What powders are you finding for Trap loads?

Thomasss

Thomasss

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With the lack of powders available, what have you done to make trap loads?

While it lasted I was loading Unique at 22 grains with Win. primer and Down Range Windjammer wad for 1 1/8 trap loads, but haven't seen any more powder for sale lately.
A relative is also using Longshot in skeet loads and is loading it down a few grains to slow it's velocity. Only the Good Lord knows where he found 8 lb. keg of it.
 
I use shotgun powders all the time for pistol loads. So I have plenty of Clay’s, Reddot, Universal, etc on hand.
 
Not sure where you are looking, but in past 6 months, I have had numerous opportunities to snag shotgun powders. They come and go, but have been available. This from Graf's back in August. Would likely have something available today if you walked in the door. So it may be a case of finding who has it. There are about 6 or 8 online sources that on any given day may have what you are looking for, or close to it.

Second thing the heavy hitter shogun guys are doing is to reduce loads from 1 1/8 oz to 1 oz or 7/8 oz and for some even 3/4 oz. That stretches powder and more important, shot. Guys doing that claim they break just as many targets, and is easier on their shoulders doing it.

IMG_0420.jpg
 
I've found everything but t the Green Dot I've been looking for for 2 years. I have WST, Red Dot (auction, and one was in the cardboard tube can) Clays, International, Ramshot Competition, and Titewad.
 
In the last 2 years I have bought 8 lbs of Longshot, 4 lbs WSF along with 5 1 lb jugs, 2 lbs each of Red Dot and Green Dot, several lbs of WST, but my current favorite is AA Superhandicap which I’ve bought at least 10 lbs.

The vast majority of this was purchased online from the usual suspects.

I’m loading primarily for skeet and have been loading 1 oz loads to get a 12.5% savings on shot. I haven’t noticed a difference in how many clays I break. At the 26’ line in trap it may be different.

PS: I loaded a 1 1/8 oz load with Longshot. I noticed my barrel was noticeably hotter using Longshot so it’s now only used for 1 1/4-1 3/8 hunting loads.
 
Clays is a favorite followed by Titewad. WST and International are popular as well. Green Dot gets mentioned although I have no experience w/ it.

Too, it depends on what you shoot. What gauge, etc. Most folks I know shoot 12 and `1 oz of shot. Some new to trap might shoot 1 1/8 oz. Max velocity would be somewhere around 1200 to 1250 fps. I did well with 1150 to 1200.

Most skeet loads come in at 1 oz or less and closer to 1125 or 1150 fps.

5-stand mostly 1 oz. For Sporting Clays, I carried both 1 oz and 1 1/8 with a little more zip, say 1250.
 
I have some Promo I bought in 2020, nearly gone. WST has been available off and on from Recobs. I bought a few years worth last time it was "on." They've also had the best selection of in-stock wads of anyone. I've used it before and like it for 1 and 1 1/8 oz loads. They also have currently super handicap. I used some of that back in the last shortage. Wondering if this one is reverse temp sensitive as well. I tend to shoot a lot in temperature extremes, anywhere from 10-100F, and it got a little weird on the high and low end of the temperature scale. It was nice at more normal temps, but I preferred WST.

That longshot is great for "lighting" loads at 1 1/8. Kill game well above their weight class.

I wish there were data for HP38 in 12 Ga target loads. It has been everywhere, and I know it works. One of the top shooters at our club has been using it 2 years now. He did his own load work up.
 
Last edited:
Thomasss said:
With the lack of powders available, what have you done to make trap loads?

While it lasted I was loading Unique at 22 grains with Win. primer and Down Range Windjammer wad for 1 1/8 trap loads, but haven't seen any more powder for sale lately.
A relative is also using Longshot in skeet loads and is loading it down a few grains to slow it's velocity. Only the Good Lord knows where he found 8 lb. keg of it.
Click to expand...
A local shop was my go-to… until the owner got very sick and tragically passed away. Right before he died, I got 8lb jugs of Titewad and 700X from him. I also have a stash of WST and Ramshot Comp - WST from Precision Reloading and Comp from Powder Valley.

