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21 - 34 of 34 Posts
Discussion starter · #21 ·
I have been loading with Cheddite primers for almost 2 years (since Win209 became “extinct”). Initially it was difficult to find ideal recipes utilizing my available powders with Cheddite primers.

Last year I scored a couple of jugs of Western Ramshot Competition powder which to my delight had published online recipes for most hull/wad & primer combinations including Cheddite primers in 12 gauge 7/8, 1 & 1 1/8 ounce loads (very heavy to 1 ounce loads). The Ramshot recipes had more Cheddite applications than any powder I have used to date. It is also interesting to see the relationship of Cheddite primers to other primers when used in identical loads (same hull, powder weight, wad & shot load weight). I have been very pleased with my 1 ounce loads in Winchester AA hulls primed with Cheddite, CB 1100-12 wads & 16.4 gr of Ramshot (published recipe) that claims has a velocity of 1150 fps. It breaks trap targets and I’ve shot 400 rounds in a session with very light recoil in my 9.5 lb trap gun. I’ve shot the load in 16 yard, up to 22 yard handicap and 1st & 2nd shot in doubles and wouldn’t hesitate to use the same load for doves and quail. Always confirm any offered recipe advice by checking the published source, in this case www.Ramshot.com/load-data/, Load Guide Edition 8.0 pdf pages 88-98.

Best of luck with your reloading and perhaps we’ll cross paths at Greentop or at a range - I live in Williamsburg and shoot at Conservation Park of Virginia.
Thank you so much for sharing that information. I'll see if I can find that particular powder. I've since moved to Idaho from Virginia Beach in 2019. I went to William and Mary and love the Williamsburg area.
Thanks again for your input.
 
Discussion starter · #22 ·
I, too, like Ramshot Competition. I use it in the FGM with the 6118 wad and the Cheddite primer. At the time I started using it, there was no data using the 6118 wad so I had some tested. Since then, Hodgdon has published data for the load I had tested. Competition is a great powder and probably has more data between the Western Powder data and the Hodgdon data with Cheddite primers than most any other powder. Lots of wad combinaions, too. This is an overlooked powder that deserves more attention.
Okay, thank you. Yes, sounds like this one is a sleeper. I'll see if I can find some.
 
I just did now based on your recommendation. Thanks, that is encouraging. Although I don't see Cheddite on the Alliant site for Winchester AA hulls. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion and I do see some Cheddite primers in some of their other load recipes.
We have to be flexible when choosing components these days. I have shot many hundreds of reloads using Cheddite primers - they preformed very well. I’ve also used six different powders, recepies with said primers. Use your own good judgement.
 
Discussion starter · #24 ·
We have to be flexible when choosing components these days. I have shot many hundreds of reloads using Cheddite primers - they preformed very well. I’ve also used six different powders, recepies with said primers. Use your own good judgement.
Jeff,
Sound advice, of course. Let me ask you this, is there any rule of thumb when substituting one primer for another? For instance, do you reduce a charge by 5% when substituting Cheddite for Federal 209's? I'm just pulling those figures and brands out of the air, but didn't know if such a compensatory rule or chart exist for established load recipes.
Thanks
 
Jeff,
Sound advice, of course. Let me ask you this, is there any rule of thumb when substituting one primer for another? For instance, do you reduce a charge by 5% when substituting Cheddite for Federal 209's? I'm just pulling those figures and brands out of the air, but didn't know if such a compensatory rule or chart exist for established load recipes.
Thanks
There used to be a rule of thumb that when going from any other primer to a Federal 209A, you would be OK if you reduced the powder charge by 1/2 gr. There also was a rule of thumb that if you used data for a load that called for a Federal 209A and used any other primer, you were OK because the pressure and velocity would only go one direction: down. Fed 209As, generally, are the hottest primers out there.
 
When I noticed I could buy Ramshot Comp at a reasonable price, I used Google to research it. After I waded through a couple of pages of ads, there were old posts on this and Trapshooters discussing that very powder. A good resource. As I read the posts here, I see a number of usable powders . Ramshot price is now the same as other powders, so I may change loads again.

They guys here have helped me in the selecting of loads by helping me the criteria .
 
Just a few tips here.

First, you get what you pay for. The Lee Load All has a rather poor reputation for consistent powder drops. You will want to weigh every single charge thrown for your initial batches of shells because a variation +/- is typical for users new to the Load All. It will take a fair bit of practice before you have the skill to throw an accurate charge.

