reloading questions

Rusty Trigger

Rusty Trigger

Member
I have a couple thousand Rem STS 12 ga hulls that I would like to reload. I plan on loading with 1 1/4 ounce lead in 7.5 and 8's for target loads. Looking to keep them in the 1200 to 1250 fps range. My question is, how to decide recipe for load? Do you determine wad or powder type? Seems to be the biggest choice of wads. Also would like to use a clean burning powder, not sure if all powders are equal.

Thanks
 
I haven't reloaded shotgun shells in quite a few years so don't have any good recipes for you. But the various reloading component companies use to publish books with different loads and wads. I'm sure someone on this site will have what you are looking for. My question is why 1 1/4 oz for target loads? 1 1/8 oz. is kind of the standard target/trap load. That's what I use to reload for trap. 1 1/8 oz. of shot in a Winchester AA hull with a Win WAA12 wad. Not sure on the powder but they were around 1,200 fps.

Check out this Hodgdon site. You can enter various components and they will give you loads and velocity. http://data.hodgdon.com/shotshell_load.asp
 
I agree with Zeb, I dont see the utility in 1 1/4 oz target loads unless you like to waste money and get your bell rung evertime you pull the trigger. However, 1 1/4 oz field loads might be interesting. I would caution you against getting your "recipes" from folks on the internet. I shoot competitively and have run across too many shooters that are pushing the limits with loads. There are a ton of books out there and every powder company has a recipe list. To get the most bang for your buck so to speak I would recommend buying Allient Promo powder and reclaimed shot from you local gun club. Have fun.
 
I found the load I use to load for taget/trap. I used Winchester AA hulls, WAA12 wads, Win 209 primer and 18 gr. of Red Dot powder. This is kind of the standard trap load with 1 1/8 oz of shot and will get you 1,200 fps.

I found about the same load for your Remington STS hulls, a Winchester WAA12 wad, a Remington 209P primer, 18.3 gr. of Red Dot powder and 1 1/8 oz. of shot.

Make sure you use hard lead shot.

You can find this load data and many more at http://www.alliantpowder.com/
 
I've been reloading for years both 12 and 20 gauge. Rarely do I load anything but 1oz harden lead for clays in my 12 gauge. With the cost of lead these days those 1/8 and 1/4 oz differences do add up. I have been using Clays (Hodgdon) for the 12 gauge. When you look down the barrel it looks "clean" but when you start cleaning it the residue it leaves is like a smooth film so it shows up on your patch. I shoot out of a O/U so "clean" is not much of an issue as compaired to an auto loader.
As mentioned above, Hodgdon has a great website to go to and input your knowns and get some recipies. I suspect the other manufacturere have something similar.
Happy shootin!:cheers:
 
Have been reloading Shotgun Shells since I was a kid. In addition to the above comments.
You might want to consider getting several receipts.
Then taking a few shells in each load.
Then take a piece of paper with a 30" circle on it with a large + through the circle
Then shoot each load at a separate piece target.
Then count your shot holes and notice which area has the most holes or is the pattern nice and consistent.
The above is a lot of work, but I will promise you that if you take the above steps with each shotgun/choke you choose to use. You will find A LOT more dead birds and busted clays.
One thing that I have noticed with reloading is sometimes people think the faster the better, but what will happen sometimes is you will literally blow your pattern apart. So you might have a pattern with a large "hole" in the middle of it.
But if you are willing to take the time to reload, you can get a perfectly matched shell to your shotgun.
 
+1 on 1 1/8 or even 1 oz loads, and save the 1 1/4 oz for hunting. Unless you have a fussy auto, most 1 oz loads in the 1200-1250 should cycle OK. If not, the 1 1/8 oz loads should.

Since you can't buy the old-style AA's anymore, the STS hulls are the best hulls for loading now. DownRange makes some great wads too. I use the DR XL-1, American Select, and 209P with STS hulls for a great 1 oz clays load at 1250 that cycles a Benelli SBE II and Browning Maxus.

Hodgdon Clays/Alliant E3/AlliantAmerican Select are three of the cleanest burning powders available, BUT not the cheapest.

www.hodgdon.com 913-362-9455
www.alliantpowder.com 800-276-9337
www.downrangemfg.com
 
Thanks guys. Shooting an o/u, so cycling is not an issue, just figured I could use a cleaner burn so that there is less build up or unburnt powder. Makes since to shoot lighter for target loads. So, with the hull type, speed and load, the other choices are powder brand, primer and wads. Seems the biggest selection comes down to wads. So, between the given list of loads for the first three knowns, would one decide on load based on wad? I would think the wad has a pretty big impact on pattern. Or is it all the above per gun/choke?
 
It is my experience that the wad does have a impact on the pattern. But I would not expect the same wad shot in a say a Beretta O/U to perform the same as one from a semi auto.
If I were starting out with a new recipe for a new gun. I would work with different wads first. But at all times I follow the instructions from the manufacturer.
 
When you are looking in the load guides pay attention to the pressures given for different combo's. Auto's need pressure to cycle, but your O/U can run OK on lower pressures for less recoil. Keep your loads above 7000 psi so they burn clean. Stay under 9500-10,000 psi to keep the recoil down.

My load mentioned above runs 8700 psi, is real clean, and won't beat you up in the shoulder. It patterns well too. Most target loads pattern best at 1250 fps and under. I shoot some 7/8 oz loads at 1200-1250 that are nice in a light O/U.
 
To add a couple things to above:
Get a scale so you can double check how much powder your reloader drops for a specific bushing. Depending on the powder, it may not match what your bushing chart says.

Try to use the same stroke every time to get a consistent powder drop.

With my MEC Grabber and 9000G I like Rem. STS/Nitro hulls the best. If I use the newer style Win AA hulls (HS) I need to adjust the crimping stations some.

You will generally find that the aftermarket wad makers offer better pricing than the factory brands. I was using the Duster brand but have switched to Downrange the last 5 years-XL-1 (lime green) for 1 oz loads and XL-1 1/8 (blue) for 1-1/8. I've been using Hogdon's Clays for the last 7 years. Popular 12 GA powders have been (not in order) Clays, Alliant 700X, Red Dot.

Try to standardize on recipes. Ask around at local shooting clubs to see where members buy components. You can usually do much better that way than by buying at the Big Box stores.

I load for trap, sporting clays, and hunting. I find it relaxing--at least until I miss noticing that a primer didn't drop and I get powder everywhere. You'll also find a lot of advice on the ShotgunWorld forum.

Good luck.
P.O.L.
 
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