A New Look At 1-Ounce 12-Gauge Loads
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t has been fully five years since we last looked at 1-ounce 12-gauge loads. April 2001 specifically. The purpose ot such loads is still the same, of course, but the world of components has changed. Several new powders are now available, as well as some new wads. We?ve also seen changes in the hulls themselves, with Winchester changing the manner in which their famed AA compression-formed (now three-piece) hulls are made. Federal changed its marvelous Cold Medal Plastic hulls, too, going from a ribbed surface to smooth, at least in some gauges.
When we discussed the loads back in 2001 we examined the virtues, namely. a modest practice load and a tine one for showing the ropes to beginners without subjecting them to unnecessary noise and recoil. Such loads are certainly also appropriate for some bird hunting, anywhere a 1-ounce 20-gauge load would be appropriate, in fact. And more than a few of us use them in competition, in spite of the overwhelming popularity of the traditional 1 ?P-ounce load. It still contains more shot than modern Olympic loads of 24 grams and will get us all the birds ? feathered or clay ? we deserve.
As a general rule, 1-ounce loads run from a modest 1.125 t.p.s. to a more-robust 1,290 t.p.s., although with some hulls, notably the Federal Cold Medal, velocities may reach a full 1,400 f.p.s.
A nice load to frame our picture of the 1 -ouncer is this one. Modest in velocity. it?s good for practice, hand-thrown clays, introductory shooting and some hunting. Shot sizes 8, 31/. and 9 are most at home here. The 8s will carry a full 1.0 foot/pound of energy to 40 yards: the others, not quite so far.
Red Dot, it is still a fine choice for the cost-conscious.
One thing, perhaps not as well-publicized as it should be, is Promo is more dense than Red Dot and, therefore. not a volume-for-volume replacement. Allianf recommends choosing a hushing two sizes smaller than used for Red Dot to start, then carefully weighing the Promo powder charge thrown to ensure the desired weight. In their free annual ReIoaders Guide. Alliant lists separate Promo load data for this reason- Here?s a popular Promo target load.
Winchester 12-gauge 2%? AA-type hull
Winchester W209 primer
Winchester WAA1 2SL wad
1 ounce lead shot
13.0 grains Alliant Promo
Velocity: 1.200 fps.
Pressure: unknown
(Red Dot is 10.200 p.sI.)
Source: A/Pant Reloaders Guide, 2005
Here, we can use a variety of substitute wads Alliant lists the same load with the Claybuster 1100-12 and Purple PC wads. As a substitute for the WAA12SL. we also find we can use the Green Duster DownRange XL-] and Jammer XL-1 (see ?Know Your Wads.? February 2006). This latter wad is an eight-petal design that may allow for a quicker release and a few more pellets in the annular ring.
Another relatively new Alliant powder is C Coverage of this powder in recent issues has highlighted its efficiency and stability, both in terms of temperature and humidity (?Shotshell Powder Page,? November 2003 and Alliant?s e? Powder? January 2005). Here?s a good
representative example
Remington 12-gauge 2 /2? STS hull
Remington 209P primer
Remington TCT12 wad
1 ounce lead shot
16.9 grains Alliant e
Velocity: 1,200 f.p.s
Pressure: 3.550 p.s.].
Source: A/I/ant Reloaders Guide. 2005
That is also a versatile load, with 16.0 grains dropping us to 1.150 f.p.s.. 180 grains raising velocity to 1,250 t.p.s. and 19.0 taking us to 1,290 f.p.s., with the higher velocity perhaps more appropriate for the field.
