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I have been shooting more and more trap and sc lately, so I am thinking about reloading for my 12 ga target guns. I currently load for my 28 ga and have been using 20/28 powder when I can find it. It has worked well. I also reload for my 16 ga and have been using PB for 3/4 and 7/8 oz loads (I think I have about 3 lbs left). I know there are published loads for 16 ga using 20/28 powder, but I haven't tried any yet.

Is my understanding right that PB has been discontinued? If so, here is my question, what is a good powder for loading light/target loads in 16 ga and 12 ga? I am thinking about 7/8 oz for the 16 and perhaps 1 or 1 1/8 oz for the 12? Thanks.

Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 1338

what Mike said is the best ... if you HAVE to , Red Dot , Unique , Int Clays , Clays ,700x ,your PB ,Clay Dot ,, any of the fast to med speed powders can work . i used RD in my 28 with 9/16 shot all summer for skeet . The boys can chime in . Generally , any 12 ga target powder can slide down to 16 if you are careful .

I would like to continue to use PB, but if it has been discontinued, then I need to search for another. I know buying powder now is hit or miss. You can certainly find odd lots on line from time to time, but then the Hazmat fees add to the price. I may give Green Dot a try.

American Select is another powder that will do the job in both 12 & 16.

Whoops , forgot about that one DC ... Alliant powder has been showing up here of late about once a mo , need tyo ask about that one . Very similar to GD ! I don't know what's with Hodgdon , but there has been nothing here !

Member Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 401 Location: Tennessee

I think you need a heavier load for RD in a 16 or it will shoot pretty dirty. I thought PB was cleaner then GD in the same loading of 11/16- 7/8. It really is 'whatever you can find' though. I had some 410 powder and made an off hand comment at work and a guy bought it from me on the spot! Works for handgun too.

Member Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 401 Location: Tennessee

I'm not concerned with 'dirty', the next shot pushes the dirt out. I would just like to see a safe load published, once I have a benchmark I can extrapolate and send the results off to be tested. If someone else has already done this, so much the better, it will save me time and money.

The only problem with a lot of our data is that they were done with old components . RP Rems , AA wads etc . Now if you can get into old hunters data , you'll see some loads in almost all cases . 1 oz or 11/8 generally . You should have no trouble taking , say , a 1oz loads with an rp and dropping it down to 7/8 with an SP and filler ... I had to experiment with RD this summer because of all the med powder supply drying up . What I ended up with is 13.5 RD , dr , rgl , and 3/4 or 23 grams (just a little lite of 7/8 ) . Works wonderfully and I feel on the light side of loads . Shot a ton . Also shot 12grns RD in the 20ga HS with 5/8 and 10 grns RD in a 28 with 9/16 using BP's sporting wads . Shot a ton . For 16 , I'd take 14grns in an RGL , and a light 7/8 , and 15 grns in a fed/ Chedd with the same payload and send them to Tom . You may have to use BP wads which are mainly Gualandi or dr's. Sometimes on really GOOD sales ! But , they are made for a diff croud than what we are used to , and I've really come to like them ! We can make loads for just about ANYTHING 16 nowadays !( still working on that 1 3/ Cool

Member Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Posts: 829 Location: SW Ohio

Member Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Posts: 829 Location: SW Ohio

Here is the info for the Extra-lite loads I had tested

Cheddite hull
Win 209 primer
13.7 gr Extra-lite-hand measured
DR-16
3/4oz of 7.5 shot-hand weighed.
6 fold crimp

Vel pressure
1272 10600
1284 10500
1287 10700
1279 10400
1278 10420

ave 1278 10420
ev 16 800

I ended up staying with Intl clays for my 3/4 oz loads as I had some (still do), but no longer load the 16 ga for clay targets. Most of my clay shooting is done with my 12 auto.
All my 16g a guns are too light for a lot of clay shooting. So I use them occasionally to make sure the light weight does not make me swing too aggressively.

My first load I had tested was 14.5 gr of powder and the pressures were 10800-12000, so a bit over pressure. That will tell you there is a small amount of wiggle room for powder drops.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2169 Location: Florida

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

rdja - how dirty is that extralite load? I found 4 pounds of it but haven't loaded it in 12 gauge due to the horror stories.
Thanks,
Jeff