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I acquired a couple lbs of this older powder today. Anyone use it for loading 16ga? Got a recipe?

I do not believe it was. 16ga powder, my library spreadsheets do not show any 16ga WST data

I'm familiar w/ WST Winchester ball powder, but not WST8. I think WST8 is the designation for an 8 pound container of WST. WST is a fast burning powder designed for 12 gauge target loads. It is comparable to Red Dot, Clays, etc.

From experience I can tell you it is safe to use 14 grains of Red Dot or Clays for 3/4 ounce 16 ga target loads in any 2-3/4" 16 ga hull under a DR16 wad or any of the 1 ounce wads w/ filler wads under the shot charge. I think you can do the same w/ WST, but I'd not go w/ any heavier powder or shot charges unless you find some published data to back your choices up.

I suspect your load velocities will be around 1100-1160 FPS, which is not bad for informal targets and small game birds at closer ranges. These 3/4 ounce loads w/ 14 grains of WST powder should be safe to shoot in any modern 16 ga gun in good repair w/ a 2-3/4 inch chamber and fluid steel barrels.

Is it possible to develop loads for WST (a 12ga target powder) yes.

Do you require significant knowledge and an ability to have loads tested, yes.

As a 12 ga target powder you must exercise caution and have the load tested.

If you do that, then go for it. Substituting powders especially a 12ga powder without indepth knowledge and testing is dangerous, especially if you are shooting a vintage gun. Yes you can compare comparables between different loads and then interpolate a potentially good load, but if you did that you should have it tested

I did find one 16 ga WST load for a fiochi hull on a spreadsheet this morning, but I am on the road through the 19th and want to check it in the source noted ( Lyman 4th ed) before posting it as it appears it could be a typo and is really a WSF load.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the direction.

I did find one 16 ga WST load for a fiochi hull on a spreadsheet this morning, but I am on the road through the 19th and want to check it in the source noted ( Lyman 4th ed) before posting it as it appears it could be a typo and is really a WSF load.

It is not a typo. Actual load. If you check out all of the 12 gauge loads you would see that it is reasonable.

The typo maybe my spreadsheet, I want to see it in the reloading manual again before I post

Joined: 15 Dec 2005 Posts: 287 Location: missouri

Looked in 4 different load manuals published by Winchester , nothing for WST in 16 gauge. Funny part is they do show some with 452AA which WST was supposed to replace, I wouldn't try the recipes as direct swap but it may work.

[quote="old colonel"]The typo maybe my spreadsheet, I want to see it in the reloading manual again before I post[/quote It's in the manual I guess you figured I didn't know what I was talking about.

I also consulted my older WW reloading pamphlets for data. None were found for WST for 16 gauge. But as already pointed out, there is some obsolete data for 16 gauge one ounce loads using fast burning WW 452AA ball powder (which was designed for 12 ga. target loads). 16 GA AA hull, Win 209 primer, 17.5 of 452AA, RemSP16 Wad, 1 oz of shot

The charge weights for 452 ball under one ounce shot loads are heavier than my recommended 14 grains of WST under 3/4 ounces of shot. The data also designated the obsolete, dicontinued 16 ga AA hull, which has one of the smallest internal volumes of any available hull. So I'm comfortable that my recommendation is a safe one.

14 grains of WST for 3/4 ounce loads may actually be a bit too light and may cause overly weak or squib loads depending on which components for a load are used. In comparison, A charge of 14 grains of Red Dot or Clays work safely and quite well in my own 3/4 ounce loads using a 16 ga Remington RGL hull under an R16 wad w/ filler wads under the shot. I offer this info only for comparison and as a loose guideline.

So best be advised. I'm not openly recommending any heavier powder charges of WST than 14 grains for 3/4 ounce loads until the data is proven and published. Anyone wanting to go that route is on their own. But if that charge weight produces weak or blooper loads w/ a given set of load components, then best go up no more than a 1/2 grain at a time and test fire at least 5 rounds before going any heavier. Stop as soon as the blooper loads disappear and do not go any higher. And once again, we are on our own here w/o anyone's recommendations. Just sayin'.

Joined: 15 Dec 2005 Posts: 287 Location: missouri

I don't see much use for WST except for very light loads, probably get away with 7/8 oz as 700X is used in many 7/8 oz 16 ga loads.
If anything give a look at the new Winchester 572 powder, number will throw you off as many may relate it to the old 571 powder, in reality it is much like the old 540 powder which worked very well in 16 gauge.

I got home and checked the Lyman guide and determined there is no WST data for 16 ga. I was correct the load I thought I found was a typo.

look in lymans 3 and4 under Fiochi hull.

I stand corrected in that I was wrong I was looking at the Lyman 5th and not the 4th edition

I cannot find my copy of the Lyman 4th.

I went through every book I have and found a BPI 1oz load for WST in 16ga Cheddite hull in their Cheddite Manual (load number 140917-6 Cool

, but it has a 10500 PSI and I don't use higher pressure BPI loads. There are several more 7/8 oz loads in the BPI advantages manual on page 263

Dilly I will send you a PM