I used to load a lot of Herco for 1 and 1/4 oz loads and switched over completely to Longshot by Hodgdon. It's an excellent powder for hunting loads. ...very snappy and clean burning.I’ve only used 700x and clays for all of my target loads. I want to load up some pheasant loads for next year and would like to hear what powder folks prefer. These will be 2 3/4” shells and 1 1/4 or 1 3/8 oz shot.
..couldn't agree more. For the very few boxes of shells shot while hunting, I'm miles ahead buying them off the shelf. Our local Scheels runs a sale each fall on Fiocchi 3 3/4 X 1 1/4 1330 fps; 4's, 5's, and 6's for $8.99 a box. They're excellent shells with more than enough knock down power.Loudshot
But I wouldn't waste your time.
As few hunting loads as you are likely to use, you won't recoup any cost.
That said...
Remington Hulls
Winchester Primers
WAAF114 Wad
1-1/4 ounces of number 5's
29 grains of Hodgdon Longshot
I agree with this. I have those 3 powders on hand for some games loads I use and for 20 gauge loading. If I didn’t have them on hand I would just buy factory shells.As few hunting loads as you are likely to use, you won't recoup any cost.
Not a truer word has been spoken on this site, but I doubt that will keep me from doing it.As few hunting loads as you are likely to use, you won't recoup any cost.
For me it will be pheasants and grouseWhat are y'all hunting?
Thanks for the info. That IC percentage at 30 yards surprised me.In my mind, a 12-gauge 2 3/4" 1 1/4-ounce load of #5 lead shot is probably the best all around lead pheasant reload you can put together. I've gathered a good many pheasants, prairie chickens, sharptails and ducks (back in the lead days) with a 1 1/4-ounce load using Unique.
Here are a few of my pattern numbers (that I've posted before) with my gun/chokes to give you an idea of the kind of performance you might get with that load.
Patterning results from a 12-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels using Briley flush chokes (patterns average of five, 30" post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, and in-shell pellet count average of five).
12 GA 2 3/4" RELOAD (WAACF, W209, UNIQUE, CB1114-12)
1 1/4 oz #5 lead (210 pellets) @ 1220 fps
30 YARDS / SK / pattern 145 (69%)
30 YARDS / IC / pattern 177 (84%)
40 YARDS / M / pattern 155 (74%)
40 YARDS / IM / pattern 174 (83%)
50 YARDS / IM / pattern 125 (60%)
Good luck!