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Green Cheddite
Ch209
26.4 gr Longshot
SG16 w/ split petals & mica, X-Spreader
1 oz #9 Magnum
~1/16” crimp
1370, 1376, 1347, 1355, 1340, 1333, 1343, 1357, 1365, 1359

This is my match load. I will be swapping to Purple Cheddites just to keep my green hulls for Bismuth loads. I’m working toward using a different hull for each specific purpose for ease of identification. I do like this load, it has a very evenly distributed pattern at the post from station 4. I’ll be making some with chilled lead to pattern & chrono in the future.

Federal (67mm)
Ch209
20gr Green Dot
SG16 w/ split petals & mica
3/4 oz #9 Magnum
Three 0.12 grain Airsoft pellets (spacer & spreader)
~1/16” crimp
1407, 1421, 1408, 1380, 1398, 1410, 1367, 1387, 1430

Purple for Practice. This has been my practice load for a while, but I ran through 8# of powder, so I’m conserving these now for my pre-match practice round. These are mix & match Federals…some from steel loads, some of the newer fine ribs, even a few Monarchs. A decent pattern, though smaller than the match load. Yes the Airsoft pellets are a pain to add in, but are more consistent than popcorn. FWIW, I trim my Feds to ~67 mm, they do tend to grow after firing.

Federal (67mm)
Ch209
20gr Unique
SG16 w/petals split & mica
3/4 oz #9 Magnum
Four 0.12 grain Airsoft pellets
~1/6” crimp
1201, 1217, 1222, 1256, 1214, 1185, 1224, 1232, 1224, 1171

Someone gave me a mostly used up 8# keg, maybe 3# left. I have 4 new bottles but wanted to use this up first. The recipe stated 1355 fps. I am not sure if the new bottles would get me there, but I think I’ll be bumping this up to 21gr. I could tell this was slower based on the recoil, noise & lead, but did not think it was this slow (I prefer ~1350). I have not put the pattern to paper, but it is definitely tighter based on how the clays break apart. It’s also pretty dirty. I’m hoping that an increase in powder charge will reduce the number of Airsoft pellets I need, possibly making a wider pattern. Either that or I will be adding a felt wad to the shotcup.

I welcome your comments, analysis, criticism, etc. I did not take statistical math, and what little I was exposed to at work was forgotten when I trended data using Excel, so I will not presume to throw EV or other numbers out. I think the raw data provides a clearer picture anyway.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Interesting-------thanks

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1841 Location: Central ND

Just a FWIW.

The 2 - 3/4 oz. loads would do better with Extra-Lite, American Select, e3, 700-X etc. Green Dot and especially Unique are much too slow burning for the work you are asking them to do.

I have a nice 3/4 oz. load with American Select, if we can ever get DR16 wads.

Tom Armbrust tested this one.

Cheddite 16 Ga 2 3/4" 2 PC Plastic
Win 209
American Select 18.0 grs
DR-16
3/4 oz Lead

9,480 PSI

1,336 FPS
1,343 FPS
1,339 FPS
1,338 FPS
1,340 FPS
Average 1,339 FPS
EV - 7 FPS
SD - 2 FPS

Thanks Mark. I had seen you post that load before, and I have been watching for American Select. I will look into E3 & Extra-Lite, I see some 700X has come for sale recently. I think after I use up this older Unique I’ll save the newer bottles for heavier loads.

Member Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 601 Location: Virginia

I have been shooting 3/4 oz of shot using Clays powder. A 28 gauge fiber wad in the shot cup takes up the needed space using an SG-16 wad. Nice cloud of fiber feathers to commemorate a broken clay pigeon, assuming that happens. Hodgdon has data for Clays in a couple of hulls under a 1 oz load. I upped my powder charge by a grain over those.

Thanks, another option!

Just for data, bumped up the Unique load to 21 gr (still the old keg):

1231, 1279, 1254, 1310, 1279, 1251, 1245, 1239, 1282, 1254

Ordered some Titewad, I’ve used it before, ~1365. Also found some Clays locally, but only 4 bottles.

I’m gonna keep watching for that American Select, even if I don’t have DR-16s. If I get some I’ll see what happens with a Z16 and/or SG16.

Grafs has 1 & 4#ers of 700X for those looking . Reasonable . Also have some 410 for us afficianados .

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1841 Location: Central ND

........and Powder Valley also has 1 and 4 lbers. of 700-X.

Did not find a 3/4 oz 700x load, but it is intriguing as it appears to be the lightest powder available per volume when I check the bushing chart. I’m going to try to trade for a bottle at the club and maybe drop a 1200-1250 fps 1 oz load to 3/4 oz, rather than pay more hazmat for an experiment that may not work.

I made up some 3/4 oz Clays loads, still having to put way too many pellets on top. I made up a few using felt wads in the cup as I don’t have any 28 ga card wads yet.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1841 Location: Central ND

700-X will throw 7/8 oz. At 1,260 FPS with a chamber pressure less than 9,000 PSI. I had Precision Reloading check the load in the spring of 2022.

So 3/4 oz. with 700-X won't be a problem.

I’m not worried about throwing it, right now it’s more about stack height. Putting 2 or 3 pellets on top before crimping is rather quick, any more than that and it slows things down. Felt wads really slow me down, especially when they stick in the drop tube. The Green Dot load was real nice & fast.

I should mention that I converted a Mec 9000 12 to 16 recently because I was spending way too much time reloading practice shells with the 650/Supersizer combo.

So hopefully either the 700x load will have a better stack height for a good crimp with a couple pellets, or the 28ga card will be quick enough for me with Clays/Titewad…if both, then, well, options are nice.

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1696 Location: Minnesota

Citori 16 I was thinking about doing the same thing with my 9000. Did you do it yourself or send it to MEC? Either way, what did it cost you? Wondering if it was worth it or should I just sell my 9000 and get one in 16ga.Thanks.

I did it myself, it still needs a little tweaking but it moves right along. Originally I was going to swap over the dies, etc, from the 650, but I opted to keep it ready to go in case the 9000 develops a problem. I ordered the baseplate & carrier directly from Mec as I could not find them elsewhere cheaper. About $34 IIRC. I replaced the smaller springs as they were rusted badly, bought the dies & a primer tray spending around $50 give or take. I got some parts from Precision & others from eBay, the details escape me. I swapped the collet out from my Supersizer, which will now become a 20 ga for my daughter. If your 9000 is in good shape, you could probably get away with about $125 max, though much less if you scrounge for used parts. The collet would probably be your biggest expenditure.

Almost forgot, I ordered the de-primer from Creative Reloading Solutions. It’s pretty decent, easy to adjust, and I can resize primer holes if necessary. It’s also better at de-priming live primers with little deformation. But it’s not an absolute must have.

Eventually I will replace more of the rusted/worn parts, and I’m not consistently getting a good advance cycle (about 20 good per 3 bad), but that will come in time. Considering I picked up the 9000 for $250 I’m not complaining.

Next I’ll be looking to upgrade/replace the 600 jr with a Sizemaster, but I can wait for a really good deal since I now resize/deprime on the 9000.