Pet Trap and or Skeet loads 12 or 20 gauge.

[Fishingted]

I am getting ready to start doing some more shotgun shell reloading again. My go to load for Trap for 12 gauge is 21 gr. Green Dot under 1 1/8 oz. of 7 1/2 or 8s pellet. I do have a couple pounds of green dot as well as other powders for target load. Those include Unique, and Red Dot. I have loaded target trap and Skeet loads with all these powders except the green dot. I use primarily Blue Dot and, and lately Long shot for my 12 gauge 1 1/4 oz hunting loads with either 6s or 5s. These run at 1330 and close to 1500 repectively. I am running low of 7 1/2 pellet but have plenty of 8s.
This will be my first time loading for the 20 gauge so I am very intersted in whatever target or hunting loads the Sages here might suggest. I have a Mec Size Master press for both the 12 gauge and the 20. As well as a Mec Mark 5 that I have been loading on for many years that I use primarily for my 12 gauge hunting Loads Now. I only load 2-3/4 inch in either 20 or 12 gauge. Use Winchester standard 209 primers excusively. Any Help Greatly appreciated Thanks.

 

[Barbaroja]

What wads and hulls do you have for 20ga?
I don’t play shotgun games but I’ve got some good hunting loads I’ve worked up in 20ga.

 

[Charlie98]

All the years I loaded 12ga, I loaded the standard 1 1/8oz #7.5 shot load over 12.2grn WST (going off memory, here...) and a WAA12 wad in AA hulls. Don't know what the velocity was, but it seemed like a good performer. I still have about 800 rounds loaded upstairs.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Never loaded 20 gauge but here is what Alliant recommends.
https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloa...rs/powderlist.aspx&type=2&powderid=5&gauge=20

 

[unwashed]

I've been shooting trap for many years with my kids, 12ga for me and my son and 20ga for my daughter. The 12ga gets 2.75" Win AA hulls, CB1118-12 (WAA12) wads, Fed 209A primers, 18grs of Green Dot under 1 1/8 oz #7.5 shot. IMO the listed 21 grs for Green Dot is to much and I have reduced it to my current 18 grs, it's softer on the shoulder and doesn't effect the performance or distance.

The 20ga gets, 2.75" Win AA hulls, CB1078-20 (WAA20) wads, Fed 209A primers, 12 grs of Green Dot under 7/8 oz of #7.5 shot. Iirc this 12 grs is reduced also from the listing.

BTW Both shotguns have skeet chokes, so with that said, distance is moot.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I shot a perfect Bunk Trap about 2 years ago. Best feeling ever!

Walmart Shells
A400 Excel

Life caught up and zero time to shoot

 

[cfullgraf]

I shoot only skeet

For 20 ga. reloads, I use WWAA hulls, Alliant 20/28 Powder, the appropriate wad, 7/8 oz. shot. I pick a powder charge that is supposed to get me 1200 fps velocity.

I've used Unique in the past with the appropriate components but Alliant does not have a recipe for the new HS hulls. Maybe there might be some recipes for other brands of hulls.

For 12 ga., I generally load 1 oz or 7/8 oz loads in WWAA hulls depending on what components are available along with the appropriate powder and wad combination. Again, 1200 fps is the target velocity. I've used several different powders.

For both, I prefer #9 shot but it is not always available. #8 is the next with #7-1/2 last. My Dillon SL900 has adjustable charge bar for the shot so I can dial in the appropriate weight regardless of the shot size.

I cannot help you trap.

 

[Fishingted]

What wads and hulls do you have for 20ga?
I don’t play shotgun games but I’ve got some good hunting loads I’ve worked up in 20ga.

I have 20 gauge winchester super target 7/8 oz shells and Estate Heavy game load 1oz shells that I intend to shoot and reload. Wad wise I only have claybuster CB1078-20 7/8 oz. and a half bag of remington SP20S 1 oz. Willing to buy some more and different wads if need be. Like I said new to loading for the 20. Thanks for the Help,

 

[milsurpguy]

All the years I loaded 12ga, I loaded the standard 1 1/8oz #7.5 shot load over 12.2grn WST (going off memory, here...) and a WAA12 wad in AA hulls. Don't know what the velocity was, but it seemed like a good performer. I still have about 800 rounds loaded upstairs.

