Dual Use Powder Wanted: 38Super & 12ga

[rfwobbly]

Just ordered a MEC 9000 to help make 7/8oz trap/skeet 12ga shotgun reloads. Realizing that pistol and shotgun can share similar powders and that I'll be buying it now in 8lb containers, is there a single powder you can suggest that's good for target loads for both ?

I like to push 124gr 38 Super loads at about 1040-1090fps. The shotgun is a gas operated Remington 1100, so cleaner is 'gooder'.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[rcmodel]

Pretty tall order.

You need a fast powder for 7/8 oz shotgun, and a medium rate powder for .38 Super it get best performance. But since you are not wanting top velocity?

A quick check of an old Alliant powder guide looks like Red Dot would work pretty well.
4.5 grains with a 125 grain gives 1,095 FPS.
And they show tons of 7/8 oz shotgun loads with it.

rc

 

[loadedround]

I second Red Dot. Several shooters that I know use this combo for both trap and pistol shooting.

 

[zxcvbob]

Red Dot (Promo), or maybe Green Dot.

Can Bullseye be used in 12 gauge? (I don't know, I don't reload shotgun) It will probably give better performance in the .38 Super.

 

[oneounceload]

Look also at Clays, ClayDot - both work VERY well in the 12 gauge target load you're wanting. Hodgdon lists Clays in 38 Super - nice and clean burning

 

[rfwobbly]

Thanks for the feed back guys. Red Dot and Promo was what I was given from my mentor on the 12ga, but I generally haven't been using powders that fast in anything. Think I'll start shooting 115gr in the Super. That's a much better match for powders in that speed range. That gives me a better feeling.

Clays was also mentioned but seemed to have trouble leaving plastic in the barrel when run in combination with the clone Remington wads I've been advised to start with. Any feedback on that? If anything, Clays burns a little cooler and would seem NOT to melt plastic. I dunno. Pure hear-say at this point.

Again, thanks.

 

[GaryL]

I would have suggested taking a look at green dot, but have never loaded for shotgun.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

another RDot fan, but I've found better powder (power pistol) for jacketed pistol slugs. better results than BEye for cast slugs though.

 

[mgkdrgn]

I've used green dot for 12g, 45Colt, 9mm, 30 carbine.

It's not the -perfect- powder (doesn't meter all that well), but it does work reasonably well.

 

[oneounceload]

Clays burns VERY clean and will not leave plastic in your barrel

 

[lhead71]

Clays or Clays universal. Both great, I have found the Clays universal to burn a little cleaner.

 

[Shmackey]

Clays. Why shoot .38 Super that slow, though?

 

[CatsEye]

You might try Solo 1000. It is a shotgun powder that has become very poular for pistol rounds in the competition circles.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Universal would get you much better performance in the Super than Clays or Red Dot.

 

[evan price]

Titegroup would work here too.

125-gr FMJ with about 4.7 grains should hit 1100 or reasonably close to it, and it's not a max loading in 38 Super.
Shotgun data is in the Hodgdon data center. Worth a look.

 

[TonyT]

Red Dot would work for both for the specific load requirements you describe. It is not the cleanest burning but will work. At omne time Hercules/Alloiant also published shotshell data for Bullsete but I have not seen anyh recently.
I shoot mild loads of 38 Super in my S&W686 and S&W627 using WST which is clean burning and would also work in 12 ga.