[Mountain Man Gramps]

I'm going to start reloading shotgun shells for cowboy matches using my Lee Load-All.  I've reloaded some shells using blackpowder but what recipe and powder do you recommend for 7/8 oz of #8 shot using smokeless powder?  What about the about the wad?  This is my first time reloading smokeless shells and I'd like to replicate the performance of Winchester's AA Low Noise/Low Recoil  shells.  Thanks in advance!

[Wild Eagle]

Biggest problem for most of us right now is finding shotgun powder.  I have loaded Red Dot, Clay Dot, Clays, Nitro 100, Promo, and Clean Shot at 13.5 to 14.5 grains and find that gives me about the same recoil and knock down power as the Winchester LNLR.  I have found that using a 3/4 ounce wad (I use the pink Clay Buster 3/4 ounce wad) with a 7/8 ounce shot bar gives me the proper stack height for a good crimp.  This seems to work fine with almost any hull you have too.  I load Winchester AA, Remington STS, Remington Gun Club, Remington Gold Nitro, all with the same settings on my press.  If you have different powder let us know and I'm sure someone can give you a good load using what you have.

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

10.5 grains Red Dot

7/8 - 1 ounce #8 shot

Claybuster gray wad  (CB178-12)

Rem STS, AA  hulls

 

This is what I use when shooting smokeless.  Good luck.

[Sam Sackett]

I had been loading 13.5 of Clays or ClayDot. Running out, so tried the same with Titewad. Shot them yesterday at a match. All good loads with the CB0175 Claybuster wad and 3/4 ounce of shot. No wad pressure. If the crimps are concave, add a bit more shot til they look good. 
 

Sam Sackett 

[Preacherman]

I have used most of all the ones mentioned and have settled in with Alliant Extra Lite for our lighter shotgun loads, 3/4 oz and Claybuster wads. You hit 'em, they fall. Good reloadin"!

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Unique works well

[Leroy Luck]

1 hour ago, I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321 said:

10.5 grains Red Dot

7/8 - 1 ounce #8 shot

Claybuster gray wad  (CB178-12)

Rem STS, AA  hulls

 

This is what I use when shooting smokeless.  Good luck.

Is 10.5 grains enough powder?
 

I’m running 12 grains of promo (red dot) with everything else you’ve got and it gives the perfect crimp and everything.  7/8oz shot. 

 

Several guys I shoot with are loading 13-14 grains red dot/promo with the same components and get good results. 

[Buck Garrett]

7/8 oz reclaimed shot

WW or clay buster grey wad

13.5 grain of 700X

Edited November 5, 2023 by Buck Garrett

[Long Fingers, SASS#56813]

4 hours ago, Wild Eagle said:

(I use the pink Clay Buster 3/4 ounce wad) with a 7/8 ounce shot bar gives me the proper stack height for a good crimp.

Agree.  3/4 wad with 7/8 load or 7/8 wad with 1oz load. Brings the stack up to the right height with the reduced powder charge. 
 

All good powder choices list by others, finding them is the challenge.
seems I have seen clay dot and extra lite available recently online. 
Good Luck 

LF.  

[Texas Maverick]

I use ClayDot but you can use Clean Shot and Scarlett has it for sale. You can also find it online for sale usually. At least it is available most of the time right now.

 

TM

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

I use Extra-Lite, CB-0178-12 (grey) wads, Cheddite 209 primers and a minimum published load.  Some report reducing the powder charge two grains below published minimums to match Winchester LNLR shells.  A caution: reducing the powder charge too far below published minimums can cause squibby loads in very cold weather.

