16ga.com ~ View topic - 3/4 oz loads: Aguila & Herters purple 700X & Interna

Running out of Green Dot for 3/4 oz practice loads. Between 700X, International, 572 & American Select the first two made the best stack height with what I have available. Thinking about getting some 3/8" cork to make filler wads...or go the pinto/cocoa puff route.

17 deg F today, bright sun, no reference load today & the loads sat outside from 9 to 12 while I shot a few rounds of skeet. All loads Ch209, SG16, 1/4" Cork Wad, 3/4 oz 8.5 Magnum shot from Turkey, 6 pt crimp.

Aguila 70mm (slight dish on crimp), 16gr 700X
1255, 1233, 1284, 1255, 1269 Avg: 1259.2, ES: 50.81, SD: 16.88

Herters (cheddite) 70mm (deeper dish), 16gr 700X
1260, 1293, 1269, 1261, 1265 Avg: 1270, ES: 33.68, SD: 13.56

Aguila 70mm (slight dish), 20gr International
1353, 1406, 1362, 1374, 1355, Avg: 1370, ES: 52.21. SD: 21.72

Herters (cheddite) 70mm (deeper dish), 20gr International
1333, 1375, 1369, 1365, 1346, Avg: 1358, Es: 42.42, SD 17.52
(I forgot to reset the chrono after the last batch, so these ES & SD numbers are based on the last four shots)

I was really hoping for a 1350-ish 700X load, might bump it up a grain or two at some point, but will be working the International for now. That load is based on a BPI Fiocchi load. Both loads were cleaner in the barrel after the shot than Green Dot. For point of reference, I get about 4 to 6 reloads out of the Aguilas on average, some more, some much less, and I tend to use them past what most people will. For contrast, I get many more reloads out of the older Federals, while the Herters & newer Federals are somewhere in between.

I assume you mean filler with the cork wad . Just cut some in 1/2 for x-tra filler .

That would work, but would be a lot more time between cutting and then grabbing one of each to load.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

I have a tested 7/8 oz. load using 16.0 grains of 700-X @ 1,260 FPS and 8,163 PSI.

You can easily go to 18.0 grains with the load with no problem.

Honestly, the load is too anemic at 16.0 grains, that is why the ho-hum Sd and ES figures, with the cold temps. You really don't want to chrono loads that have sat in the cold that long. 700-X is good, but you still want a baseline to work from. If you want to do a cold soak, sure then leave them out, but you still need a baseline of 70 degree loads.

Leaving them out was my way of seeing realistic conditions for winter practicing. I know that 700x rarely has performance problems but with this light a load and the odd crimps I wanted to make sure. I almost did not make the International loads, but I am down to my last box of Green Dot loads so this was a Hail Mary and I want to practice a few days and nights before the match on Saturday. I intend to test again in warmer temps to see how consistent the loads are.

As a side note, one of the guys I regularly shoot with had scored an old 12# can (yes, can) of 700x. His loads are a bit smoky, and we kid him about it being a black powder or bug killer powder, but he regularly shoots 50s with it. Can’t argue with success.

I appreciate any comments or suggestions, and posting here may also help someone else looking for a similar load. A 1260 load probably would be fine, if it weren’t for my brain second guessing on station.