I loaded a few thousand of the original Blue Dusters.
They were pretty cool. I like loading stuff from yesteryear...

 

The Blue Duster is one of my favorite wads. I am out at the moment but i use them in the AAHS with WSH powder (1 1/8 oz.of shot) and they stack up perfectly.

And I see you bought the last case. Graf is out of stock. I have asked to be notified when they come back in.

 

Oops
Steve

 

Steve, are those wads part# DRXL-118? Thanks!

 

No the Dusters are BD12, or just Blue Dusters.

The DRXL-118 is also blue but note the base pattern and where the XL comes from

I bought the last 8 bags of XL-118 Blues from Precision in February but they have had some in since then. I mainly shoot 1 oz. and use a lot of DRXL-1 Green wads, really like them.

Shot a lot of Dusters both green and blue before Kevin bought them. In fact it was because of Dusters that I switched to DR wads back when Kevin was just starting Downrange. Had a case of Green Dusters that would fracture in the cold, that was bit more than 15 years or so ago.

Ended up talking to Kevin about it and he said even though Duster was a competitor (at the time) they must have gotten a bad batch of plastic resin and he wouldn't wish that on anyone. Seemed like a class act to me so stayed with Downrange. I liked the Dusters also but haven't used them in a long time.

 

Thanks for the info, as I have about 3k of AA hs shells I want to reload, 1 1/8 oz
I didn't know what wad to use because someone was saying that they didn't load well. I hope can use them. Thanks.

 

Thanks for the info, as I have about 3k of AA hs shells I want to reload, 1 1/8 oz
I didn't know what wad to use because someone was saying that they didn't load well. I hope can use them. Thanks.

What kind of powder do you intend to use in the AAHS? Whether the powder is dense or bulky will make a difference in which wad will be appropriate.

 

If using the AAHS hulls, i suggest not ordering any wads until you have acquired the powder you intend to use.

 

Correct, thank you!

 

I have shot several cases of green and blue original dusters. Once Downrange bought them, they seems a little different but still pretty nice wads. I went to the dusters at the time because of all the plastic fouling in the chokes of my Beretta 390 and 391, once went to dusters, the fouling stopped from pervious Claybuster use. The dusters also slide really nice thru the wad fingers on the loaded, much quieter than other brands.

 

I will agree with this. The original dusters were made of a higher quality resin that had a slick, shiny, almost oily feel to them that caused them to slide through the wad guide like crap through a goose. The DR version uses a difference resin that does not impart this quality.

 

I got down to be bags of the green wind jammers (in picture are blue) and bought a case or orange wind hammers.
Is there much of a difference?

 

I got down to be bags of the green wind jammers (in picture are blue) and bought a case or orange wind hammers.
Is there much of a difference?
View attachment 1763371 View attachment 1763372 View attachment 1763373

DAMN IT! That isn't blue it is more bluish green, it is the color Kevin uses for the 16 ga. 7/8 oz. DR16 wad!

Which has been in short supply for a couple of years now think it has been ~3 years since he has done a run of them and many of us 16 ga. shooters were getting worried. I am down to a couple thousand and called him at the first of the year and he said was hoping to get a run done by the end of January. Which didn't happen. I loaded up 750 of them 2 weeks ago.

I have moved to Downrange wads for all my reloading with the exception of the 1 oz. 16 which DR doesn't make so use SG16 wads for those. And PT1680\VP80 for HW15 and nontox. I use orange dusters in the 20 ga. AA CF hulls. Been saving Rem GC 20 hulls but will not use them until I burn through my 20 AA CF and will likely be farting dust before that happens.

Uncovered my 12 ga. 9000 this Spring when the shortage hit, hadn't reloaded the 12 for ~6 years it really wasn't worth it. Seen a 7/8 oz. pink XXL wad sitting on a shell and thought great 17.2 clays. Switched the bar to a 1 oz. and moved the bushing over. Started tapping the buttons on the automate and feeding the XL1 neon green wads. No adjustments needed and went to town.

Went to load 1 1/8 oz. so switched the bar and powder to green dot. And XL1 blue 1 1/8 oz wad. After that no adjustments on the press were needed again.

This summer some of my friends with older guns couldn't get low pressure RST shells so I switched the bar out again back to 1 oz. and dropped 19 gr. of green dot with the XL1 neon green wad for a low pressure 12 ga. load. Once again no adjustments needed. And now my friends are asking me for more shells but it is getting awfully close to hunting season, reloading is a winter sport to me at least in Mn.

I found the same thing someone else mentioned with claybuster wads, plastic fouling. Strings of plastic when cleaning the gun. More noticeable when shooting trap where the bbl. gets hot from shooting so much and fast. Haven't used a CB wad in a couple of decades now.

I will give Kevin a break on the DR16 wads. For now LOL. I'm sure he needed the resin to meet demand from the more common gauges. Heck I know some people that only load for the 12, or so I have heard...

