[336A]

Well I have my Lee Load All II and will begin reloading some shells soon. For those of you that reload shotgun ammo what is your go to load for upland hunting use and why?

[rcmodel]

1 1/8 oz #8 trap load for clay birds and upland bird / dove hunting.

1 1/4 oz #5 for Pheasant, rabbit, etc.

rc

[hentown]

I'm going dove hunting on Sat. Whatever 20ga shells I can round up will work...probably 8s with some powder behind 'em.

[Blackrock]

1 oz #8 shot and 18g of Red Dot with a Claybuster CB1100-12 wad in a remington hull.

[gamestalker]

Mec #36 powder bushing of Red Dot, 1-1/8 oz., AA hull. I don't recall off the top of my hed what the gain convesion is, as I've been using this load for so many years, but this has been my go to clays and bird load.

GS

[336A]

So what powder and wad would most you recommend. Years ago I used to use IMR 700X and 1oz of 7 1/2 shot in a Windjammer wad sparked with a CCI 209 primer. I don't recall the charge weight of powder now though. I used these components as that is what I got for christmas that year. Now that I have a loader again and need to get the components all over I find the combinations a bit mind boggling.

I was thinking about going with Green Dot then I started think maybe I should go with Red Dot or stick with 700X. Then there are the wads and primers. From what I gather shotgun primers differ more than rifle and shotgun primers do in how hot they burn. So do you folks have any suggestions.

[rg1]

Best hulls now are Remington Premier, STS, Nitro types and their Gun Club hull is ok too. I liked the old style Winchester AA hulls but not the new 2 piece hulls.
I load using Remington wads in Remington hulls either RXP 12 for 1 1/8 loads, SP 12 for 1 1/4 loads, or RP 12 for heavier charges. I use both Win 209's or Remington Premier primers, whichever one that is called for in the data table. I only use 7 1/2 shot for birds and targets, 6 or 5 for rabbits or squirrel.
I've tried to narrow down my powders and have found that Winchester Super Target WST and Winchester Superfield WSF does everything I need. I've just about quit loading with the high price of lead shot and components but I'm not a big hunter or target shooter. Mostly for just throwing a few clay targets for family and myself. A lot of target shooters now load 1 oz. 12 ga. loads to reduce shot costs and recoil. I recommend Lyman's 5th Shotshell manual but there is data on-line from Alliant and Hodgdon.

[petrey10]

1 1/4oz of #4 shot

I like Winchesters wad

Favorite powder is Universal Clays

Primer? Right now I am using Nobel Sports and they work great

Hull? Anything newer Remington... If you need a little extra room in the hull for better crimps go to Federal Gold Medal hulls.