However, the bee’s knees for my trap loads has been Vectan D20 from American Reloading. They get it in every so often, and I buy it as soon as I see it. Published load data from Vectan uses common components, and as long as my loads are above 9K of pressure, they burn super clean. Anything less than9K can be a bit dirty.
 
I has the funds and just before all this latest crap hit the fan I purchased a couple kegs of Promo and one of Blue Dot. Along with already having a couple of 700X I am good for a while. Note that I also use them all for various handgun and lead rifle loads so things get depleated faster than I realized LOL.
Looking at pix above I now feel severly understocked.:p
 
Random 8 said:
Tell us more! Didn't even realize there was data for TG in 12 Ga until I saw this. Must be relatively new?
Click to expand...

From Hodgdon reloading data center:

GAUGE: 12
LEAD SHOT 1

Manufacturer Powder Primer Wad Grs. Pressure Vel. (ft/s)
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P Rem. TGT 12 16 7,700 PSI 1,180
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P Rem. TGT 12 17.3 9,000 PSI 1,235
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P Rem. TGT 12 18.6 10,200 PSI 1,290
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P Rem. TGT 12 20 11,200 PSI 1,345
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P WAA12SL 16.2 7,800 PSI 1,180
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P WAA12SL 17.4 9,100 PSI 1,235
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P WAA12SL 18.6 10,400 PSI 1,290
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P WAA12SL 20 11,500 PSI 1,345
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 Rem. TGT 12 15.7 7,900 PSI 1,180
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 Rem. TGT 12 17.1 9,100 PSI 1,235
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 Rem. TGT 12 18.5 10,200 PSI 1,290
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 Rem. TGT 12 19.9 11,400 PSI 1,345
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 WAA12SL 16.5 7,500 PSI 1,180
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 WAA12SL 17.7 8,800 PSI 1,235
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 WAA12SL 18.9 10,100 PSI 1,290
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 WAA12SL 20.1 11,400 PSI 1,345


GAUGE: 12
LEAD SHOT 1 1/8

Manufacturer Powder Primer Wad Grs. Pressure Vel. (ft/s)
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P Rem. Fig. 8 14.7 8,500 PSI 1,090
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P Rem. Fig. 8 15.9 9,700 PSI 1,145
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P Rem. Fig. 8 17 10,700 PSI 1,200
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P WAA12 14.6 8,400 PSI 1,090
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P WAA12 15.6 9,600 PSI 1,145
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Rem. 209P WAA12 16.5 10,600 PSI 1,200
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 Rem. Fig. 8 14.9 8,200 PSI 1,090
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 Rem. Fig. 8 15.9 9,200 PSI 1,145
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 Rem. Fig. 8 16.9 10,200 PSI 1,200
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 WAA12 14.9 7,900 PSI 1,090
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 WAA12 15.9 9,000 PSI 1,145
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 WAA12 17.4 10,400 PSI 1,200
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW Win. 209 WAA12 18.4 11,400 PSI 1,255
 
N555 said:
I have been moving towards using slower powders like unique.
Click to expand...

When I first started loading for 12ga, I was already married to Unique... so I went looking for a suitable AA-equivalent trap load using it. I couldn't find anything using common components, like the WAA12 wad... and so in one of those 'blind, dumb luck' moments, I settled on WST. WST worked really well for the 1 1/8oz Heavy Trap AA duplicate load I came up with. I only found out later it also works really well in the .45ACP with 220grn bullets.... which, since I quit loading 12ga, is where I'm using up my WST stash at the moment. :)
 
Back when I was loading LOTS of shotgun shells, I settled on Green Dot for 1 1/8 ounce loads. Seemed to give better patterns than Red Dot for some reason. I also used Unique for 20 ga and Herco for 1 1/4 ounce 12 ga.
 
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