Brass 12 Gauge smokeless loads?

[ahutch71]

I picked up 50 MagTech brass 12 gauge hulls, 2-1/2”. I’ve shot brass before with black powder (actually, Triple 7 and Pyrodex) but want to load some up with smokeless (probably Green Dot, which is my go-to 12 gauge field powder). Anyone have any smokeless loads for brass that they like? I’m using nitro overshot cards (or cardboard when I run out) and self-punched 19mm cork for a wad, with an overshot card and glue. Just don’t know if there are any “pets” out there for smokeless powders.

 

[splattergun]

It used to be done and I've seen references to it in old manuals, but I haven't seen any current data. I found this partial article from Loaddata.com about developing a load for brass shells with Red Dot. You would need to be a member to get the entire article. It references using a paper shell as a benchmark. Handloading Brass Shotshells Pt. 2 | Load Data Article
While loading brass shells with BP allows for some experimentation I would stick with any smokeless recipe as written. Check your library to see if it has any older manuals, data.
Proceed with caution.

 

[ahutch71]

I found this partial article from Loaddata.com about developing a load for brass shells with Red Dot. You would need to be a member to get the entire article. It references using a paper shell as a benchmark. Handloading Brass Shotshells Pt. 2 | Load Data Article
While loading brass shells with BP allows for some experimentation I would stick with any smokeless recipe as written. Check your library to see if it has any older manuals, data.
Proceed with caution.

thanks for the link! I have a membership at LoadData and use it all the time for new cast bullet loads, but often forget that they have a ton of great articles there on a whole lot of topics. The Internet is a double edged sword - so much information available that one forgets all of the places it can be found.

thanks again!

 

[ahutch71]

In case anyone is reading this thread...

I did a bunch of searching last night and found that, in general, the recommendation is to NOT use smokeless for brass shells. They're best for black of black substitutes, and not really built for smokeless pressures.

The two smokeless powders that I did find postings on were Red Dot and Titegroup. Am not going to post any details, as *many* articles/writers were quite adamant that this was a bad idea.

That said, I'm planning to stick to BP, Pyrodex, and Triple 7. May try Blackhorn 209, if I do I will post how it works! Loaded up some 70gr Pyrodex FFg with 1-1/8 oz #6 last night with cork wads and cardboard overpowder and overshot cards.

 

[entropy]

I plan on using Pyrodex in 16 ga. Magtech brass hulls when I find some, out of my Sauer SxS 2 1/2", just for nostalgia. I have RST 2 1/2"'s for it also.

 

[FROGO207]

Balistic Products has some brass shell data available. I use brass 410 shells and Blue Dot to make buckshot loads that work for me. I modified a 444 marlin die to size them. They also have proper nitro cards and fiber wads if you would rather buy them.

 

[ahutch71]

Balistic Products has some brass shell data available. I use brass 410 shells and Blue Dot to make buckshot loads that work for me. I modified a 444 marlin die to size them. They also have proper nitro cards and fiber wads if you would rather buy them.

I do have some 0.125 nitro cards and some 11 gauge wads (can't recall the specifics) coming from Ballistic Products - everything is shipping very slowly (demand + storms) but hopeful that they'll get here in the next couple weeks. In the meantime, I've had decent luck with a 19mm punch I bought online, and some 1/2" cork tiles (they're 24" x 24" and I got 8 of them for $16 delivered, and get about 120 wads from each one so not so bad).