Shotgun reloading

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Lyman's 49th edition Shotshell Manual is highly recommended. I don't shoot a lot of shotshells but I've narrowed my powders down to two. I like Winchester Super Target for 1 1/8 oz. 12 ga.. loads and Winchester Super Field for up to 1 1/4 oz. 12 ga. hunting loads. Win Super Field also works in some 20 ga. loads. There are a lot of good shotshell powders and you need a manual to pick lighter loads or heavier loads plus you have to use the exact components, hull, wad, powder, primer, shot charge and you do not work up like in rifle or pistol loads. Hodgdon and Alliant powder companies have load data on-line.
 
Depends on the load which depends on what you want to do with it.

For 16 yd trap and skeet, 3/4,7/8 or at most 1 ounce loads all work fine, it depends on how much money you want to spend to do the same thing. For those loads, Clays, Clay Dot, Red Dot, Promo, Titewad, Extra Lite is good.

For Sporting Clays a heavier load is probably desired and you will do with a medium speed powder such as Universal, Unique, Green Dot

For hunting, a full load is probably what you want so you would go with a slower powder.

Check out Alliant powder or Hodgdon's website for various loads.
Remember, use the specific weight, hull, powder, primer and wad listed because pressures can vary all over the place and changing any could result in either "poof" loads that leave a lot of soot, unburned powder and inconsistent velocities or a damaged gun.
 
RS is right, It depends on what you are doing. My skeet load is 3/4 oz #8's with 18.5g Clay Dot, Claybuster 3/4oz wad, Cheddite primer and either AA or Rem STS hulls. The dark grey AA last forever I've loaded some more than 15 times. For Sporting Clays I use 1 oz #7 1/2 just change the wad. My hunting loads I use only Blue Dot. For 2 3/4 hulls I use 36g Blue Dot and 1 1/2 oz of 6's or 4's for 3" hulls I use 39g Blue Dot and 1 3/4 oz of 6's or 4's
 
Since my shotgun reloading and use is relegated to trap and light field loads, I get away with two powders:
- Green Dot
- IMR SR4756
 
Shotgun loading is all about following the 'recipe'. Get some loading manuals for shotgun and follow those recipes. Every component matters and they're not plug-n-play-mix-n-match. Powder selection depends on wads, hulls, primers, lead size/weight, etc.

With that said, Unique works in many applications, as does Red Dot, Clays and others.

Take a look at the Hodgdon website's loaddata for shotshell and you'll see what I mean.
 
I shoot a LOT of sporting clays every year- typically anywhere from 12-15,000 in 12 gauge per year . Red dot, clays, clay dot, promo, extra lite, and a few others for target loads ranging from 3/4 to 1/1/8 oz. heavier hunting loads will use different powders, wads and shot drops.

Hodgdon and alliant both have online recipes for many applications
 
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