Powder types, Shotguns

Planning on shotgun reloading, have many pounds of vintage shot, #4, #6 looking to reload 20 gauge and 12 gauge. The Lee load all, will do fine for my needs Ii think. Plan on one for each gauge, small gauge loading mainly. Stocked up on #209 primers. What is a general shotgun powder that will cover both gauges? Also thinking of those round ball loadings for deer and target play. I'm seeing powder on shelves again.

Red dot,

Universal and International

Any numbers to go with those names? Is it labeled "for shotgun use"

Universal clay and international clays

Thanks passing through town again tomorrow. I will buy a couple 1 # containers for starters.

Red Dot is not a 20 gauge powder. It can be pressed into service for light 3/4 oz loads but there is no pressure headroom.

If you are looking at using one powder for both. You are looking at Green Dot, Blue Dot, Longshot, Unique, Universal, International and probably a few others in that range. Maybe 20/28.

Winchester WST for 12 g. I use Winchester WSF for 20 g. If you only want one I would purchase WSF for 12 and 20

I like Hodgden Clays for 12, Universal Clays for 20 and 28 and H110 for .410

Taking notes fellas!

Longshot. It will also do double duty in some pistol rounds like the 10mm, 40 Short and wimpy, 357 SIG and some others with good results.

700X and Herco are my main powders. I also like Red dot ,Blue dot ,Longshot and Alcan 5 and 7.

used lots of red dot in 20 and 12 --- not a clean powder but it make the gun go boom. I am sure there are better out there but for what I was doing it worked well.

@Feedinggrounds How fast and how heavy of a shot charge would you like in 12 gauge?

Yup. Are you looking at hunting loads or target loads? Longshot will work in both but it is a kicker (also very dirty). You will be hard pressed to beat clays for the 12ga. with target loads and lite field loads. Your best bet is to look through a couple loading books and see if you can find a powder that will do what you want.

Thanks for the fix, sometimes assume they know it's clays.

Speed? How fast is a rabbit or grouse? Seriously, if I can duplicate normal game load performance for 12 or 20 gauge, with #4 or #6 I have about 50# of each size. The #4 and #6 game loads are the most expensive now. 7.5 and 8 Skeet loads I have plenty of and are priced ok.

Like they said, Red Dot and Green Dot will do about anything you want to do with 12 and 20. If you want to shoot fast or heavy, include some Blue Dot. I've had a couple Load Alls in 12 and 20 for 45 years and they still work great.

Get yourself some longshot powder and some rem sp/rp wads. They work great for hunting loads.

These days it is wishful thinking to pick out a particular powder, run out and buy it, and live happily ever after.

What you will probably need to do is find ANY shotgun powder, buy it, and figure out the best way to use it.

Good luck.

Rabbit and grouse are subsonic

Game loads are generally 1-1/8 to 1-1/4 oz @ 1250 fps in 12 gauge. Unique would be my first pick in 12 and it'll serve well in 20. Unique, Green Dot, Blue Dot, Herco and Universal fill that same slot.

Longshot is my favorite 20 gauge powder but it leans towards faster hunting loads (1,300++) in 12 gauge. If you like fast, you'll love Longshot.

Herco is my go to for 1.25 oz 12ga or 1oz 20 ga. It preforms well with any heavy load in a full length barrel.
I keep a little green dot around for light loads but it hasnt ever paterned as well.