Edited November 6, 2023 by Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

Clay Buster Lightning CB4100-12B White wad, 1oz, #8 shot, 11 gr. Red Dot. 12-gauge Winchester AA hulls

 

Thats what we use. Loaded MEC 9000.    SKB 100 & Winchester 1897 12 gauge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 6, 2023 by Jackrabbit Joe #414

[Hoss]

13.5 Red dot

7/8 Oz shot

claybuster grey wads 

 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

You may notice that the powders recommended are fast-burning shotgun powders (except for Unique).  Shooters have assembled suitable low-recoil shells from all of them.  Locally some are experimenting with Hodgdon's new Perfect Pattern.  I can't recommend it since I have not loaded with it.  However, it is available (unlike some of the powders mentioned in this thread).  With chronic component shortages one needs to be flexible and load with available powders.  When I consume my present supply of Extra-Lite I may be loading with another powder out of necessity.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

You may notice that the powders recommended are fast-burning shotgun powders (except for Unique).  Shooters have assembled suitable low-recoil shells from all of them.  Locally some are experimenting with Hodgdon's new Perfect Pattern.  I can't recommend it since I have not loaded with it.  However, it is available (unlike some of the powders mentioned in this thread).  With chronic component shortages one needs to be flexible and load with available powders.  When I consume my present supply of Extra-Lite I may be loading with another powder out of necessity.

The slower burn Unique goes a long way in reducing felt recoil.

I use 17.0gn of Unique with 3/4-1 1/8oz of shot in my 12ga SASS loads.

The 3/4oz load has less recoil than WW Featherlites.

[Hells Comin]

21 hours ago, Preacherman said:

I have used most of all the ones mentioned and have settled in with Alliant Extra Lite for our lighter shotgun loads, 3/4 oz and Claybuster wads. You hit 'em, they fall. Good reloadin"!

Alliant extra lite was designed for low recoil loads.

I use 9.2 grains 1-1/8 ounce of 7 1/2, lightning wads, low recoil and gets the job done.

[bgavin]

Alliant Red Dot is also useful for some of my handgun loads.
Bad part:  is it both pricey and out of stock everywhere.

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

On 11/5/2023 at 3:11 PM, Leroy Luck said:

Is 10.5 grains enough powder?
 

I’m running 12 grains of promo (red dot) with everything else you’ve got and it gives the perfect crimp and everything.  7/8oz shot. 

 

Several guys I shoot with are loading 13-14 grains red dot/promo with the same components and get good results. 

Yes, this load works for me for some time now.  It patterned well for me and no problem with knockdowns.  Load a few and see for yourself.  Felt recoil is a lot better than the Winchester LNR AA.

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

Promo, but I just got a great deal on some Red Dot at an estate sale.

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

todays market any powder you can find that has data for the loads you want to shoot and the hulls and wads you can find, all predicated on having primers.

[Big Horn Bari]

Hi MMG - It was nice shooting with you last weekend with the Bandidos.

 

Good advice above.  I'll just add how I ended up with my current recipe.  It happened as I was able to get an 8 lb jug of Clays thrown in with the press I purchased.  That's what drove my path forward.  From there I went to the books, Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook, Hogdon online , Alliant online and others to find my starting point.  And it's definitely nice to see what folks here are saying to be sure I was on the right track.

 

So as already been mentioned - see what powder you can get your hands on.  Great if you have multiple choices.  Go from there

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

MidwayUSA shows Clay Dot in stock.  One reason I prefer Extra-Lite is that Alliant lists 7/8 oz loads using Cheddite primers - the only 209 primers readily available recently.

[Preacherman]

Claybuster has load data included in the bag of wads. It lists Extra-Lite. I use  3/4 oz and 11g.

 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Ah FOOEY!!  Asked the WRONG question.  Need to drop the "Smokeless" part.  That heathen fad stuff'll never catch on.

 

40Gr 2f APP, BP SPITFIRE wad, one ounce payload.  Works super fine.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

17.5 gr Unique powder 

Clay buster gray wads 

7/8 Oz #8 

Good knockdown & light recoil .

Edited December 3, 2023 by Rooster Ron Wayne
Sorry I put in the wrong info and did not realize my mistake toll I just was reading this post .

[Scarlett]

Clean Shot for Shotgun.docxClean Shot Cowboy Shared Data.pdf

 

This data was compiled for me by @Widder, SASS #59054 and Lead Ringer back when I first began selling Clean Shot. They didn’t have low velocity data.  I can’t remember who sent me the shotgun only data - think it was Lighthorse Pete in SC. 
 

Clean Shot IS available and will continue to be, unlike some others that are harder to find. There SHOULD be a good supply of Clean Shot available from online retailers NOW.  I know a container arrived recently filled with Clean Shot! 
Powder Valley, Midsouth Shooter Supply, Midway, Natchez, Graf’s, are online retailers that carry Shooters World powders. Beware of scams - they are still out there. 
 

