[Preacher1011]

I'm getting into reloading and have been talking back and forth to Ned S about reloading steel, but I was wondering what the best powder for reloading lead shot is? Any help would be appreciated, I'm going to pick some powder up tomorrow. Thanks fellas.

 

[lanthanide]

Few things first....

hunting loads or target loads?

What gauge?

How heavy a shot charge?

This will narrow it down a bit for a recommendation.

 

[Alex MacDonald]

Don't get more than a pound to begin, no matter what you're planning in the long run. Load a few boxes-don't forget to label and record. take them out and pattern them, then try other combinations. There's a ton of variables here, and you want to think of it as a system, rather than as a single load. some will shoot poorly, and some will be great in your gun. Once you find a load you enjoy, both with respect to recoil and pattern density, that's when you shell out for the larger size of powder.

Also, be mindful of the pressures, and what type of scattergun you're shooting it in. especially if it's an older gun.

 

[Preacher1011]

Hunting loads out of out of a 835 ulitimag (3.5" chamber) or hunting loads out of a Remmington 11-87 (3" chamber). I'll probably shoot 3" out of the Mossy, and 2 3/4" out of the Remmi for dove. As for the shot charge, that's up for debate. I'm going to tweak with the shot charge, so I'm not real sure about it. Just trying to find a powder.

 

[REDGUN]

Just curious, what are you hunting with 3" LEAD loads. Sandhill crane, turkey??? :huh:

 

[Preacher1011]

Possibly turkey, maybe even crow if I want to have some fun and go for overkill. I doubt I'll use many 3" lead loads, but nice to have to reload if I wanted them. For turkey I use 3.5" usually, but my reloader cant load 3.5's so if I could make a 3" load that out patterns theh 3.5 I'd use it. Doubtfull I will, but you never know. Mostly I'll be doing 2 3/4 for small game and dove. I'd like a powder that will give me a high velocity if I can. I was just curious what everyone else uses.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Your going to find that various powders do various jobs; while I can't say for certain, I doubt that you will find a powder that will do both 2 3/4" game loads and 3" loads efficiently.
I also don't think that reloading 3 or 3.5 inch shells is economically viable anymore, with the current cost of components (esp. lead shot) rising so dramatically.....unless you are shooting a TON of turkeys or are just plain masochistic (to both your pocket book AND your shoulder :rofl: ), you would probably do best to just start out with 2 3/4" game loads.
I have tried most of the powders out there, but I keep coming back to my standbys of Unique, Herco, Green dot, HS6, and Universal. I would STRONGLY suggest that you go to the library and pick up some manuals first and see what you can load up with re: to components available in your area, and what you are looking for in a load. Unfortunately, it's not just as easy as typing in "whats the best....." :wink:

 

[REDGUN]

:thumbsup: As a reloader, i can understand wanting to load ALL of your shells. I personally don't shoot enough turkey shells to even try. After finding a load my gun likes, a box of ten lasts WAY to long! And have you checked lead prices lately??

Ahhh, Crows.... They have just become test subjects for steel waterfowl loads. :yes: :yes: :yes: Let one get close and give em a goose load of BB's from a tight choke!

 

[Preacher1011]

I love hunting crows. I want to load some 3" for them and blast them from an ulti full choke. They'll get out to 50 or so yards and they'll think they've made it away safe, then blam. I just want to imagine them wondering how the heck they got blasted from that far. Might hurt my arm after awhild, but I'll still laugh.

 

[Ned S]

You can use steel for your crow loads, less expensive. Ned S

 

[REDGUN]

My thoughts exactly and any load that should work for ducks can be tested on crows. :thumbsup:

 

[thaner]

For good old light 12 ga. lead hunting and target loads I have always liked 700X and red dot. They make nice 1 and 1 1/8 oz. loads and they are fast clean burning powders. 1 1/8 oz is all you need for most small game. I have long ago lost track of the critters and clays I have shot with those powders. If you start out with red dot and it works out for you and you do a lot of shooting then you can go with Promo. You have to buy that in larger amounts, but it is hard to beat it for cost. 800x is not one of my favorites for lighter loads, but I keep it around and you can load target rounds and up to 1 ¾ oz. in 3" 12 ga. plus small ga. loads in 20 and 28. I even load it in some pistol loads. You can also use 800x in RSI steel loads. A pound of that will always come in handy. Unique is also a good one I keep around with a lot of uses. Universal is one I like for a lot of stuff mostly in the 20 and 28. There are many more good powders, but those are the ones I have shot the most kegs of over the years.

 

[pennsyltucky]

if i could only have one powder for hunting loads in a 12ga, it would be herco. for what you have described, i think herco is your best powder. it will load fast 1 1/8oz loads in 2 3/4" trap hulls, up to 1 1/2oz or more in a federal 3" hull. 1 1/2oz of hard lead 6's or 5's will take crows a long way out, as well as turkeys. herco is the powder i use most for lead shot. its really forgiving.