Another new Al[iant powder is Is recently released Clay Dot (Shotshell Powder Page,? March 2006). Much like Promo, Clay Dot is intended to attract attention due to its market price. It will be sold in 8-pound containers only. although at its introduction at the 2005 Grand American it was put up in 1-pound containers and given to purchasers of an Alliant t-shirt
Clay Dot should stand out for a couple other reasons. First, it is a low-cost alternative, not to another Alliant powder hut to Hodgdon?s Clays. Second, it is intended to be both a weight-for-weight and volume-for-volume replacement for Clays. In my own tests. I noted my lot ot Clay Dot was a bit heavier than the Clays I had on hand. speculating the Clays, having been on hand for some time. may have lost some of its moisture in the dry climate where I live. Regardless. using the same bushing for Clay Dot should be perfectly safe, and the results may well be indistinguishable from those experienced with Clays. For load data, you should be able to simply
Winchester 12-gauge 2/i? A.A-type hull
Winchester W2D9 primer
Winchester WAA12L wad
1 ounce lead shot
16.5 grains Hodgdon Red Dot
Velocity: 1,150 f.p.s.
Pressure: 8,000 psi.
Source: A/I/ant Re/na dens Guide, 2005
Competitors, and perhaps others, will have become aware of Alliants Promo powder (see Shotshell Powder Page,?~ June 2001). It is a weight-for-weight replacement for Red Dot. Sold only in 8-pound containers, it is intended to be a lower-cost alternative to the very popular target powder. My own tests have determined Promo?s burning rate is virtually identical to that of Red Dot. Not quite as clean-burning as the recently improved
.
use any published Clays data and substitute Clay Dot, according to Alliant. Here?s a sample load.
Remington 12-gauge 21? STS hull
CCI 209 primer
Purple PC wad
1 ounce lead shot
18.3 grains Alliant Clay Dot (Clays)
Velocity: 1,180 f.p.s.
Pressure: 7,100 up.
Source: Hodgdon Basic Reloader ManuaL 2005
That is. of course, a Clays load taken from the Hodgdon manual, and I have substituted Clay Dot. It is also quite versatile, in that 17.1 grains will drop velocity to 1.125 f.p.s. and 19.5 grains will raise the speed to 1,235 t.p.s. For field or handicap use, 20.7 grains wi/I push the speed to a full 1.290 f.p.s.
Another relatively new powder not available at the time of our earlier visit to 1-ounce loads is Ramshots Competition (June 2002 ?Shotshehl Powder PageD. This is part ot Western Powders? Ramshot line and is manufactured in the United States tor them by St. Marks Powder, formerly Primex. and before that. the powder component ot Winchester Ammunition. It is suitable for i~t. 1 and 1 ?1-ounce loads in the 12 gauge. Initially, it was offered only in 2-pound containers. which discouraged some first-time buyers. It is now available. I think, in 1-pound cans as well. Anyway, it is a fine target powder. Here?s an example.
Remington 12-gauge 2?t? STS hull
Winchester W209 primer
Winchester WAA12SL wad
1 ounce lead shot
17.5 grains Ramshot Competition
Velocity: 1,180 t.p.s.
Pressure: 8.200 psi.
Source: Ramshot Powder Load Guide. Edition ill
There is a good deal of flexibility here, with the handloader able to increase the powder charge to 19.0 grains for 1.235 f.p.s. or 20.5 grains br 1,290 f.p.s. Because it uses the WAA12SL wad, we can substitute a number of others, as we did in the second reload, such as Green Duster. DownRange XE-i or Jammer XL-].
Not only are 1 -ounce loads as useful and popular as ever, there are now even more ways to assemble them. Continue
to enjoy! SS
cAuTiON: Read iii enotice and disclaimer or page 5 ci this magazine. Always consuitc omprehensive reference manuais and bulletins for detaiis of proper training. reguiirements, and procedures, techniques and sate~ precautions before attem pling any similar activity.
NOTE: Pressures are often listed as ?psi.? or
.saiues. You may find different pressures iisted for the same load in different handtoading manuals. They are nor the same, in generai, psi. vaiues wiii be about t,~ units higher Than I.u.p. values. This appiies to head-shot ioads ooty. There are off en considerable differences between the psi. and up. vaiues with steei-shtoi toads. Aiso remember them can be differences in how loads act in various lest guns and equipment that can aiso affect these readings and the vaiues pubiished.
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