Powder choices for 20 ga. loads

[fastdadio]

I'm not new to reloading, but I am new to shotgun reloading. I want to start loading my 20 ga. for round balls and buck shot with deer and yotes as primary game. I just got a Lee Load All and the BPI coyote loading manual. A lot of choices in there, plus I've been looking at the Alliant load data on line.
Point me in the right direction guys, I would like to choose a versatile powder that will carry me across a wide variety of loads. Every thing I load will be for hunting or maybe defense, so no need for the lighter end, but I would like to keep my pressures below, say, 10,500 psi just to be safe. It's time to reach for my wallet, and I'd like to get this right the first time.
Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

[Hogtamer]

Look at lots of data for the size load you are most likely to shoot (7/8, 1 oz, etc) and the kind of hulls you are most likely to use. And 20 ga loads are generally higher pressure shells than 12 ga. Having said that, Longshot is pretty versatile but DOES NOT play well in the Load-all. The powder reacts with that particular plastic composition. If you use it always dump the powder and remove the charge bar and bushings to clean.

[SuperBlazingSabots]

Greetings Fastdadio, you indeed made the best choice going for 20 gauge High power Nitro Express, go with Lee .575 inch RB mold for $20 from MidSouth shooters a double cavity mold, can't beat that price. Check my post here and let the fun begin:
https://imgur.com/gwDLnyN
Once you get to be good with the RB load then you can switch over to a much heavier bullet:
https://i.imgur.com/gR7fkdb.jpg
Now this is a heavy load and deadly, will kick like a mule from a modern 20 gauge.
https://i.imgur.com/oVzLBlV.jpg

Start with .575 RB and go ahead and read my post.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?150140-VdoMemorie-Blazing-Sabot!

Hoping it helps.

Best regards,
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

[fastdadio]

Look at lots of data for the size load you are most likely to shoot (7/8, 1 oz, etc) and the kind of hulls you are most likely to use. And 20 ga loads are generally higher pressure shells than 12 ga. Having said that, Longshot is pretty versatile but DOES NOT play well in the Load-all. The powder reacts with that particular plastic composition. If you use it always dump the powder and remove the charge bar and bushings to clean.

From the reading I've done, I think I'm looking for straight, non-tapered hulls. Thanks for the advice about leaving the powder in the hopper. Although I never do that, it's good to know. I'll be starting out loading singles and dipping/weighing my powder and shot until I find something that works. Then I'll set up and punch a bunch.

[6pt-sika]

When I started loading for the 20 about thirty five years ago I used WIN 473AA then the stopped selling that and I went to WIN Super Field . Stopped for awhile and when I started back it was with SR7625 . Now I use SR7625 for slugs and buckshot . For skeet/bird loads I use Unique or Universal Clays mostly but I have Red Dot and Green Dot that might get worked in the equation along with Blue Dot for stouter loads and the relatively new WIN 572 . Why so many different powders you may ask ? When the Bastid ahead of Trump was in office I bought what I could get in anticipation of the witch being elected . Now I have many options for all gauges and I load them all 10 , 12 , 16 , 20 , 28 and the 410 . Just let me say I’ve got enough powder to keep me in business for a good long while on the skeet/trap/sporting/bird fields and chasing deer .

[Petander]

Greetings Fastdadio, you indeed made the best choice going for 20 gauge High power Nitro Express, go with Lee .575 inch RB mold for $20 from MidSouth shooters a double cavity mold, can't beat that price. Check my post here and let the fun begin:
https://imgur.com/gwDLnyN
Once you get to be good with the RB load then you can switch over to a much heavier bullet:
https://i.imgur.com/gR7fkdb.jpg
Now this is a heavy load and deadly, will kick like a mule from a modern 20 gauge.
https://i.imgur.com/oVzLBlV.jpg

Start with .575 RB and go ahead and read my post.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?150140-VdoMemorie-Blazing-Sabot!

Hoping it helps.

Best regards,
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

Now this is just what I've been looking for! Thanks a lot. Ordered it from Titan right away.

I can not help with loads,not yet. But I will have some tested data for Vihtavuori powders later this year.

I load various slugs,balls,buck and TSS in 20 gauge w/ Vihtavuori but I'm still working on everything.

[fastdadio]

Greetings Fastdadio, you indeed made the best choice going for 20 gauge High power Nitro Express, go with Lee .575 inch RB mold for $20 from MidSouth shooters a double cavity mold, can't beat that price.
Start with .575 RB and go ahead and read my post.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?150140-VdoMemorie-Blazing-Sabot!
Hoping it helps.

