Preferred shot shell primers and powders?

[OldTengu]

As titled. Looking to load/reload some 12g shot shells. Looking for a spot of advice on the subject, as it's pretty new to me.

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[Kyrsen]

Get a book like Lyman's Shotshell Reloading Manual. Best $20 you'll spend. The low pressures of shotshells aren't as forgiving to small mistakes as metallic cartridges.

 

[DizzyJ]

You might find it interesting, many of the shotgun powders double as pistol powders.

Or,
You may not.

 

[nammac]

I ended up settling on Federal 209 primers and Alliant Red Dot/Promo for my 12 gauge reloading for clays using 7.5, 8 and 8.5 shot sizes, in mainly Remington Gun Club hulls.

Just one ole guys preferences...

YMMV

 

[Member 34319]

When I loaded 12...

Universal was my go to powder.

Combined with, any primer, I didn't care much.

I was kind of a AA silver hull only type though. I hated all other hulls.

 

[Burninpowder]

Normally I use w209 primers. powder I will run red dot for normal trap shooting and will use long shot powder for hot loads. Long shot also works good in 10mm.

 

[Darren Summers]

I have to agree with Kyrsen, I could list several loads I use personally from trap to steel for goose. Seeking general advice from others can be very helpful but nothing compares to professional data.

 

[WillametteWill]

I have used nothing but Winchester (mostly, less expensive) and Remington (hard to find, pricey, but used in my competition shells) for primers since 1978. For powder I've only used 700x. For me, nothing is broken so not inclined to fix anything. Remington and Winchester hulls are tapered so I stick with loading these two but have mostly Remington STS green and gold (handicap). To me the newer Winchesters do not load as well as the plastic is too stiff and the crimps are not consistently good. Wads, Remington and a few Claybuster Remington clones for my wife's 1oz loads. Gave you my whole kit a caboodle.

 

[OldTengu]

Get a book like Lyman's Shotshell Reloading Manual. Best $20 you'll spend. The low pressures of shotshells aren't as forgiving to small mistakes as metallic cartridges.

Will do.
What do you mean "not as forgiving"? More prone to blowouts?

 

[Kyrsen]

Yes and other kinds of malfunctions. The SAAMI pressure limit for 2 3/4" shells is around 11,000 PSI, I believe. Slight changes in components could cause a change of 3000 to 4000 PSI which isn't as big a deal in handgun and rifle rounds generating 30,000 to sometimes 50,000 or 60,000 PSI. In shotgun loads though, it has the potential to be bad.