I want to say my wst load is 11.8gr for the same shot weight, hull and wad. If I remember correctly the max load is several grains above that.
11.8gr Velocity is barely supersonic out of a 28 inch barrel.
Always wanted to load them a little hotter but I never did.

 

[entropy]

12 ga. Trap loads:
18.4 gr. Green dot, DRRF8 or DR XL1 1/8 wad, Win. 209 primer, STS or Nitro 27 hull, 1 1/8 oz. of 7 1/2's (or 8's if no 7 1/2's available) @1145 fps.

19 gr. Green Dot, DRA-12 (bronze) wad, Win. 209 primer, AA HS hull, 1 1/8 oz. of 7 1/2's or 8's. @1200 fps

21 gr. Green Dot, WAA-12 wad, WIn. 209 primer, AA CF hull, 1 1/8 oz. of 7 1/2's or 8's. @1275 fps

I don't load the last load anymore; I was trying to duplicate the factory AA Handicap load (Which BTW is 20.4 gr. of WSH, WAA-12 wad, win. 209, and 1 1/8 oz 7 1/2's or 8's.), but I found the 1200 fps load was more than sufficient for 25 yards and back.

Sorry I can't help you with 20 loads; I've only loaded 12 ga.

 

[Random 8]

I burn a lot of Red Dot in 12 GA. My "standard" load is 17.5-18.5 gr (depending on hull and purpose) with a Claybuster either WSL or WL (depending on hull) and 1 ounce of #8. I use mostly Gold Medal and Rem STS hulls, but also use a few different "free" kinds that my local gun club throws away. Estate, Federal discount paper and plastic base, Rio and Fiocchi. I usually use those for one and done shooting of sporting clays and skeet with my automatic. The heavier charge of Red Dot is used in these to feed my automatic for sporting clays and skeet, as it will not cycle reliably at the slower speeds. I'm running exclusively Nobel Sport primers.

The WSL wad is a fit for 1 ounce in the GM, STS and the older paper based Federal cheap shells. The W12L grey is a fit in the Fiocchi, Rio, and newer Federal promo plastic base, both with 1 oz. I use the 17.5 gr load for 16 yard trap, and the heavier load for Spt and Skeet in deference to the fussy automatic.

I also shoot occasional handicap trap and some heavier sporting clays loads. For this, I load the WSL equivalent in a Rio style hull with 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 over 18 gr Red Dot. The 6 point crimp really sets well on these shells and helps to diferentiate between my standard loads.

 

[Fishingted]

I've been shooting trap for many years with my kids, 12ga for me and my son and 20ga for my daughter. The 12ga gets 2.75" Win AA hulls, CB1118-12 (WAA12) wads, Fed 209A primers, 18grs of Green Dot under 1 1/8 oz #7.5 shot. IMO the listed 21 grs for Green Dot is to much and I have reduced it to my current 18 grs, it's softer on the shoulder and doesn't effect the performance or distance.

The 20ga gets, 2.75" Win AA hulls, CB1078-20 (WAA20) wads, Fed 209A primers, 12 grs of Green Dot under 7/8 oz of #7.5 shot. Iirc this 12 grs is reduced also from the listing.

BTW Both shotguns have skeet chokes, so with that said, distance is moot.

First thanks for the great info. I will try both loads for sure. Interesting thing about the reduced green dot 12 gauge load. Never thought about reducing it because I normaly only shoot autos and never had any recoil issues in those guns, BUT I recently aquired a couple vintage 1952 and a 1947 Ithaca model 37 pumps. The 1947 is choked modified. The 1952 has a Vented Poly choke. I have pattern tested both guns with 1 oz 1200 fps loads. Both patterned well in the Bead. But I had a noticible reduction in recoil with the vented Polly Choked Barrel on the 1952 gun. It was actually very pleasant to shoot. Would really like to play with that polly choke more on trap and skeet as well as some hunting. That reduced green dot load may just be the ticket. Probably be Nice in the autos as well.

