Shotshell Reloading

[trippledigitss]

So I'm totally new to reloading but I'm getting more & more into shooting clays so I bought a loader at Christmas. Against my buddies advice - he wanted me to spend $1000 on some Hornady machine - and a few other guys, I bought a Lee Load All II press. So far I'm really liking it! I've loaded about 950 shells and they are working great at the range. I have 2 different recipes I'm using - 1st is Gun Club Hulls, Fed 209 primers, about 20gr of Alliant's Unique powder, Claybuster Figure 8 wads, and 1 1/8 oz of reclaimed shot. They seem pretty dang loud but really no different from the Estate factory loads I have. The book called for 23grs of powder but my bushing was putting out about 20.1 to 20.5, so I loaded 50 shells and tried them and they worked great so I left it the way it was. 2nd loads are Gun Club, 1 1/8oz shot, White 8 wads, and 17grs of Red Dot, with Cheddite primers. I havent shot them yet but I know a guy who used the same and they seemed fine. This loader is working great and I'm having a blast loading the shells. They look great with a perfect crimp, they look brand new.

I found a guy who is selling some powder and he has a bottle of Blue Dot powder at a good price, but I cant find a recipe for trap loads with it - looks like it is all magnum & hunting loads. Do any of you use Blue Dot for lighter stuff like trap loads? Since I am just starting out I dont want to deviate from the book and use something not listed, doesnt seem really bright. I talk to guys who say you have to be straight by the book and use all compatible components, and other who basically say you can mix & match all you want - within reason. As a beginner, I like the 'by the book' method alot better!

[uplandhunter870]

congrats on the new loader. only data i found on blue dot is the same that you did, heavy hitting hunting loads.

 ive loaded a lot of shotshells over the years and i never stray too far from what the book says. yes you can mix and match components, but (atleast on the loaders i use MEC and Ponsness/Warren) for powder i am constrained to what the powder dies will drop. not sure how your loaded works. you can mix and match to an extent but its not like loading rifle and pistol where we can dial up a custom powder charge unless you want to hand load each shell, but shotguns arent as load picky as rifle and pistol

[CP]

Blue dot is a magnum powder for use with 1 1/4oz and u, it will not burn completely with light payloads.  Red dot is great for 1oz loads, not the best for 1 1/8oz.  Unique is good for middle weight loads.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/shotshell.aspx

[trippledigitss]

Thanks guys. Well shoot, maybe I should have stuck with the Unique over the Red Dot since I like the 1 1/8th shot better - I just figured the more BB's the better for me! I havent shot the Red Dot loads yet but I hope they work OK. They dont carry the Unique at Kenmore where I shoot and bought my last batch of stuff at. They are close and since I'm there a couple times a week its alot easier than driving some place else.