16ga.com ~ View topic - Recommendations for loading 1-1/4 ounce 16 GA loads

I'm considering loading some 1-1/4 ounce 16 GA loads.

Once upon a time almost every manufacturer made them, now only Federal does, you can't find them and when you do they are outrageously expensive.

I've got some Commander wads on order - they're recommended for 1-1/4 ounce loads, other than that I have once-fired Herter's, Remington and RST hulls, so I'm open for powder & charge recommendations plus any other pertinent information.

what will you shoot these loads in and at what? There are some good 1.25oz loads but for 99% of what a 16 does a 1oz load is just fine. easier on the gun and the shooter.

I'm with Byrddog 100% on this one ... I used to shoot LOTS of those mags back in the day - had a 30''16 m12 trap gun I made up - not bad . Between marriages and mags , got most of my brains beaten out , and learned that most of the time less is more . If you really want to go that rt , there are loads for 13/8 out there that probably use rem sp wads ....OUCH !!! I can hear my Davis in the backroom prancing like its gotta pee , doesn't like me talking on this subject Shocked

I think the issue is going to be using that wad and 1 1/4 oz of shot.

That wad works perfect with 1 oz. loads and some 1 1/8 oz. loads but 1 1/4 oz. is a bit optimistic.

Maybe there are loads using those wads with dense ball powder using Cheddite hulls? Though I haven't seen any.

The best wad for 1 1/4 oz. loads are the Remington SP16's and either Blue Dot or Longshot.

Let me begin by explaining that for many decades my favorite medicine for pheasant was 12 GA loads of 1-1/2 ounce of 4-shot - then again that was over a flushing dog.

Now I've switched over to gunning over English Setters - I'm on top of the birds, so I don't need the fire power. This year I bought a 16 and so far 6 birds with 6 shots - all taken with 1 ounce loads of 6's

But old habits die hard - so I am attracted to the heavy loads

From the 3rd edition Lyman Shotshell Handbook

Remington SP Express 2 3/4"
21 gr SR 4756 Win 209 SP 16 Wad with petals removed 1126 FPS 10,200 PSI
18 gr HiScore 800X Win 209 SP16 1117 FPS 10,200 PSI
23 gr Blue Dot Fed 209 (not 209A) SP 16 with petals removed 1105 FPS 10,200 PSI
26 gr HS-7 CCI 209 SP16 1142 FPS 10,100 PSI

Winchester CF 2 3/4"
20.0 gr Unique CCI 209 SP 16 1155 FPS 9,900 PSI
25.0 gr SR 4756 CCI 209 SP 16 1205 FPS 10,100 PSI
29.0 gr 571 Win 209 SP 16 1200 FPS 10,200 PSI
25.5 gr Blue Dot Win 209 SP 16 1170 FPS 10,000 PSI
29.0 gr HS-7 Win 209 SP16 1190 FPS 10,300 PSI

Federal Plastic Hunting Cases Only - 1 1/4oz Magnum Loads
20.0 gr Unique Win 209 SP 16 1190 FPS 10,400 PSI
23.5 gr SR 4756 Fed 209 (not 209A) SP 16 1205 FPS 10,000 PSI
30.5 gr HS-7 Win 209 SP 16 1255 FPS 10,000 PSI

These should keep you busy,

Back before I had some of my 'custom' loads pressure tested I had a 1 5/8 oz load I did that mostly collapsed the wad when I put it together. Kicked hard out of a short barrel Model 12 16ga.
I have also reformed my ways and stick to 7/8 to 1 1/8 oz loads depending on what I am shooting at.
Stick to the book or tested loads.
I repeat:
Stick to the book or tested loads.
Very Happy

This is a 1-1/4 ounce load right out of the Alliant On Line Reloader's Guide. It's actually an older recipe which is still as good as it was 30 odd years ago.

16 Gauge 2 3/4-in. Federal Plastic Hi Power Shells with Paper Base Wad, Federal 209A primer, Remington SP-16 wad, 30.5 grains of Blue Dot. 1260 FPS, 10,200 PSI average peak pressure.

I've used this recipe for #4 shot magnum loads with complete satisfaction on spooky late season pheasant under tough conditions. It really reaches out and wallops them if I do my part and put the center of the pattern on the bird. I've never needed the load all that often, but when I have, it has done the job like no other can. Having a couple or four in the shell pocket is a comfort.

Be advised. Some 16 gauge guns won't pattern well w/ #4 shot. I find those guns which have bore diameters under .663" and/or full chokes do not do so well with these big pellets. My Citori Lightning has .669" to .670" bore diameters. It handles #4 shot very well with about 25 points of choke. I've found more choke than that tends to degrade the patterns.

However, each gun tends to be a law unto itself. Best pattern your gun with the load and find out what it will do. If it shoots them well, then you will have another useful load for those tough conditions when you can use all the punch you can get to bring them down.

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Does the SP16 work okay in Federals or is powder migration an issue?
Thanks,
Jeff

Use a load that does not have the sp16 it is not good for 1.25oz loads. Look to Balistic Products for a load using the gulandi 16 ga short wad (sg16short) or the VP-80

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

Joined: 08 Oct 2012 Posts: 72 Location: Hilton Head SC

I just checked my loading notes and I loaded the above mentioned 1 1/4oz Fed load with no issues thus far. I shot some of them at a sporting clays course to test them out and they broke clays well but obviously had a very harsh recoil. I would have no reservations about loading this load up for a "just in case" load for those tough hunting days. Good luck

Joined: 03 Sep 2014 Posts: 398 Location: Rochester, MN

This reference has some 1 1/4 oz lead loads using VP-80 wad and Alliant Steel powder.

http://www.kammeret.no/bilder/albums/userpics/11108/VP80_data.pdf

I loaded a couple and fired them using #4 lead. I had acquired a bunch of #4 lead and was looking to use it up for something.

I got as good or better patterns using 1 1/8 of #4 lead in the Claybuster wad.

I do not like the extra recoil.

As to the comments regarding recoil.

The rule of 96 comes into play when one is loading high and the weight of the gun necessary to absorb some of the pushback is important to calculate.

I shoot 1 ounce loads almost exclusively through guns in the 6 lb range. Most of them are SxS. The best SxS ever built was a punisher if one loaded too hot and shot heavy loads, like deer slugs. In the chase for the least punishing recoil, the rule of 96 should be followed.

Here's another thought. If you can't hit 'em with a 1 1/8 ounce load, its pretty sure you ain't gonna hit 'em with 1 1/4 ounce charges, either. And who needs that level of punishment when one should be enjoying himself with his dog.

Spend a little time on Google looking up the Rule of 96. As you findl on all forums, there are naysayers who wouldn't know heads from tails on a dime. But the truth can't be covered up by denying it.

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

John,

Looking at your data sheet just a quick question for us novice guys.

When they refer to hull as multihull do they mean any hull or a specific hull?