Hugs!

Scarlett

[Totes Magoats]

I sure like Clays for SG loads, it's sure hard to find right now.  GMR had a 4 lb jug on their raffle table last weekend, but I guess I didn't stuff enough tickets in the bucket.  Someone got lucky!

 

I have a jug of Clean Shot sitting on-deck in case I ever run out of Trail Boss or Clays before it's available again.

 

Totes

[Three Foot Johnson]

On 11/5/2023 at 1:11 PM, Leroy Luck said:

Is 10.5 grains enough powder?
 

I’m running 12 grains of promo (red dot) with everything else you’ve got and it gives the perfect crimp and everything.  7/8oz shot. 

 

Several guys I shoot with are loading 13-14 grains red dot/promo with the same components and get good results. 

There was a family here, dad, mom, and two boys, who used 9.0 Red Dot for many years - you could actually see the shot ball going downrange.  Maybe he finally got a wad stuck, because he eventually bumped it up to 10.0 grains. I've settled on 12.0 grains Red Dot with 7/8 oz shot and a Windjammer wad. If the crimp collapses in due to the shot column not being high enough, I use a piece of plastic packing peanut on top. 

 

 

On 11/9/2023 at 7:02 AM, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

10.5 gr Unique powder 

Clay buster gray wads 

7/8 Oz #8 

Good knockdown & light recoil .

10.5 grains of Unique? That's not a typo?

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Unique and or Universal. 

Tit for tat .

You can load just about anything with either one .

Just sayin. 

Rooster 

[Bingo Montana]

Second @Scarlett's recommendation for Shooter's World Clean Shot.  Readily available and priced competitively.

 

My recipe for 12GA Cowboy load with Clean Shot

Win HS hull (once fired)

Cheddite Primer

7/8 oz of #8 shot (new or reclaimed)

~15.0 gr of Clean Shot, which for my MEC is the #18 powder bushing.  You should verify.

Claybuster CB0178-12 Wad 

 

Very close to Win AA12FL8 LRLN load.

 

Good luck Pard.

 

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

These days it is what ever powder you can find that has data for the guage and shot weight that you can find and don't have to sell your first born to buy.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

On 11/15/2023 at 8:48 PM, Three Foot Johnson said:

There was a family here, dad, mom, and two boys, who used 9.0 Red Dot for many years - you could actually see the shot ball going downrange.  Maybe he finally got a wad stuck, because he eventually bumped it up to 10.0 grains. I've settled on 12.0 grains Red Dot with 7/8 oz shot and a Windjammer wad. If the crimp collapses in due to the shot column not being high enough, I use a piece of plastic packing peanut on top. 

 

 

10.5 grains of Unique? That's not a typo?

Sorry I put in the wrong info and did not realize it till I come back and read it again. 

I fixed the mistake already. 

That info was my 44 magnum Unique load. 

Rooster 

Edited December 3, 2023 by Rooster Ron Wayne

[Rye Miles #13621]

I use Clays International, 17 grs with 1 Oz of 7 1/2 shot. 

[Texas Maverick]

On 11/5/2023 at 10:54 AM, Mountain Man Gramps said:

I'm going to start reloading shotgun shells for cowboy matches using my Lee Load-All.  I've reloaded some shells using blackpowder but what recipe and powder do you recommend for 7/8 oz of #8 shot using smokeless powder?  What about the about the wad?  This is my first time reloading smokeless shells and I'd like to replicate the performance of Winchester's AA Low Noise/Low Recoil  shells.  Thanks in advance!

What loads did you use in BP? I just got a Load All to use specifically for BP and bought some APP from Scarlett. I have heard that 35 grains works but have not been able to confirm that with anyone else other than the one cowboy. I want to use 7/8 oz shot and will even dip the BP if I need to. I found a 3.1 cc dipper will give me 36 grain weight. 

 

TM 

Edited December 24, 2023 by Texas Maverick

[Silver Creek Jack]

12.5 gr. Of 700X with 1 OZ of  7.5 shot , can’t tell the difference between LNLR or my loads.