Shotgun Powder - What Do You Recommend

[Silver Creek Jack]

Just now, Silver Creek Jack said:

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

That’s with REM. Gun Club or REM. STS hulls.

[Tall John]

I've been using Alliant American Select with good luck but it isn't available.  Anybody using Hodgdon TiteWad?

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

30 minutes ago, Tall John said:

I've been using Alliant American Select with good luck but it isn't available.  Anybody using Hodgdon TiteWad?

Keep shopping.  Some is making it through distribution channels.  I bought 5-lbs from Sportsman Warehouse a couple months ago for $20/lb.  At that price it sold quickly.

[Tall John]

 

39 minutes ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

Keep shopping.  Some is making it through distribution channels.  I bought 5-lbs from Sportsman Warehouse a couple months ago for $20/lb.  At that price it sold quickly.

 

I'm not finding it at any of the usual online sources.  my local gun shop says that prices are going to go up another 10-20% after the new year. 

TiteWad is available thus my question.....

[Hells Comin]

I just ordered 8lb. of wst from Midsouth.  I planning to using it in 12 ga. Practice rounds.

Does anyone have a recipe using wst with 1&1/8 Oz. of shot ?

[Sam Sackett]

2 hours ago, Tall John said:

I've been using Alliant American Select with good luck but it isn't available.  Anybody using Hodgdon TiteWad?

I had been using 14 grains of Clays and 3/4 oz of shot. Running out and found a good buy on a 4 lb jug of Titewad. Loaded up Titewad same as Clays, 14 grains, CB 0175 pink wad and 3/4 oz of #7 shot. Shot about the same. 
 

Haven’t tried it in cartridges yet…..
 

Sam Sackett 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

34 minutes ago, Hells Comin said:

I just ordered 8lb. of wst from Midsouth.  I planning to using it in 12 ga. Practice rounds.

Does anyone have a recipe using wst with 1&1/8 Oz. of shot ?

No I don't, but if you want to go lighter, I'm using 14.4gr WST with 7/8 oz shot with gray wad in AA hull, Cheddite primer. I could probably go with a little less powder  but that is what one of the bushings in my LoadAll drops and it feels like a LNLR to me. 

[Captain Bill Burt]

I've been running 12.2 of Clays, but that's about gone, so I bought a big jug of Titewad.  I plan to try that at 12.2 and see how it goes.  Both of those are a couple of grains below the minimum published load.

[Tall John]

Looks like Titewad, WST and E3 are all currently available.  I’m going with Titewad!  Thanks guys! 

[wyliefoxEsquire]

Assuming the use of a SxS, the amount of powder could also depend on mechanical versus inertial trigger reset. 

We need 14.4 Clays (Dot) STS 3/4 ounce pink claybuster.  Anything less than 14.0 may not reset the inertial trigger.

[Blackwater 53393]

I asked this same question on the other shotgun loading thread.

 

Has anybody used International Clays for CAS loads??

 

I inherited a jug of it and was wondering if anyone has experience with it and would share their data if the load was good for medium light loads.

[Sam Sackett]

Hodgdon site shows load data as low as 1150 fps. International is a fairly slow powder, so will probably show unburned flakes and get dirty with light charges or light shot loads. Try ‘em and let us know!

 

Sam Sackett 

[Blackwater 53393]

2 minutes ago, Sam Sackett said:

Hodgdon site shows load data as low as 1150 fps. International is a fairly slow powder, so will probably show unburned flakes and get dirty with light charges or light shot loads. Try ‘em and let us know!

 

Sam Sackett 

I AM going to load some up.  The label has several loads listed, the lowest of which is 1050 at 16.5gr.  I’ll probably run up around ten rounds at 16gr and try ‘em. I’ll go down .2gr at a time from there and see how they do.  I have several shotguns to try them in, so I reckon we’ll find out.

 

Gonna’ be a week or so before I can start. If anyone has more info, please speak up!

[Kid Rich]

On 12/11/2023 at 4:46 PM, Texas Maverick said:

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 4.3 cc and .7 cc dipper will give me 35 grain weight. 

 

TM 

Lee dipper 3.1 of APP 3f and 3.4 of whatever shot you want works OK for Shirttail. If you have hard to KD SG targets use 3.4 3f and 3.7 shot.

kR

kR

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Unique  ! 

You can load any and every Cartridge used in SASS with Unique .

So Saith The Rooster 

[Texas Maverick]

6 hours ago, Kid Rich said:

Lee dipper 3.1 of APP 3f and 3.4 of whatever shot you want works OK for Shirttail. If you have hard to KD SG targets use 3.4 3f and 3.7 shot.

kR

kR

thanks KR, I was wrong on the dippers I mentioned. That must be grams. I set it on gn for grains and 3.1 gives me 36 grains of 3F APP. I am going to load some up and give it a go. Tell Shirttail hi from my wife, Bobbi.

 

TM 

[Tall John]

On 12/18/2023 at 4:28 PM, Sam Sackett said:

I had been using 14 grains of Clays and 3/4 oz of shot. Running out and found a good buy on a 4 lb jug of Titewad. Loaded up Titewad same as Clays, 14 grains, CB 0175 pink wad and 3/4 oz of #7 shot. Shot about the same. 
 

