12 Gauge Powder??

deerhunter17 · March 22, 2005, 09:35 PM

Hi, I was going to start reloading 12 gauge shells. I have 2 3/4 and 3" shells. What kind of powder do I want to look at for reloading? I will use it mostly for hunting loads.

**Mike Irwin** · March 22, 2005, 10:53 PM

Over the years I've burned probably upwards 30 pounds of Red Dot in my 12 gauge loads.

I am now, and always have been, extremely happy with it.

One of the men I used to shoot skeet with used to burn that much Red Dot in a season.

Rodger Peterson · March 22, 2005, 11:05 PM

I like Winchester Super Target and Winchester wads because the shotshell reloading data Winchester provides is great, unlike their metallic data. Very comprehensive.

Jbar4Ranch · March 22, 2005, 11:21 PM

I buy Red Dot by the 8 lb keg for 12g. It's always worked well, so I've never switched.

Jim Watson · March 23, 2005, 10:18 AM

Get the Book.
Shotshell reloading is very much a cookbook process. There is not the scope for trial and error that there is for rifle and pistol ammo. EVERYTHING affects the results on pressure, velocity, and pattern.. The hull, the primer, the powder, the wad, the shot, the crimp all matter a lot.
Mixed hulls are generally undesirable. Sort yours out, see what you have the most of, and use an appropriate load specified for that brand. It is not very convenient to change loads in shotshell loading, I suggest you reload what you use the most of and buy the small batches.

What kind of hunting load?
The other guys are recommending powders suitable for trap, skeet, and bird hunting. If you want heavy loads for pheasant or bigger, you need a slower burning powder... as specified in the Book.

There are shotshell manuals as for brass, but the free literature available from the powder companies is valuable because the specs on shotshell components change and you need up to date information. A load in a five year old handbook for a hull and wad no longer made is not much use.

cukrus · March 23, 2005, 12:41 PM

Mostly for hunting what? Mostly I hunt for bargains! For 12 ga. hunting or "field" loads I think of 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 to 1 1/2 oz in 2 3/4 shells and up to 1 7/8 in 3" shells. Nowadays I don't load heavier than 1 3/8 oz. I don't use Red Dot or WST for any of my shotgun hunting loads, although I've used a lot of both.

deerhunter17 · March 23, 2005, 01:04 PM

I will be usuing it mostly for coyotes. I don`t know if it matters, but I have a 28" barrell?

rg1 · March 23, 2005, 08:18 PM

I highly recommend the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook 4th edition manual. Also try powder manufacturers websites such as Winchester and Hodgdon and others. As Jim said, use "exactly" the components listed in the manual. I like Winchester Super Field powder for up to 1 1/4 oz. hunting loads using 4-5-6-or 7 1/2 shot. Give the Hodgdon web site a look: http://www.hodgdon.com/data/shotshel/index.php
The Hodgdon Longshot powder would make a good heavy hunting load. You will probably want #2 or BB sized shot for your coyotes.
Get all the literature on shotshell reloading that you can and follow the recipes exactly.

HSMITH · March 23, 2005, 08:56 PM

For coyote loads look to Blue Dot, Super Field, and Longshot. WEIGH each shot charge, with big pellets you will have a bugger of a time getting enough pellets in the load to make the appropriate weight. Go to Ballistic Specialties for the wads you will need.

Longshot would be where I would start. I've loaded and shot about 250K shotshells, and tried just about all the powders available.

March 22, 2005, 09:35 PM	#1
deerhunter17 Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Location: North Central Wisconsin Posts: 57	12 Gauge Powder?? Hi, I was going to start reloading 12 gauge shells. I have 2 3/4 and 3" shells. What kind of powder do I want to look at for reloading? I will use it mostly for hunting loads.

March 22, 2005, 11:21 PM	#4
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	I buy Red Dot by the 8 lb keg for 12g. It's always worked well, so I've never switched. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

March 22, 2005, 10:53 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Over the years I've burned probably upwards 30 pounds of Red Dot in my 12 gauge loads. I am now, and always have been, extremely happy with it. One of the men I used to shoot skeet with used to burn that much Red Dot in a season. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 22, 2005, 11:05 PM	#3
Rodger Peterson Member Join Date: December 18, 2004 Location: Nevada Posts: 93	I like Winchester Super Target and Winchester wads because the shotshell reloading data Winchester provides is great, unlike their metallic data. Very comprehensive.

March 23, 2005, 10:18 AM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	Get the Book. Shotshell reloading is very much a cookbook process. There is not the scope for trial and error that there is for rifle and pistol ammo. EVERYTHING affects the results on pressure, velocity, and pattern.. The hull, the primer, the powder, the wad, the shot, the crimp all matter a lot. Mixed hulls are generally undesirable. Sort yours out, see what you have the most of, and use an appropriate load specified for that brand. It is not very convenient to change loads in shotshell loading, I suggest you reload what you use the most of and buy the small batches. What kind of hunting load? The other guys are recommending powders suitable for trap, skeet, and bird hunting. If you want heavy loads for pheasant or bigger, you need a slower burning powder... as specified in the Book. There are shotshell manuals as for brass, but the free literature available from the powder companies is valuable because the specs on shotshell components change and you need up to date information. A load in a five year old handbook for a hull and wad no longer made is not much use.

March 23, 2005, 12:41 PM	#6
cukrus Member Join Date: December 4, 2001 Posts: 33	Mostly for hunting what? Mostly I hunt for bargains! For 12 ga. hunting or "field" loads I think of 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 to 1 1/2 oz in 2 3/4 shells and up to 1 7/8 in 3" shells. Nowadays I don't load heavier than 1 3/8 oz. I don't use Red Dot or WST for any of my shotgun hunting loads, although I've used a lot of both.

March 23, 2005, 01:04 PM	#7
deerhunter17 Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Location: North Central Wisconsin Posts: 57	I will be usuing it mostly for coyotes. I don`t know if it matters, but I have a 28" barrell?

March 23, 2005, 08:18 PM	#8
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	I highly recommend the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook 4th edition manual. Also try powder manufacturers websites such as Winchester and Hodgdon and others. As Jim said, use "exactly" the components listed in the manual. I like Winchester Super Field powder for up to 1 1/4 oz. hunting loads using 4-5-6-or 7 1/2 shot. Give the Hodgdon web site a look: http://www.hodgdon.com/data/shotshel/index.php The Hodgdon Longshot powder would make a good heavy hunting load. You will probably want #2 or BB sized shot for your coyotes. Get all the literature on shotshell reloading that you can and follow the recipes exactly.

March 23, 2005, 08:56 PM	#9
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	For coyote loads look to Blue Dot, Super Field, and Longshot. WEIGH each shot charge, with big pellets you will have a bugger of a time getting enough pellets in the load to make the appropriate weight. Go to Ballistic Specialties for the wads you will need. Longshot would be where I would start. I've loaded and shot about 250K shotshells, and tried just about all the powders available.