Home Forums Reloading Shotshells 20 ga, Clean Burning Powder?

I’m loading 20ga, 1oz lead, 7 1/2 shot with 18gr of Longshot.

This load is the filthiest I have ever loaded in my life.

I used to use Blue Dot, but when that went by the wayside I switched to Longshot.

Besides BD, is there an alternative that will give me around 1200fps, without the filth?

Thanks

Its been a very long time since I reloaded 20ga shot shells with my old Mec 650.

I used to use Hercules Unique powder with good results. I think its called Alliant Unique now.




I copied this from an article on line

Alliant's Cleaner-Burning Unique Powder
by Jeff Quinn



Alliant Powder Company is manufacturing a cleaner-burning version of the old Hercules Powder Company's Unique powder. The new powder is shown here (on the left) alongside some of the last of the author's stash of the old Hercules Unique.

Alliant 20/28, Hodgen International Clays …. The 20/28 pops up every once in a while, the whole Hodgen Clays line has been off line serving other military priorities but are supposed to have a drop sometime in 2024 last I heard. Saw the same results loading 28ga w/ long shot, but at a point in time all that was availably

Win 572 has some availability. That's what I'd try.

20-28, Unique, Universal are great 20 ga 3/4 and/or 7/8 oz powders. But they're not wise choices for 1 oz 20 ga loads.

Clays is clean. I have a big jug from my cowboy action days.

My Unique is older vintage, fairly clean if you burn it hot. Very dirty with CAS low velocity loads. Ok with full power shotgun loads.

DF

Green dot. And 20/28.

Long shot burns cleaner with hotter loads. Have you tried going up a little on the charge weight or are you at max already?

I've been using aa superhandicap but I'm doing really light loads for my kids 20 gauges. It's still pretty clean even with light loads so maybe 572 is worth trying for heavier ones.

Bb

Another plug for 20/28. Very clean burning.

Green Dot is very clean in my loads.

Evidently some failed to notice the OP is loading 1 oz in the 20.

Where is data for GD, 20/28, Clays, Int, Univ, or Unique for this application?

Been using 800x for years, with no complaints.

Enjoy it while you have, 800x was disco’ed in 2021.

I still have 9 pounds and Only use it in the 20 gauge, so I'll be good for a while.

I can concur about the filthiness of Longshot. I've used it in 12 and 20 gauge and it leaves a lot of powder particulate in the barrel.

I find the primary advantage of Longshot is that you can make a 12 gauge 1 1/2 ounce field load in a 2 3/4 hull and that it is generally available for purchase these days.

Otherwise, I agree to investigate alternatives. I'll be looking into 20/28 as well for my 20 gauge needs.

As far as data, the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center can tell you the GD, BD, Longshot, and other powders they make. Nothing on 20/28, even though they distribute it.

Thanks!

I have been using 572 in my 20 gauge and have been very satisfied. Old style WW compression formed hulls, Cheddite primers, Win AA white wads, 7/8 ounce. I can't recall the charge weight right now but it is the load right off the Hodgdon site that shows 1250 for the speed. Hulls that I had used previously with Unique that were very dirty, I swear seemed to getting cleaner once I made the switch to 572.

My 12 gauge sizemaster has had the same bar and bushing in it for 20 years. I only do my pheasant loads on it and buy my target loads. It's set for 1.5 ounces of #5 and Longshot with an aa red wad in an sts case. It might be a bit dirty but it's extremely effective on pheasants. I don't remember the charge weight but it's about 1280 fps muzzle. I tried faster 1.25 ounce loads but they didn't pattern as well.

Now that I'm loading 20 gauge I'll likely end up loading a pheasant load in 20. I've just been doing light loads for the kids. I need to work up a field load for this fall. I figured I'd try 1 ounce with Longshot and see how it does. I carry a 20 in the field now because that's what my kids carry. I suppose a 7/8 ounce 20 gauge load probably works fine for pheasant too so maybe I'll try those. I loaded some 3/4 ounce #7s for the kids to hunt with but they practice with a 5/8 ounce 1150 fps load I worked up myself. I don't think the 3/4 ounce load will bug them in the field.

Bb

Herco sits in between Unique and Blue Dot, and it's my go to for 1oz field loads in my 20's. Most handloaders tend to overlook Herco, it's real close to Unique, but it's just enough slower to work well in lot's of handgun applications, and 12ga/20ga field load applications with heavier shot charges. For residual ash, it's about the same as Unique, and the more recent tweaks that Alliant has applied, it's cleaner than it was in the past. It usually sits on the shelf when Unique has disappeared.