16ga.com ~ View topic - New to shotshell loading and need some powder advice.

Joined: 12 Aug 2014 Posts: 106 Location: Desert Southwest

What powder do you guys like for hunting loads? I found a couple pounds of powder on the shelf locally and need help picking one. I'll be loading in empty Herters (Cheddite?) hulls. Haven't picked out a wad (need advice there too) and will likely use Win or Fed primers since I have had great reliability with their centerfire primers. My local options for powder are:

Alliant Pro Reach 12
Alliant Pro Reach 410
Alliant Steel (which I'm guessing is not ideal for lead loads)
Hodgdon 800x

The only one that the Lyman 5th ed. shows loads for is the 800x and for 16 they just show generic loads. Nothing specific to field or target etc. If you guys have any safe load recipes that work well in the field with any of the above components I would greatly appreciate some advice.

Thanks,
Zor

Try getting recipes on line from Hogdons and Aliant.

*Last edited by skeettx on Wed Sep 03, 2014 2:43 pm; edited 6 times in total*

Hello
Will you be using 1 ounce of shot?
Lead shot
Cheddite hulls
What primer?
Thanks
Mike

p.s. I like Unique or Universal.

PowderPrimer , Wad, Pressure, Velocity, Gauge: 16, Lead Shot 1 oz.

Universal Primer Ched. 209 Wad G/BP 16 Max Grains 20.5 Pressure 7,500 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,165

Universal Primer Ched. 209 Wad G/BP 16 Max Grains 21.7 Pressure 8,500 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,220

Universal Primer Ched. 209 Wad G/BP 16 Max Grains 23.0 Pressure 9,200 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,275

Universal Primer Ched. 209 Wad WAA16 Max Grains 19.9 Pressure 7,100 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,165

Universal Primer Ched. 209 Wad WAA16 Max Grains 21.2 Pressure 8,300 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,220

Universal Primer Ched. 209 Wad WAA16 Max Grains 22.2 Pressure 9,000 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,275

Universal Primer Fio. 616 Wad G/BP 16 Max Grains 20.5 Pressure 8,000 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,165

Universal Primer Fio. 616 Wad G/BP 16 Max Grains 21.5 Pressure 8,800 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,220

Universal Primer Fio. 616 Wad G/BP 16 Maxi Grains 22.5 Pressure 10,000 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,275

Universal Primer Fio. 616 Wad WAA16 Max Grains 19.5 Pressure 8,000 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,165

Universal Primer Fio. 616 Wad WAA16 Max Grains 20.5 Pressure 8,900 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,220

Universal Primer Fio. 616 Wad WAA16 Max Grains 22.0 Pressure 10,300 PSI Velocity (ft/s) 1,275

Joined: 12 Aug 2014 Posts: 106 Location: Desert Southwest

+1 for Unique in 1oz , and it has been showing up here and there . Universal is going to be a while from what I understand , although ADI is supposedly shipping to Hodgdon now

Joined: 12 Aug 2014 Posts: 106 Location: Desert Southwest

Thanks guys. I tried the big box on the north side of town and they're completely out of shotgun powder. I have a meeting at bass pro tomorrow and will check there as well.

Best remember that each progressive burning smokeless powder is designed for a specific, and usually somewhat narrow range of applications. So one powder rarely works well for extra light target and small bird loads through heavier game loads. Most of the more experienced reloaders here rely on three or four powders which have from moderately fast burning through moderate, moderately slow, and very slow burning speeds.

Here are the three I tend to use. Green Dot is a medium fast burning powder which works particularly well for 16 gauge, 3/4 and 7/8 ounce loads with a number of hulls and wads. Unique is slower burning and is very good for 1200-1250 FPS, 1 ounce hunting loads. It will also work well in some lower velocity 1-1/8 ounce hunting loads. 800X is a flerxible, moderately slow burning powder which works very well in faster 1-1/8 ounce loads. Herco is also a good choice for 1-1/8 ounce hunting loads within the same velocity range.

I also recommennd you find a local trap and skeet shooting club and introduce yourself. In particular, skeet shooters tend to reload quite a bit and do so for a number of gauges. These folks usually know where the best sources and deals are for a wide range of powders, shot, and componants in your area. Most of them are willing to help folks like you out. Good luck.

Get a catalog from Ballistic Products. They are pretty much shot gun specific and carry lots of reloading components for the 16 gauge.
xvigauge

I like Steel powder in 16ga 1oz lead 1.125oz lead E-mail Balistic prod for that data. real nice paterns .Long Shot is another really good 16ga powder if you want faster loads.

If you go to Ball Prods site , you will notice a Load of the Week . Click on it and the ack page . When you get to that load , scroll down to the bottom and you'll see ARCHIVE . Go in and work your way thru the loads - they can be any gauge . But there are several 16 selections that might be right up your alley . Expect to spend some time there as they have all kinds of neat stuff . (all for their wads )

Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 173 Location: S. E. Arizona

I use either Winchester Super Field or IMR 7625. These work well in the Win AA16 CF hulls that I load.

Joined: 12 Aug 2014 Posts: 106 Location: Desert Southwest

Thanks gentlemen. All good info. Looks like ballistic products is a wealth of information. Any of you guys use their reloading manuals? Worth the money?

Thanks again,
Zor

the sort of things I'm looking for is usually somewhere in the BP archive - reg loads , light/fast loads etc

Member Joined: 26 May 2012 Posts: 11 Location: San Diego

I find that as a relative newcomer to shotshell loading the Ballistic Products manuals are well worth the money.

I have the Advantages, 16, Smallbore, Cheddite, Pigeon and Dove loads and the brochures for Longshot and roll crimping.

Worth every penny to me.
And as noted above, the Curmudgeons Load of the day archives are very diverse.