 

Seems the blue resin is something from last year, perhaps a backup due to last years limited materials availability. Aside from the color I dont believe there would be any difference.

 

I have read color changes are nothing to be concerned about with down range.
Thanks for the reassurance.
Steve

 

I forgot to mention that the Blue Duster also works great in the AACF with Clays.

 

Read more closely. They are not "Blue Dusters." They are the same as the Bronze DRA12, only blue. Here is what Graf says about them:

Same classic design just in a new color! Limited color run, Electric Blue.

The DRA12 is a direct replacement for the Winchester WAA12.

 

I know I have Goff before
What is the difference from the two if it is a clone for their own product.
Not arguing just confused
Cold iron pictures are wrong or am I confused again.
Been a long day
Corvette engine started on fire today
Steve
Steve

 

Crush section on the DRA12 bronze is shorter than on the Blue Duster. I will try and post a pic of the 2 side by side tomorrow.

The bronze DRA12 is made specially for use in the AAHS with bulky powder, hence the shorter crush section. DR makes at least 3 1 1/8 oz. AA-style wads, the Bronze DRA12, the white DR118 and the Blue Duster, in ascending order of crush section heights. The white DR118 is made for use with 700x. I use the Blue Dusters with the WSH. Blue Dusters are more of a true clone of the WAA12.

Given the current situation with powders, if you load 1 1/8 oz, it might pay to have a case of each of the 3 on hand. You never know what powder you might wind up with.

This blue DRA12 is going to confuse the heck out of reloaders.

 

Crush section on the DRA12 bronze is shorter than on the Blue Duster. I will try and post a pic of the 2 side by side tomorrow.

The bronze DRA12 is made specially for use in the AAHS with bulky powder, hence the shorter crush section. DR makes at least 3 1 1/8 oz. AA-style wads, the Bronze DRA12, the white DR118 and the Blue Duster, in ascending order of crush section heights. The white DR118 is made for use with 700x. I use the Blue Dusters with the WSH. Blue Dusters are more of a true clone of the WAA12.

This blue DRA12 is going to confuse the heck out of reloaders.

Just went back to the web site
Your correct

Product Information
Same classic design just in a new color! Limited color run, Electric Blue.
The DRA12 is a direct replacement for the Winchester WAA12.
Case of 5000

Would love to see a picture
That is what I get for assuming and not comprehending . I load 700x.
Thanks
Steve

 

Will this wad work Better for me using 700x?
I love the way they load.
Steve

 

Steve: I have followed Nebs advice on AAHS and now use DRA12 with 17.5 grains 700X. The only way I could load a AA12 wad was to use 16.5-16.7 of 700X and reduce my shot drop to 1 1/16 to get the stack height. It was still a decent load to shoot, and allows me to use my Win AA12 wads up. Interesting didn't know till tonight that they made a wad for 700X which I assume is for an HS hull

Good Luck

 

That is the same load I am using in my AA hulls.
Really load nice.
It will be a few weeks before I have a chance to shoot again.
Retired but on contract to be a master teacher for Special Education
Extremely Handicap students.
Lot of new teachers. It is a new world not taught in College. Most quit. I try to help from the student's side so the teacher understand what they need
Mainly love
Steve

 

Here is the promised pic (I believe the Blue Duster is from the original, pre-DR, production):

And here are, from left to right CB Fig. 8 clone, OEM WAA12, Blue Duster and DRA12 Bronze:

 

Here is the promised pic (I believe the Blue Duster is from the original, pre-DR, production):

View attachment 1763769

And here are, from left to right CB Fig. 8 clone, OEM WAA12, Blue Duster and DRA12 Bronze:

View attachment 1763772 View attachment 1763769 View attachment 1763772

I would agree with that. The originals tended to be much paler in color, nearly transparent, sometimes with darker swirls in the petals. Loaded and shot the same, though.

 

What you bought is the same as the DRA12 Bronze wad only they're blue. Use them with bulky powder in AAHS hulls and you should get great crimps with wad compression. Red Dot, Clay Dot, Clays, and maybe 700X. I don't know how bulky powders like e3 and Am. Select are, but a quick glance at the bushing chart should tell whether they are on a par with those other powders. Maybe Green Dot and International as well. I would not use them with any of the ball-type powder made at the GD St. Marks plant as they all are dense. I've also found IMR Red is too dense as well.

 

Thanks for sharing the information I appreciate it
Steve

 

A lot of good info on this subject of wads ect. for the AA hs hulls. Thanks all! All i need now is some powder and the wads to get going.

 

You have Primers?
Just joking.
I learned a lot by listening to someone in the know.
Thanks again
Steve

 

PS: I primarily use the DRA12 bronze wads with 18 gr. of Promo. Stacks up perfectly.

 

Shot 400 of these last weekend. All shooting was handicapped. Love the way they pattern.
Steve