16ga.com ~ View topic - Clean burning powder recommendations needed

Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 185 Location: Boulder,Colorado

I've been loading for low pressure, light loads with Fiochhi hulls and primers with Unique. Wondering if anyone can recommend a cleaner burning powder.
Thanks in advance!

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International Clays

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

SR-7625 very clean.
It's so clean, I don't have to clean my guns. Wink

I have a question or three here. First, what pressure ranges are you now getting in your present Unique loads? How are you determining the right powder bushing? What shot load or loads are you dropping? Thanks.

Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 185 Location: Boulder,Colorado

Hi! I'm currently using 7/8 oz loads. I weigh the powder and shot on my scale and adjust the universal charge bar until its what I need. I believe the pressure is around 8200 psi ( I'm at the office and don't have my reloading data sheets here) I believe I am using 18 grs. of Unique.

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Dave how was powder getting into the action of your 1620? I have used light charges of Unique (usually less than 17 1/2 grains) in my 7/8th ounce loads for years in Parkers, Foxes, Lefevers and Winchester Model 12s and have never had any sort of problems associated with powder residue. Your Merkel must have been designed and built with much tighter tolerances in the action to have a few grains of partially burnt powder to cause it to bind up. It certainly isn't the norm for most shotguns.

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Good question! It was back when I was first experimenting with some of the light (7/8 oz) loads we worked up using the Claybuster 20 gauge wad. Lenard Lemke was having great success with the combination, but I had poor "floopy" sounding loads and a lot of unburned powder. That and the Merkel action is tight to a fault, but in fairness to the gun I was getting a lot of unburned flakes in the action. I'm guessing the flakes just got dragged back into the action when the hulls were ejected. A wad change (SG20L) and a faster burning powder (IC) cleaned everything up.

Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 185 Location: Boulder,Colorado

Hi ! and thanks for all your thoughts.. I get good performance from my Unique loads and NEVER ( knock on wood) get a blooper. So, maybe if it ain't broke, I don't fix nothin' ? Dave, I've looked at the IC data and cannot seem to find much using the Fiochhi hulls and primers which I have in great abundance. 16 gg: I am actually shooting 2 3/4 shells in a 2 1/2 chambered gun and I am thus interested to keep my loads as low-pressure as possible. cleaning the gun is something I do after every shoot anyway, so maybe I'll just stick with the Unique.

2-3/4" in a 2-1/2 inch chamber is probably okay with very low pressure loads. Recoil will naturally be stiffer regardless. What it does to patterns is anyone's guess.

I'd recommend having the chambers lengthened if possible or using 2-1/2 inch loads. Or, get a 2-3/4 inch chambered gun for one go round. Then do what other folks are doing. Recycle the standard length shells by cutting the burned out crimps off for your 2-1/2 inch gun. It's a good way to conserve hulls IMO, and a good excuse to expand your gun collection too. Very Happy

Anyway, good luck.

Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 107

I was having the same thoughts in the resent past, had been useing g/dot....7/8oz.......and did not have any problems, but was worried about residue getting back in the gun and having issues,SLAM FIRE ..... I have never had this happen but know people who have.

Any thoughts if this is a real concern.

I have been using INTERNATIONAL/C now WITH 7/8 oz and like it so far, I shoot 20-30 live birds a weeek while training and they seem to be doing a great job.

I have been looking @ the 7625 , is that powder better suited to the 1ozl loads, I don't see much on the spread sheet in 7/8.

I plan to get some loads off to TOM .A. I/C 7/8oz paper roll crimped in the 1160-1200 fps unlees someone allready has.

I've been shooting a 3/4 ounce Green Dot skeet load in my Model 37 and Browning BPS pumps almost exclusively for well over two years now. I've had zero residue issues. Both guns are bottom ejectors with no side port. If residue was going to be a problem, it would show up in these designs. Nada. Not a concern.

I suspect something else might be causing the slam fires. A worn or poorly fitted hammer/sear engagement notch, weak trigger return spring, or an obstruction that is preventing the bolt and or rails from traveling back completely could be the cause. Some older pumps will also slam fire if the shooter is not completely releasing the trigger finger when cycling the gun. This can happen if the shooter is gripping the gun too tightly and is trying to pump it too fast. Just relax and let the speed come naturally. It is more important to cycle the forend smoothly and completely.

The Best way to care for a pump is like any other repeating shotgun. First keep it reasonably clean. Don't let junk build up in it. Some sparingly applied WD40 or other spray solvent with silicone or other suspended moisture remover and rust preventative and some air pressure will blow out any shell residue nicely. Do it after every shooting session. It only takes a moment or two. There is no need to disassemble the receiver after every session. Once or twice a year is enough to clean and check things over and to apply a very small dab of grease or a small drop of oil on the primary bearing surfaces. Very little oil or other lubricants are needed inside a modern pump. liberally applied oil and grease inside a repeating shotgun receiver will attract junk, grit, and dust and cause more problems than they prevent.

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1310 Location: Western WA