The Correct Receipe ???

[Shotgun Dave]

Hey Guys !
I want to double check my thinking for reloading Shotgun shells. Particulars are:
MEC Sizemaster Reloader.
Using 1oz-#8 lead shot.
Reloading Rem. STS & Win. AA hulls.
Primers for Win. AA #209
Primers for Rem. STS #209P.
Using Alliant Red Dot Powder.
Wads are CB 1100-12, work in both hulls.
Want to reach 1290 to 1300 FSP.
MEC powder bushing #32, delivers 19.2 grains/slightly under recommendations of the receipe. But Single stage loaders tend to drop slightly higher charges than the progresssive loaders. Want to keep the pressure under 10,000.
Rem. Hulls at 19.7 grains deliver 9,400 PSI.
Win. AA hulls at 19.5 grains deliver 8,900 PSI.
Thinking SAFETY here, even if the bushing delivers slightly higher than the 19.2 grains, I will still be under the receipe recommendations, I hope!
Shooting 1300 fsp helps me on the range by having a more realistic lead on the clays. However, being a novice clay shooter I am still experimenting.
I read Dave McCracken's Reloading 101 on another site and tried to model the comments as much as possible.

Please check my thinking above and don't hesitate to tell me where I am wrong. I appreciate accurate advice.

Thanks, Shotgun Dave

 

[rcmodel]

I can't help with the receipe without spending all morning looking it up.

But I can tell you the actual charge weight a powder bushing drops is entirly dependent on the lot# of the Red-Dot powder you have.

The only sure way to know what a specific bushing is dropping with your specific powder, is to drop a bunch of charges, and weigh them on a reloading scale.

But it has been my experiance that they are usually light, not heavy.

A cheap set of Lee powder scales might answer a lot of questions there.

rc

 

[Shotgun Dave]

Thanks RC,

I did foreget to mention my intent to buy a digital scales to do just that!

Shotgun Dave

 

[NCsmitty]

As rcmodel mentioned, it has been my experience that the single stage bushings do throw lighter charges than what the manual shows. It seems that I always have to go to the next size up to get the recommended charge weight. At least that's what I find with the Mec bushings.
You do need to verify every bushing with the intended powder.

NCsmitty

 

[snuffy]

One thing that HAS to be done when weighing powder charges using single stage shotshell loaders, is; make sure that you are operating the loader just like it will be used. By that I mean, during the full cycle of sizing, priming, then dropping a powder charge. Weigh that one, then replace it in the shell being loaded. Continue loading that shell, then start the next one. When that powder charge is dropped, weigh that one. I'll bet you will see a slight increase in that powder charge.

The reason for this is the vibration of the entire press during the operation of the five stations, settles the powder in the bushing/charge bar. Simply operating the charge bar without going through the process will result in a lighter powder drop than what you would get during the normal operation of the press.

As far as your "recipe", it SOUNDS good, but as RC said, without getting out my Lyman manual, I can't say for sure.

 

[Steve C]

Your component and bushing selections should work fine. I wouldn't worry much about a couple 10ths grain less or more as long as it doesn't exceed the published data. I also wouldn't worry all that much about the velocity as you really don't know what your getting until you run them over the chrono. For the most part with shot shells the faster you pushe them the wider the patern. Safety wise you'll be fine according to the Alliant data sheet, if your bushing information is correct.