I would suggest asking at local shotgun clubs about a used MEC 600 Jr or Sizemaster for sale. BTW, I modify the MEC Single stage presses to park the powder bushing so it's between the powder bottle and drop tube to improve the powder drop consistently. Because leaving the powder bushing under the powder bottle during Pre-crimp, Crimp, Sizing and then Priming tends to "pack" powder in the bushing. Set that bushing to the side and you reduce the Standard Deviation for the powder drop for Clays from 0.42 grains to 0.17 grains. Per the 6 Sigma Quality system this takes the variation from +/- 1.26 grains to +/- 0.51 grains.

Second tip. Once you use up that bag of 1 1/8 ounce wads don't purchase another. Loads with this charge weight are for those under 30 who don't plan to shoot a shotgun the rest of their lives. Those with concerns about keeping their shoulders healthy practice with 7/8 ounce 12 gauge loads and only load up 1 ounce loads for a competition. Me, I'm 67 years old and can still shoot the 12 but I practice with 410 and break out the 28 gauge to reward myself for missing with the 410. Actually I find the 410 a lot of fun to shoot and it is the least expensive caliber to reload.

Third tip. Some powders are a Gold Standard for certain calibers and availability is beyond spotty. I heard recently that the reason that the Hodgdon Clays series powders have disappeared is because these powders were (are?) made in Canada and currently not permitted to cross the border into the USA. Cannot verify the truthfulness of this rumor but it does sound sensible. If you can purchase a powder that will work then get that powder in bulk even if it's not perfect. As for Primers, Cheddite is the ONLY primer available and it's winning over converts every day. So get your primers in bulk, I now maintain a reserve stock of Primers and Powder for 2 full years of reloading.

Fourth tip. Have FUN. Those in the Shotgun community are the most helpful and pleasant group of folks you will ever encounter. So even those who won't ever be in the Olympics or a World Champion can still have a lot of fun getting out and busting some Clays.
 
I don't think where Clays is made is the problem, we aren't finding any in Canada, either. chuckle. It was originally an Australian ADI powder. Powders are hit and miss, mostly miss, but I've been finding some. Primers on the other hand, are much more scarce. With rifle reloading , since I don't shot Farky Class anymore, bricks last me. I may only shoot a couple of boxes of traps a week, I still go through them. So anytime I saw some, I bought them . Single sleeves at what I thought were outrageous prices. I haven't bought single sleeves since the early days of my reloading. I did find a bricks of Cheddites at a gunshow and bought a couple, all I could afford. I'm seeing them now at twice that price.

When I asked about presses here, I was told Lee was done by "feel" and the MEC was done by adjustment. I found a used MEC 600jr and upgraded to current. I'm quite pleased with it. There are YouTube vids on the Lee that may help.
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
There used to be a rule of thumb that when going from any other primer to a Federal 209A, you would be OK if you reduced the powder charge by 1/2 gr. There also was a rule of thumb that if you used data for a load that called for a Federal 209A and used any other primer, you were OK because the pressure and velocity would only go one direction: down. Fed 209As, generally, are the hottest primers out there.
Good to know. Thank you.
 
Wads are so cheap I wouldn’t even load those 1 1/8oz loads. My wife also recently got into clays with me and I reduced my 12ga loads to 7/8oz with CB1078 wads. I have a good supply of Red Dot although it’s likely not the most efficient powder for the load. The 7/8oz loads don’t cycle reliably in our semi-autos however.
Win AA 12ga
CH209
16.1gr Red Dot
CB1078 wad
7/8 ounce lead
They break birds well.
Watch out for bad shot drop consistency with #6 and larger pellets if you load some for hunting
 
Discussion starter · #33 ·
Wads are so cheap I wouldn’t even load those 1 1/8oz loads. My wife also recently got into clays with me and I reduced my 12ga loads to 7/8oz with CB1078 wads. I have a good supply of Red Dot although it’s likely not the most efficient powder for the load. The 7/8oz loads don’t cycle reliably in our semi-autos however.
Win AA 12ga
CH209
16.1gr Red Dot
CB1078 wad
7/8 ounce lead
They break birds well.
Watch out for bad shot drop consistency with #6 and larger pellets if you load some for hunting
Thanks very much for the information and recipe. Very helpful.
 
If you want to please your wife a 3/4 oz 12 ga load is really sweet, and will do a great job on the skeet field. If you're shooting a gas gun then cycling might be an issue - I have no experience with these contraptions, but others can offer input regarding the powder/wad combination that will work ok in a gas gun at 3/4 oz.
 
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