[Ferg]

20ga reload recipe help.
Goal is to get bit less kick for starting my son out shooting with his Mossberg Silver Reserve II O/U. Maybe 1100-1150fps
Mec 600 Jr.:
currently have 7/8 bar with #22 bushing. Would like to use IMR 700X since I have 1/2 keg left but will switch if necessary. Questions are:
AA hulls
209 primers
Powder type?
bushing size?
wads?

 

[Bob Merkov]

Ferg,

Go to Alliant on line and down load their load recipes for the 20ga. they will have what you are looking for.

Bob M.

 

[Ferg]

Thank you

 

[Oregunner]

Order a bag of Claybuster 3/4 oz 20 gauge wads. It comes with recipes. see link above. You can load them really light as they don't have to cycle a semi auto. I use 12.3 gr of Green Dot, which is about 1100 fps, in Remington hulls. A 3/4 oz bar and the right bushing will pay for itself soon. Mark

 

[waverider]

If you do not already have a scale, order one when you order the 3/4 oz bar and bushings. The bushing chart is only a guide to give you a starting point. You need to "find" the right bushing by weighing the powder drops.

The guides should have a bushing chart. Purchase one or 2 above and below the closest one.

700X is a relative fast burning powder. At one time there was a 20 ga load 7/8 oz 1200 f/s load. But it has been dropped from current guides. Save it for your 12 ga loads or trade it for a slower burning powder.

Jason

 

[Shooting Coach]

I have loaded 3/4 oz in the 20 for many years. Target breaks are the same.

 

[JT 27]

700X is one of the fastest burning powders. This accounts for the high perceived recoil. IMR 7625 is one of the slowest burning and has very low perceived recoil. I would suggest looking for loads with 7625, PB or Green Dot if you are wanting low recoil.

 

[cafowler]

Ferg,

I checked your spec's at the Hodgden website also, and found some nice <= 9,000 PSI 1150 fps loads. Pasted below, but the data may get scambled on this forum. The Hodgdon site is below so you can go do try your own searches;
http://www.hodgdon.com/
Lead Shot 20 3/4 oz. Internat'l Rem. 209P Fio. 20 12.8 8,100 PSI 1150

Lead Shot 20 3/4 oz. Internat'l Rem. 209P PC20 12.5 9,000 PSI 1150

Lead Shot 20 3/4 oz. Internat'l Rem. 209P WAA20 12.1 9,000 PSI 1150

Lead Shot 20 3/4 oz. Internat'l Win. 209 Fio. 20 12.3 9,000 PSI 1150

Lead Shot 20 3/4 oz. PB Rem. 209P CB 1034-20 13.9 8,400 PSI 1150

Lead Shot 20 3/4 oz. PB Win. 209 CB 1034-20 14.2 9,200 PSI 1150

Looks like a few really nice soft shooters in there. You might want to consider which components will be easiest to find in this market. I've used Intrntl Clays for all my loads, a bit more $, but nice and clean. It's not very popular which means you can always find it on the shelf.

Hope this helps.

 

[Setterman]

Do your son a favor and trade the Silver Reserve in on a Rem. 1187 or a Beretta 391. The Mossberg S.R.is one of the lightest, hard kicking, 20 gauges ever made.

I picked up a used 20 ga 1187 for $429 at Cabelas.

 

[bigbore613]

Dont use 700x with insert tubes. Jeff

 

[KY_TRAP_DAD]

I agree with the 700X comments. Way too fast for a 20ga. Pick a "slow burner" and load it as light as you can.

 

[build4u]

I worked up a load for my son and daughter for thier 391 20 ga. using International Clays 13.2 grains, 3/4 oz. Claybuster wad CB1075-20 Remington primer. The data is almost indentical with the Winchester primer. I have not Chonographed the loads they should be about 1180. I used 8.5 shot to keep the bb count up some.

I just re read and saw it was for an over and under I would for sure drop the load down to the data for 1150 fps. You are on the right track going away from factory shells.

 

[Ferg]

gonna try:
AA hulls
win 209 primers
RXP 20 wads
Unique 14.5gr powder

should be around 1100-1150 fps @ ~8500psi

 

[Ferg]

Thanks everyone! My son's first reloaded shell. Proud moment

 

[Brady509]

Excellent I love seen that. One of my earliest memories is load with my pops. Keep'em crankin with the little man.

Brady