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Would some of you fellows who have either submitted loads to places like Precision Reloading or Tom Armbrust, or have been involved in testing themselves (Mark - MSM2019 for one), comment on the trustworthiness of Hodgdon's posted load data. I have used their data "forever" and had no problems or reason to distrust it.

In the last couple of years, due to the on-going powder availability situation, I have been switching to Winchester 572 for my 28 and 20 gauge skeet loads. The data seems reasonable. I notice they now have data for 572 in the 16 for 7/8 ounce loads from 1100 to 1250 fps. These loads seem attractive for use in my dainty damascus double, as pressures seem quite low. What's your take on the accuracy of Hodgdon's data. Have you any experience to corroborate it? Thanks for anything you can provide.

Cheers!
Tony

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3526 Location: Illinois

I have used this powder in 28 hulls(Fiochi)20's-Remmy and 16''s-Remmyand W/W with no problems.Offhand can't remember can't recall powder charge.

The only problem I’ve encountered with 572 is hull separation after 2-4 reloads on Activ hulls. Recipes were based on straight hulls. I cannot comment on pressure but all loads with 1oz have worked fine and seemed to be in band for velocity based on limited chronometry.

Due to the hull separation issues I sold the remaining 6 lbs I had. I have a few loads left of my original reloads and I use them to cycle my newer A5 on doubles.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 2180

Max Smoke,

The velocities were OK with the few loads I tried and ran over my chronograph.

I don't know about the pressures but two things stand out. The first is that W572 with 1 oz. loads using the Hodgdon data, except for the Remington SP (RGL) hull data, none of the loads have the correct wad column heights. The second and this may or may not be of concern to everybody, the cold weather performance is lacking in most of the 1 oz. and 1 1/8 oz. loads I tried. Anything from velocities dropping off around 10% and worse, to very off sounding loads that watching the shot cloud and wad barely go 20 yards. In 50 degree plus weather the loads that fit were fine.

Obviously living in ND makes solid cold weather performance important, as I am sure you know.

Because of the poor cold weather performance I never did send any loads in to be tested.

I have gone to N320 and 3N37 for my 7/8, 1 and 1 1/8 oz. loads.

Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 184 Location: Grampian, PA

Via Hodgen 2019....
2.75" Cheddite hull, Cheddite 209, 20.5 gr 572, sg-16 wad, 1204 fps @ 6300 psi. I use a 1/4" 28ga felt wad for correct stack height. I've had no weather-related issues Grouse hunting, but if it's 12 degrees, I'd probably stay home.......

I don`t trust hodgdon data, seems they developed it using math rather then real testing. When working up a load using universal powder, their data said to use 20 gr for 1165 fps, but when I tested it the recoil was real hard and my chrony said 1300 fps. I tested some factory target loads that said 1165 on the box and thats what the chronty said. Soooo I called them and they said my chrony was not good enough to test even though it agreed with the box, so reduced my load to 17 grs and got 1165.

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1797 Location: Minnesota

Ive had same happen with a HS6 20ga load. By Their data was supposed to be 1200 but I chronoed it at 1330

Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 184 Location: Grampian, PA

OK, never mind

Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 184 Location: Grampian, PA

One more try

2.5" Cheddite hull, SG-16 wad, Cheddite 209, 15/16 oz of #8 shot, 19.5 gr Win 572, 6 point crimp, 6 shot average of 1232 fps @ 6252 psi

Tested at Precision Reloading 03-07-2023
Work sheet # 030723X

Works great in my short chambered guns

Thanks very much Tom Shaffer. Good data.

My use is much the same as yours: Damascus hammer gun by Ladislav Svestka of Prague with 65 mm chambers. It's a very delicate island (peninsula) lock thing with 29.5 inch barrels (75 cm) that have little fine-wire gold inlays at the breech and muzzle ends. Gunmaker's name is also gold inlaid.

Cheers!
Tony