I would like to try shooting some annies, but I have been told that a lot of those guys are tailoring their loads for the game. I reload and have components to do this except for the powder. I usually use 700x for regular trap, but what do you suggest for annies from the 27 yard line, using an 1 1/8 oz load?
Thanks in advance.
Bob

I use Hodgdon Longshot powder for fast hunting loads.

maybe if I were on the porch or parking lot I'd get all worked up about a bit more sumthin or other.
3 drams of 7-1/2's will break anything they throw at you from the 27.

Longshot or WSF.

My buddy and I load fast 1 1/8 loads for hunting Eurasian Collared doves.

I don't think you can go wrong with Longshot, Unique or Universal for the loads you are looking for.

My favorite is 1.25 ounce of 6’s first shot after that 5’s even 4’s. All loaded with longshot. Blue dot is another powder I like. Know guys running herco and 800x.

I don't think anything can match the numbers achievable with Hodgdon's Longshot powder.

Don’t overlook Herco. It’s great for Annie’s. A lot of shooters also use ProReach, Blue Dot, and 800x as well.

Alliant makes Pro Reach just for that purpose. take a look there too.

Remember though , in most cases it's not the ammo but the shooter , who can't break long
distance targets ! Let pattern density be your guide along with , better tighter patterns are
achieved with better components , harder shot and a recoil system that will allow you to
practice more often with the tightest choke you have !
Well known Annie shooters shoot a lot and often !

Green dot or Unique loaded at 1250fps is all you need back to the parking lot if you do your part.

These last 2 posts from Ravenanme and shotgun red 52 contain a lot of wisdom. You address that package correctly (put the shot cloud on the target) and you'll be breaking lots of targets. You don't, it doesn't matter if you shoot 3.5" shells.

I get that it is fun to experiment with loads, I like it also but if you're serious about winning practice hitting them.

An 1 1/4 of number 7(not 7 1/2) at 1250 fps will crush any clay out to 100Yrds. That should take care of the porch or parking lot. Appropriate choke needed.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/shotgun

Thanks guys.... A lot of good info. A couple of guys are suggesting Green Dot.... What are your thoughts on it? Also, I was planning to use Fed Top Gun hulls, since I have a ton of them, so are they straight walled like the Gold medals? Can I use Gold medal data to get started working on a load?
Thanks again!

Green Dot is fine. You just won’t get quite the velocity out of it as you will with some of the slower powders, if that is important to you

The July 1993 issue of Shotgun Sports had an interesting article titled, " 90% Guns & Loads". The author claims that by judicious selection of hulls, primer, powder, wads and shot size, he achieved 97% patterns with 1-1/4 oz. # 2 buffered shot at a measured 40 yards with a full choked Winchester Model 97. The same gun using 1-1/8 oz. #2 buffered shot produced 90% and 1-1/8 oz. #4 buffered produced 94% patterns. Unfortunately, the author fails to identify the recipe for the 90%, 94% and 97% loads. He does mention that a full choked Model 12 produced the 2nd best results. Among the other guns, he tested were Remington 1100 and 870's, Browning O/U, and several 10 gauge magnums, the results for which, he fails to mention. The author's failure to specify load recipes makes his article an interesting commentary but, not a scientific test.

Have any forum members attempted to obtain a maximum pattern percentage with their Annie loads and favorite gun?

DF

Montani Semper Liberi