Haven’t tried it in cartridges yet…..
 

Sam Sackett 

Sam,

 

im planning to use Titewad with 7/8oz #9 shot with grey wads, AA hulls and Cheddite primers.  Hogdon site recommends 15.3grn for 1200fps.  I was thinking of backing down to 14-14.4 but then saw another reference to going as low as 13.0grns.

 

i sent an email request to Hogdon and tried to call today but got voicemail.

[Too Tall Bob]

2 hours ago, Tall John said:

Sam,

 

im planning to use Titewad with 7/8oz #9 shot with grey wads, AA hulls and Cheddite primers.  Hogdon site recommends 15.3grn for 1200fps.  I was thinking of backing down to 14-14.4 but then saw another reference to going as low as 13.0grns.

 

i sent an email request to Hogdon and tried to call today but got voicemail.

Just keep in mind that what most folks load for cowboy action is generally below what the mfr recommends. 
just a reference point and supporting nor criticizing anyone’s preferences. 

[Tall John]

On 12/18/2023 at 4:28 PM, Sam Sackett said:

I had been using 14 grains of Clays and 3/4 oz of shot. Running out and found a good buy on a 4 lb jug of Titewad. Loaded up Titewad same as Clays, 14 grains, CB 0175 pink wad and 3/4 oz of #7 shot. Shot about the same. 
 

Haven’t tried it in cartridges yet…..
 

Sam Sackett 

Sam,

 

im planning to use Titewad with 7/8oz #9 shot with grey wads, AA hulls and Cheddite primers.  Hogdon site recommends 15.3grn for 1200fps.  I was thinking of backing down to 14-14.4 but then saw another reference to going as low as 13.0grns.

 

i sent an email request to Hogdon and tried to call today but got voicemail.

[Tall John]

Too Tall Bob,

 

Noted.  It would really be nice SASS could collect load data from some of the trusted life long members and publish minimum recommended loads.  But I guess the lawyers would go berserk if they did.  As a result, we are all reliant upon our mentors and friends for guidance.  

[Sam Sackett]

Tall John, 

I’m thinking that the powder manufacturers are publishing loads that are powerful enough for the average shooter. Sporting Clays, skeet, bird and small animal hunting. Those loads run from 1150 to 1350 fps. We don’t need or want loads that heavy. I don’t know of many CAS shooters who reload their own that load to book levels. I believe the Winchester LNLR shells run around 950 fps. Most of us try to get our loads down near or below that. We do get some unburned powder and these loads are dirtier than factory, but I like them better for CAS distances. 

Please let us know what Hodgdon says about a recommended load. It may be enlightening. 
 

Sam Sackett 

[Lucky R. K.]

On 12/20/2023 at 6:05 AM, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

Unique  ! 

You can load any and every Cartridge used in SASS with Unique .

So Saith The Rooster 

Same goes for Red Dot. I bought an eight-pound keg and forgot about everything else.

Lucky 

[Kid Rich]

22 hours ago, Lucky R. K. said:

Same goes for Red Dot. I bought an eight-pound keg and forgot about everything else.

Lucky 

Ditto for 700X.

kR

[watab kid]

i shot a lot of powders , clays and red dot mostly , but 700x and a couple others have similar burn rates so work very similar , i dont recommend , im sharing my use , these are also great in the revolver and rifle reloads so i try to stay with just one when i can , lately red dot - and whgen that runs out clays 

[Tall John]

Some Cowboys are loading 1 1/8oz loads with their strategy being more lead down range provides more room for aiming error.

 

Hogdon recommends 15.2grn of Titewad for a 1 1/8oz AA, Ched 209, W12AAL hull for 1090fps.  
 

anybody have experience with an effective lighter TiteWad powder charge with 1 1/8oz to reduce recoil?

[Texas Maverick]

On 11/16/2023 at 7:16 AM, Bingo Montana said:

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.

 

This is good to know. I use Clays currently but can't find anymore. I have 2 8lb jugs since I use it for my 38's. I am glad I can switch over if need be. Just need to find the right bushing. I use a MEC 9000E and know where I can get more CleanShot if need be @Scarlett.

 

TM

[Texas Jack Black]

 I gave up reloading Shotgun. Much easier to buy  when shells are for sale .Take the time you saved and go practice  dry firing .

[Tall John]

I’m loading 1 1/8oz, Ched 209, AAHull, grey CB 118 wad with 15.3grns of TiteWad powder based on the Hogdon chart but it is too hot for what we need @1090fps.

 

Ballistic Products lists a 14.5grn of TiteWad, Ched hull & primer, spark was and nickel plated lead shot at 1050fps. In their sub-sonic chart for a 1oz load..

 

i was thinking of creating different loads from 12.8-14.4 grns (Mec bushings 21-25) to see how they pattern. I’d like to get down to 925-950fps.  Our club loves the shotgun generally with 4-6 targets per stage.

 

What is the danger of shooting a shot gun load that is too light in an SxS other than it not clearing the barrel?