Looking for some help

[Fally]

I shoot trap everyweend and i started reloading a few months back and i only know one load size which is 18 grains of red dot and 1 1/8 oz shot. they work great on shots under 24 yards for me but i need something with a little more power behind it for those long shots. i hate when i have to go into shootoffs and my shot sounds like a toy gun compared to the guy next to me whos shooting some hot load he made. any help would be great

[Chief-7700]

Get a reloading manual and go to the Powder manf's web sites.
Chief

[Shoney]

You did not list the hull, the primer, and the wad you are currently using. Please list.

The load data is very specific as to those components, not just powder.

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

+1 for the chief. If you don't get a manual, "you're gonna shoot your eye out, kid!"

[Shoney]

Wholley Shinola Chief-7700 and llinoisCoyoteHunter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aren't you guys being a little tight in the knickers?????????? It's his first post and he asks for help. Are your responses those of a helpful courteous forum???? That was a great welcome.

How embareassing.:barf:

[Chief-7700]

Shoney, How many threads have you read with the following in them"
Looking for a load, what powder should I use, what is the best load for
the bullet weight?" All I stated sir, to the OP needed to do some research on reloading like you and I did before the Internet. In other words RTFB
Cheif

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

Settle down shoney...you have obviously never seen "A Christmas Story". You just couldn't sense my sarcasm....BUT, the chief is right. With information readily available at our fingertips, it is wise to get CREDIBLE information "straight from the horse's mouth." I use this forum as a secondary source.

[Shoney]

The question is not how many of these I have read, because there are hundreds, but moreover, how many I have answered with information in a courteous manner.

I alway follow these remarks with "This data is not a substitue for a Loading Manual, and all data you get from the net should be checked against data from published hardy copy manuals."

If you do not wish to answer then, ignore them. It is not a license to be rude.

[LHB1]

Fally,
Welcome to the forum. Do you have a reloading manual or book for shotgun shells? Reloading shotgun is different than pistol or rifle because not only must the powder type and charge be correct for the weight of shot BUT the combined volume of powder, wad, and shot must fill the available space in the hull. Some hulls are tapered inside and require specific wads to work properly. A given load may be recommended for brand X hull with type W wad but NOT for brand A hull or type B wad. These are some of the reasons why we ask for more info on hull type, wad type, etc. For your own safety, would suggest you do some research and reading of books on reloading shotgun shells before accepting/using advice from total and anonymous strangers on a public forum. Strongly suggest that you do NOT use any reload forumula that you can't confirm as being safe in a commercially published loading manual or book. Good luck.

[jckeffer]

Fally, welcome and my apologies for the less than cordial welcome from others.

LHB1 is correct however. The possible combination of hull, powder, wad and shot can be daunting. My suggestion is to look up a select few loads on the internet or an inexpensive shotshell reloading manual (find them on ebay - I like the Lyman Shotshell Handbook) based first on the shotshell hull you have access to - they're probably the most difficult component to come by. Then identify the powder that you will probably use or want to use and match the wad/shot charge to them. Stick to just a few different loads to begin with and evaluate them buy shooting at least a box worth (25 shells). If you don't find something that works, try a few more. The alternative is to purchase every conceivable combination of hull, powder and wad - you'll soon discover that buying commercial shotshells would be cheaper.

Note: Winchester, Federal and Remington/Peters are the most common hulls and have the most load data available. Green Dot, Unique, Hi-Skor are good powders as are several others. Some of the more common wads are WAAF1 and Federal 12S1. Primers CCI209 WIn209. These basics will give you a fairly wide selection to build up some loads.

[Fally]

okay..i do have books on it. they are extremley old from when my grandpa used them so i dont trust them completly so im compaing them to what i find on here. also i dont just use on type of hull at all. i have probalby four or five if not more. mainly i have AA, Nitro 27 and Rem Gun Club. I use a CB wad in all of them. im using 1 1/8 shot but i know if u use more powder that means less room for shot so the shot charge will vary on the load size. im using cheddite primers in all loads. that should answer everyones "thoughts" on it

[LHB1]

Fally,
Some hulls can be interchanged but I don't try to keep up with which ones can and can't. Some manufacturers even have hulls with different internal shape and dimensions which require different wads and powder loads. I suggest trying to standardize on one brand and model hull. That will make your shotshell loading much simpler. Will also give you better and more consistent crimps since they can also vary among different hull types.

[Mike Irwin]

One important question that no one has asked...

What size shot are you using?

I'm also a little confused...

Are you looking for longer range, or are you just wanting something that sounds "louder" because something someone else is shooting sounds louder?

If you're looking for longer range, that's a good reason to search for a new load.

If, however, you're searching for a new load becuase you want something louder, but you're happy with the performance of your old load, well that's a BAD reason to search for a new load.

Let the other shooters rip their shoulders up with recoil.

My favorite load from years past was 1 1/4 ounce of No 7 1/2 shot loaded to a 2 1/2 or 2 3/4 dram equivalent loading. I was using Winchester AA hulls, wads, and primers, and Red Dot powder. The loads were pretty soft shooting and I was able to do very well with them.

I often shot against other people who were shooting what could only be described as heavy hunting loads. They were getting beaten all to hell by the recoil. I wasn't.

[oneounceload]

If your books are old, get some new ones - powder configurations have changed over the years and so have the loadings.

If your current load is breaking them at 24, it will also break them at 27, or 16 for that matter.

Good luck, and follow the CURRENT recipes from the mfg's.

[Fally]

I use 7 1/2 and im looking for something with longer range effectivness..recoil really doesnt bother me

[Shoney]

Fally
Here are a few on-line powder/loading data sources. They are not meant to replace hard cover data, but are useful for reference.
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
http://glarp.atk.com/2009/2009_Catal...adersGuide.pdf
http://www.accuratepowder.com/reloading.htm
http://www.ramshot.com/powders/

I would stronly urge you to match your loads with the hulls you have, I have seen Remington and Browning semi-autos get damaged becasue of people substituting data intended for use in one hull into another.

[Fally]

thank you for the websites...they give me some help. the books i have are definatly a bit off to say the least..what is the max grain amount you would recomend for general reloading saftey

[LHB1]

Quote: "what is the max grain amount you would recomend for general reloading saftey"

The max grain amount depends on the other factors: gauge, hull, primer, wad, weight of shot, type of powder, type of load desired, etc. You can't just quote an independent value of powder type and weight without knowing what the other factors are. That is the thing you must keep in mind about reloading shotshells.