Unique powder for 12 gauge trap loads

rebs · May 3, 2014, 04:41 AM

I ran out of red dot powder and have some unique, I looked it up in the reloading guide and it corresponds to a number 31 mec powder bushing, does this sound right to you ? I have been using a number 32 with rd dot. This is for a 12 gauge trap load with 1 1/8 oz of 7.5 shot.

Valornor · May 3, 2014, 12:27 PM

Being a shotshell reloader you probably know better then I, but I learned a lesson that you can't switch out components willy nilly with shot gun loads as you can with metallic cartridge reloading. I had all sorts of problems with squibs and under performing rounds.

If you can't find a recipe with unique then my guess would be to stay on the safe side and not proceed.

rebs · May 3, 2014, 02:53 PM

I got that recipe from a close friend that loads it. I was just asking if anyone else has used Unique and if that bushing sounds about right.

Wreck-n-Crew · May 3, 2014, 06:01 PM

I guess if you can't find any shot gun powder and you really want to shoot, go for it. But I would save it for pistol powder and it's not that it's not good for it, it's that is good for so many pistol calibers. People love the stuff.

BigJimP · May 3, 2014, 06:55 PM

Yes, a #31 bushing sounds about right ....if you're loading Unique for 1 1/8 oz loads...( I don't personally load anything over 1 oz even for Trap or Sporting Clays in a 12ga )....and I load almost exclusively 1 oz of 8's...

I would probably go to 7.5's ....if I was shooting handicapped Trap from 25 - 27 yard lines..just for the extra energy ..and a little tighter choke...but 1 oz is still plenty in my mind.

But you need to check your powder drops with the #31 bushing with a good scale....you can't just go by the bushing....and depending on which hull, primer, wad combination you're using...the recipes on the amount of powder you need are different.

jaysouth · May 3, 2014, 10:51 PM

Consult a loading manual. In my experience, there is no better powder for 7/8 oz 20 gauge loads. 16 grains with WW primers is soft recoiling and leave no residue in the barrel. I have shot thousands in 1100s and O/Us.

My favorite 1 1/8 oz 1200 fps load for 12 ga. is Green Dot. There is not enough difference to argue over between Red Dot, Green Dot and Unique. The green dot has less felt recoil than red dot.

I can only imagine that the Unique might leave a little more residue in your barrel, which is a minimal problem as best.

If you can get Bullesye, there is no better powder for 7/8 oz. 12 ga. loads. I shot up 8 pounds of it and never lost a 16 yard bird because of the ultra-light load. I think you can find published loads for Bullseye in 1 ounce loads in 12 ga.

Once, in a bind, I loaded up some one ounce loads with blue dot to 1,200 fps. Low recoil but made a fireball about 20 feet long and 10 feet in diameter. The safety officer and range owner put me in time out for a couple of days LOL.

rebs · May 4, 2014, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Once, in a bind, I loaded up some one ounce loads with blue dot to 1,200 fps. Low recoil but made a fireball about 20 feet long and 10 feet in diameter. The safety officer and range owner put me in time out for a couple of days LOL.

now that is funny lol

TimSr · May 4, 2014, 11:44 PM

I use Unique for my 12 gauge 1 oz loads when I'm out of Red Dot. I'm using a Lee, so different bushings, but my book calls for the same bushing for either powder, which comes out to 21gr Red Dot or 24gr Unique.

I'm really liking Blue Dot for 1 1/4oz loads. Not experiencing the legendary fireballs, or I've just never noticed.

SauerGrapes · May 5, 2014, 09:37 PM

Like Jim said, you need to check your powder drops. Like Jim, I mostly load 1oz and 7\8 for 12. Unique will work fine for 1 1\8 oz loads in 12ga.
I found I'm always up or down one bushing from the Mec chart depending on type of powder and batch.

BigJimP · May 6, 2014, 11:23 AM

MEC bushings are easily altered a little ( if you want ).....spin them on a lathe or drill press...and use a little emery cloth to open them up / or you can put some clear nail polish on the inside - let it harden and smooth it out to tighten them up ( and remark them with a permanent marker or a dremel )...

Its easy to buy handfuls of MEC bushings at most gunshows....or you can get them online from any number of sources.

I keep the bushings in a quart zip loc sandwich bag ( marked 20 - 29 ), 30 - 30. etc ...and I keep a separate bag of "modified bushings".../ but I have 4 MEC 9000 HN loaders...

Martys · May 7, 2014, 03:04 PM

I haven't shot any skeet in many years, but as a reloader I remember that Universal Clays was one of my major powders with good results.

BigJimP · May 7, 2014, 03:42 PM

These days....most folks loading 12ga shells for clay targets...at least in 1oz are using Hodgdon Clays.

Hodgdon Universal...is more commonly used as a 20ga or a 28ga powder...

( but both right now, are almost impossible to find in any kind of quantity ..... sadly )....

SauerGrapes · May 7, 2014, 06:37 PM

I don't get it. Very little powder and 22 ammo to be had.

BigJimP · May 7, 2014, 06:51 PM

I don't either frankly ....

a. but I do know that some shooters are hoarding powder ( that they won't use or need in the next 10 yrs - based on the volumes they are shooting)....

b. ...same thing on .22 ammo .....they buy it when they find it, whether they need it or not ....

and while there are rumors all over the place about why - all we can do is just try and be patient / and hope the suppliers get ahead of demand.

May 3, 2014, 04:41 AM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	Unique powder for 12 gauge trap loads I ran out of red dot powder and have some unique, I looked it up in the reloading guide and it corresponds to a number 31 mec powder bushing, does this sound right to you ? I have been using a number 32 with rd dot. This is for a 12 gauge trap load with 1 1/8 oz of 7.5 shot.