 

[Fishingted]

I burn a lot of Red Dot in 12 GA. My "standard" load is 17.5-18.5 gr (depending on hull and purpose) with a Claybuster either WSL or WL (depending on hull) and 1 ounce of #8. I use mostly Gold Medal and Rem STS hulls, but also use a few different "free" kinds that my local gun club throws away. Estate, Federal discount paper and plastic base, Rio and Fiocchi. I usually use those for one and done shooting of sporting clays and skeet with my automatic. The heavier charge of Red Dot is used in these to feed my automatic for sporting clays and skeet, as it will not cycle reliably at the slower speeds. I'm running exclusively Nobel Sport primers.

The WSL wad is a fit for 1 ounce in the GM, STS and the older paper based Federal cheap shells. The W12L grey is a fit in the Fiocchi, Rio, and newer Federal promo plastic base, both with 1 oz. I use the 17.5 gr load for 16 yard trap, and the heavier load for Spt and Skeet in deference to the fussy automatic.

I also shoot occasional handicap trap and some heavier sporting clays loads. For this, I load the WSL equivalent in a Rio style hull with 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 over 18 gr Red Dot. T very wellhe 6 point crimp really sets well on these shells and helps to diferentiate between my standard loads.

Great Info. I also Burn a lot of red dot on my 1 oz loads for my autos. Fortunatly my old skb 900 XLs are not very fussy and will cycle even the lightest of loads, But I still run test rounds just to make sure. Running short on 7-1/2s but have plenty of 8s. Do Like the lartger shot in the 1-1/8 loads. Got 4 bags of hard 6s at a gunshow cheap this last weekend. Hope to find maybe a trade for some 7-1/2s. Last I seen were like 50 bucks a bag.

 

[George P]

For 20 gauge, I use Universal and 3/4oz of shot; typically about 16.5 grains and run them a little fast to get a good burn
For 12 gauge, I use either Titewad or Extra Lite and 3/4oz of shot and run them at 1275 (chronographed)- those will run my Beretta gas guns
By going 1 .005 constriction tighter than what I normally would have used, I get great patterns AND 533 loads from a bag of very expensive shot

 

[Blue68f100]

Cant help you since I have always used W540 (HS6) for my 20 ga. Winchester use to publish what the factory loads were in the free load book. I normally shoot a heavy field with #6 shot for the tree rats, 7 1/2 for the birds.

 

[Fishingted]

Cant help you since I have always used W540 (HS6) for my 20 ga. Winchester use to publish what the factory loads were in the free load book. I normally shoot a heavy field with #6 shot for the tree rats, 7 1/2 for the birds.

Use 6s myself for tree Rats Too. And about everything else hunting wise as well.

 

[GE-Mini-Gun]

I rarely shoot trap, only because out of all the shotgun games it’s mind numbingly boring to me…mainly shoot 5-stand, skeet and sporting…in that order. My go too loads are 3/4oz. in both 12 an 20…Claybuster wads for both and Clay Dot powder for 12 and 20/28 for the 20. I’m about 95% in skeet and 5-stand with either, sporting in the 80’s% range. When I do shoot trap I’m in the 90’s% at 16yds, as we back up I have to choke 2 tighter than everybody else, but doesn’t seems to hurt my scores…I can count the number of times I’ve shot trap on one hand last year…skeet and 5-stand I’m just under 6k for this year.

 

[unwashed]

I rarely shoot trap, only because out of all the shotgun games it’s mind numbingly boring to me…mainly shoot 5-stand, skeet and sporting…in that order. My go too loads are 3/4oz. in both 12 an 20…Claybuster wads for both and Clay Dot powder for 12 and 20/28 for the 20. I’m about 95% in skeet and 5-stand with either, sporting in the 80’s% range. When I do shoot trap I’m in the 90’s% at 16yds, as we back up I have to choke 2 tighter than everybody else, but doesn’t seems to hurt my scores…I can count the number of times I’ve shot trap on one hand last year…skeet and 5-stand I’m just under 6k for this year.

You are correct, trap can get a little boring but I do it for a day out with my kids. We use to set up our clay shooter so it would throw left to right for a little more challenging shots. But with all the new gun owners we never seem to have the range to ourselves anymore.