Looking for load data for Universal in 12 Gauge

1 oz Lead
Win AA HS Hull
Claybuster CB 1100-12
Win 209 Primer or Cheddite 209

1170 - 1200 FPS

Above is the components that I have and cant find anything on Hodgen website.

POINT3R,


You have a powder that really isn't at it's best for 1 oz. loads in a 12 gauge, as they will be anemic. The velocities you are looking for make it even harder to come up with a good load. You might want to look into 1 1/8 oz. loads for Universal and the 12 gauge.

Universal is best in a 12 gauge using 1 1/4 oz. of shot.

That would likely be an extremely dirty burning powder. Very INEFFICIENT. Not worth a darn in cold weather, and not much better even in hot weather. Try to find some 1 1/8 ounce wads or swap powder with someone who wants to load for a smaller gauge such as 20 or 28.

700-X or Clays powder will make a nice load like you want. Or Red Dot or American Select.

As was said already, You can't get to what you want with the Universal powder you have.

What your might find works would be this for the Winchester AA HS hull.
However - It is a 1 1/8 ounce shot payload. Takes a different (shorter) wad though - the WAA12 or CB 1118 wad. But, wads are much easier to find than powder right now.

Win AA HS 22 grains Universal Win. 209 primer WAA12 wad 10,000 PSI 1,200 FPS
(right from Hodgdon web site)

That is about as low as Universal powder will go, and it rather stinks with lighter shot loads.

good luck, garrisonjoe

Well that explains why there is no load data for it, I use it in my 28 gauge loads and was hoping to use it in my 12's.

Is it to slow of a burning powder to be effective?

effective for what you want.
it's right there with unique as far as burn rate, did you see any unique or 20/28 data for that load?

It's too slow to make a light target load in a 12 gauge, yes. Four folks have said that now.

It's great for your 28 gauge.

It takes faster powder to move a light load of shot in a big bore 12 gauge, than to move a medium load of shot in a 28 gauge!

Shotguns are even more powder-speed-specific than rifles are.

Although the powder may be named Universal - it is not literally universal for all shotgun loads.

good luck, garrisonjoe

As others have said, Universal is slower than desired for 1oz 12g. I use Titewad in that realm.

That said, I used to load tons of 1oz loads with 800X. It WAS a published load long ago. It was a "fix" to get my B-80 to cycle 1oz loads. Low pressure (like 7kpsi), but more gas volume up by the gas ports. Performance was fine. "Inefficient", but more lead was a greater expense.

Eventually I got a 2-3/4 barrel for the gun and ceased making these loads.

I sure wouldn't call foul using the charge called for 1-1/8oz of lead where Universal is quite good. See how thy shoot keeping an ear out for any off-sounding rounds. There are better powders for sure, but in this climate we have to make choices.