Hi all

[No Deer]

Hi. New to board. Looking for a light load for my 1889 12 ga. double. I currently shoot black powder loads, but would like to find a good low pressure smokeless powder load. I would use it mostly for trap shooting, and maybe some hunting. I shoot mostly muzzle loaders, so I don't have a lot of experience with smokeless loads.

[dieNusse1]

I have three 1 oz. loads less than or equal to 5000 psi. It's my understanding that these powders may be out of production but here goes. I still find them at auctions and farm sales now and then.

AA case, WAA12 wad, 209W primer and 24 gr. PB
AA case, CB4100 wad, 209W primer and 23.5 gr. 7625
Federal Paper Champion case, Fed 12S3 wad, 209W primer and 25 gr. 7625

BP always worked well for me but such a mess to clean.

[No Deer]

Thanks. I usually use black powder, but like you said, smokeless is much easier to clean up. We often shoot trap casually at my club and for those shoots it would be nice to have a quick easy clean up.

[paul harm]

I'm assuming you have a press. If not, a Mec Jr is a good, cheap way to go. You can but them used on e bay. Also, make sure you have a good powder scale - the ditigal ones are cheep and a fast way to measure. I use Cheddite primers and Claybuster wads because they're way cheaper than factory items. For loads, from a data sheet that comes with CB-4100-12 ga wads :
A Rem hull, they show Rem primers but Cheddites can be safely substituted, Red Dot at 17grs - 1200fps, 6800psi
700X at 16grs - 1200fps, 6600psi
Clays at 17grs - 1200fps, 7000psi
Internal at 19.5grs - 1200fps, 7000psi
American Select at 20.5grs - 1300fps, 7700psi I'd use about 19grs to lower the pressure a bit, and you don't need 1300fps. I shoot my old Damascus Remingtons three times a week at SC's and usually use 3/4 oz loads. Claybuster also makes wads for 3/4oz - low pressure, low recoil, and they break clay birds just fine. Oh, the above loads work with Rem or Win shells, which are both a tapered hull, the Fed and imports are a straight walled hull and take a different wad. The PB, 7625, and 4756 aren't being produced any more. If you need more help just ask.

[No Deer]

Thanks for the info. I found an IMR Handloader's Guide and found just what I was looking for. I even have all the components for it lol. Winchester AA shell, Win W209 primer, SR7625 powder (23.5 gr.), Win WAA12SL wad. 1195 fps, 4700 psi. Also going to try 25 gr. of powder, 1255 fps, 5300 psi. Will try these and see if one patterns better than the other. I do have a MEC 600 jr. loader. Having some trouble getting good crimps. Have to keep experimenting to find the right adjustment settings.

[paul harm]

You want the top of the shot about 3/8" below the top of the shell. If you have that and get a hole in the center of a finished shell try more start crimp. It gives the final crimp more material to work with. My start crimp is almost touching. If your components have the shot closer to the top of the shell you won't get about .050 lip, and that's what you're looking for. I use faster burning powders for light loads so there's a little more room for everything.