Best regards,
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

Hi Ajay, Thanks for posting. I've bookmarked most of your threads and am reading them. I have the Lee .575 rb mold, I've been shooting in my .58 cal. Hawken rifle for 40 years. Besides the round ball load, I want to try loading the Lyman 575494, 315 gr. swchb. I suspect most of the heavy loads you've listed are best shot through a rifled barrel. I have a smooth bore, and I have a feeling this lighter slug and the round balls may do well through the Carlsons rifled choke tube at 1/35 twist.

[SuperBlazingSabots]

Greetings Fastdadio, I was happy to know that you already have the .575 RB mold and very familiar with that RB capability.
Yes indeed your Carlson rifled choke will do good by you. Its not only fun to shoot .575 but can be very deadly, just aim for solid bones and it will act like a bulldozer.
Now I'll throw-in the hot package, read it carefully and follow the picture.
Pressure signs, watch out for them:
https://i.imgur.com/hxkVS2R.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/M559kBH.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/btcqbR9.jpg
These are fine and no pressure signs.
https://i.imgur.com/71YM8bt.jpg

A treat for 20 ga Heavy Nitro Express
Watch it brother, they are indeed hot and will kill anything in North America:
https://i.imgur.com/4IPllGa.jpg
Cut down the powder charge by 10 % and load one load at a time by increasing the charge by 1/2 gr at a time using Newer Fiocchi hulls.
Please do not forget to measure your barrel OD at the muzzle, its important for your safety too. There are plenty of guns out there that have paper thin barrels ! !
We come here to help but not get anyone of your friends hurt, indeed we are playing with fire ! !
**--**Guess what you made me feel good with your kind words, thank you.
Best regards,
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

[dverna]

Unless SBS's loads are also verified with published data, I suggest you would be wise to avoid them. Same advice for any other source that is not factory.

Shotguns are not like rifles or pistols. You can get overpressure very quickly and there is less room or error.

There are slug/ball shooters who want to push the limit....and they do.

BTW, I agree with HT...Longshot is a good one to start with.

[fastdadio]

Unless SBS's loads are also verified with published data, I suggest you would be wise to avoid them. Same advice for any other source that is not factory.

Shotguns are not like rifles or pistols. You can get overpressure very quickly and there is less room or error.

There are slug/ball shooters who want to push the limit....and they do.

BTW, I agree with HT...Longshot is a good one to start with.

I know what ya mean. There's some pretty hot data floating around out there. For my purpose, a round ball at about 1200 fps. will do all I need it to, and all my buckshot data will come from the book. The only Longshot data I've found is from the Hodgdson site and I find their listings pretty vague. I found 1 Longshot load for 20 ga. in the BPI coyote load book. Not real happy with that manual and I think BPI owes me about half my money back. The Alliant load data is thorough and everything I'm interested in takes me to Bluedot, which is very close on the burn chart to Longshot. So I think that's where I'm going with this project.

[Petander]

BPI Buckshot manual lists Steel as a powder for heavy 20 gauge payloads. Like 500+ grains @ 1200+ fps. Their Advantages manual has quite a bit of heavy Steel loads as well.

How do people like Steel in 20 gauge? I'm interested even though I use Vihtavuori. I have some data for VV N105.k

[Hogtamer]

http://www.tsn.biella.it/armi/ManualiRicarica/Hodgdon%20Basic%20Manual.pdf
start on page 57

[Petander]

http://www.tsn.biella.it/armi/ManualiRicarica/Hodgdon%20Basic%20Manual.pdf
start on page 57

234664

[fastdadio]

http://www.tsn.biella.it/armi/ManualiRicarica/Hodgdon%20Basic%20Manual.pdf
start on page 57

Very nice. This data looks more comprehensive than the Alliant site. Wonder why this never popped up for me before? I guess my google-foo is weak, or I should post up belly-aching more often.
Thanks Hogtamer.
:bigsmyl2:

[Minerat]

Back when I started in 69 I used SR4756 in my 20 gave highest velocity with 1oz loads in 2.75" loads in WW compression formed shells.

[fastdadio]

http://www.tsn.biella.it/armi/ManualiRicarica/Hodgdon%20Basic%20Manual.pdf
start on page 57

I started on page 57. After a couple days of digesting all the info, I've decided that, yup, Longshot it is.
Thanks again.