Looking for a new powder for 12 gauge loads

[bernie]

I have reloaded my 12 gauge shells for almost 20 years now. I have never really used anything besides Red, Green, and Blue dot, but cold weather can have detrimental effects on them. What would be a good powder for a 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 ounce 2 3/4" 12 gauge pheasant load. I know there are lots of opinions and I am simply asking for some!

Thanks

 

[ReloaderFred]

I've had good luck with 700X, but there are some newer powders on the market now that might serve your purpose even better. I know Hodgdon and some of the other powder companies have a lot of data on their websites.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Galil5.56]

If you want to stick with one propellant, Unique works well for both in my experience for fast 1 1/8 oz, and many 1220 fps 1 1/4 oz loads (not the customary 1330 fps "Pheasant loads") and I believe some old 1330 fps data exists for Unique too. When I want to go with one propellant for each for all temp performance, it's usually International Clays for fast 1 1/8 oz, HS-6/WW540 for 1330 fps 1 1/4 oz. Note, the HS-6 is FILTHY at about any temp if that matters, but works well enough.

 

[rg1]

I've tried to simplify my powder choices for 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 oz field loads and have switched to Winchester Super Target and Super Field and have been pleased with the results. Used to use Blue Dot but mainly Win 540 for
1 1/4 oz loads but they discontinued 540 and 571. I understand that HS6 is the same as 540 and HS7 the same as 571 but I think they quit making HS7. Wish they would leave well enough alone! I've read that a bunch of people are using Hodgdon Longshot powder for high velocity hunting loads. Up to 1500 fps with 1 1/8 oz loads and up to 1400 fps with 1 1/4 oz lead loads using Longshot powder. I'd do some research using Longshot for pheasant loads?

 

[lgbloader]

You may want to look into Herco if you have the proper components.

LGB

 

[bernie]

Have any of you used Longshot? The data looks like it might be what I am really looking for, but I am not one to go out on a limb until someone tells me a little bit about it.

 

[bernie]

Just a quick update. I tried the Longshot in a small batch today. I had 32.0 gr. of Longshot pushing a WTW12 wad and 1 1/8 oz. of hard #5's out of AA hulls. They were death on toast to the squirrels that I nailed while ago. I realize killing squirrels is not much of a test. Next I will chrono them and hit a pattern board with them.