May 3, 2014, 12:27 PM	#2
Valornor Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 244	Being a shotshell reloader you probably know better then I, but I learned a lesson that you can't switch out components willy nilly with shot gun loads as you can with metallic cartridge reloading. I had all sorts of problems with squibs and under performing rounds. If you can't find a recipe with unique then my guess would be to stay on the safe side and not proceed. __________________ NM M1A, HK Mk 23, Benelli M4, Ar-15 Lower, CZ 2075 RAMI (P) 9mm, Barrett MRAD .338LM Looking for a new blog dealing with firearms and reloading, check out http://theheadstamp.com/

May 3, 2014, 06:01 PM	#4
Wreck-n-Crew Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,820	I guess if you can't find any shot gun powder and you really want to shoot, go for it. But I would save it for pistol powder and it's not that it's not good for it, it's that is good for so many pistol calibers. People love the stuff. __________________ If you ever have to use a firearm, *you don't get to pick the scenario!*

May 5, 2014, 09:37 PM	#9
SauerGrapes Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2009 Location: S.E.PA. Posts: 920	Like Jim said, you need to check your powder drops. Like Jim, I mostly load 1oz and 7\8 for 12. Unique will work fine for 1 1\8 oz loads in 12ga. I found I'm always up or down one bushing from the Mec chart depending on type of powder and batch. __________________ NRA member, DCF&S member, PAFOA member, USPSA member, NSCA member R.I.P.____Murphy

May 7, 2014, 06:37 PM	#13
SauerGrapes Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2009 Location: S.E.PA. Posts: 920	I don't get it. Very little powder and 22 ammo to be had. __________________ NRA member, DCF&S member, PAFOA member, USPSA member, NSCA member R.I.P.____Murphy

May 3, 2014, 02:53 PM	#3
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I got that recipe from a close friend that loads it. I was just asking if anyone else has used Unique and if that bushing sounds about right.

May 3, 2014, 06:55 PM	#5
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Yes, a #31 bushing sounds about right ....if you're loading Unique for 1 1/8 oz loads...( I don't personally load anything over 1 oz even for Trap or Sporting Clays in a 12ga )....and I load almost exclusively 1 oz of 8's... I would probably go to 7.5's ....if I was shooting handicapped Trap from 25 - 27 yard lines..just for the extra energy ..and a little tighter choke...but 1 oz is still plenty in my mind. But you need to check your powder drops with the #31 bushing with a good scale....you can't just go by the bushing....and depending on which hull, primer, wad combination you're using...the recipes on the amount of powder you need are different.

May 3, 2014, 10:51 PM	#6
jaysouth Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2001 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 787	Consult a loading manual. In my experience, there is no better powder for 7/8 oz 20 gauge loads. 16 grains with WW primers is soft recoiling and leave no residue in the barrel. I have shot thousands in 1100s and O/Us. My favorite 1 1/8 oz 1200 fps load for 12 ga. is Green Dot. There is not enough difference to argue over between Red Dot, Green Dot and Unique. The green dot has less felt recoil than red dot. I can only imagine that the Unique might leave a little more residue in your barrel, which is a minimal problem as best. If you can get Bullesye, there is no better powder for 7/8 oz. 12 ga. loads. I shot up 8 pounds of it and never lost a 16 yard bird because of the ultra-light load. I think you can find published loads for Bullseye in 1 ounce loads in 12 ga. Once, in a bind, I loaded up some one ounce loads with blue dot to 1,200 fps. Low recoil but made a fireball about 20 feet long and 10 feet in diameter. The safety officer and range owner put me in time out for a couple of days LOL.

May 4, 2014, 11:44 PM	#8
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	I use Unique for my 12 gauge 1 oz loads when I'm out of Red Dot. I'm using a Lee, so different bushings, but my book calls for the same bushing for either powder, which comes out to 21gr Red Dot or 24gr Unique. I'm really liking Blue Dot for 1 1/4oz loads. Not experiencing the legendary fireballs, or I've just never noticed.

May 6, 2014, 11:23 AM	#10
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	MEC bushings are easily altered a little ( if you want ).....spin them on a lathe or drill press...and use a little emery cloth to open them up / or you can put some clear nail polish on the inside - let it harden and smooth it out to tighten them up ( and remark them with a permanent marker or a dremel )... Its easy to buy handfuls of MEC bushings at most gunshows....or you can get them online from any number of sources. I keep the bushings in a quart zip loc sandwich bag ( marked 20 - 29 ), 30 - 30. etc ...and I keep a separate bag of "modified bushings".../ but I have 4 MEC 9000 HN loaders...

May 7, 2014, 03:04 PM	#11
Martys Member Join Date: January 19, 2013 Posts: 62	I haven't shot any skeet in many years, but as a reloader I remember that Universal Clays was one of my major powders with good results.

May 7, 2014, 03:42 PM	#12
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	These days....most folks loading 12ga shells for clay targets...at least in 1oz are using Hodgdon Clays. Hodgdon Universal...is more commonly used as a 20ga or a 28ga powder... ( but both right now, are almost impossible to find in any kind of quantity ..... sadly )....

May 7, 2014, 06:51 PM	#14
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I don't either frankly .... a. but I do know that some shooters are hoarding powder ( that they won't use or need in the next 10 yrs - based on the volumes they are shooting).... b. ...same thing on .22 ammo .....they buy it when they find it, whether they need it or not .... and while there are rumors all over the place about why - all we can do is just try and be patient / and hope the suppliers get ahead of demand.