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Hodgdon Universal Powder ?

1.8K views 26 replies 15 participants last post by  AHI  
#1 ·
I was given 7 lbs of the powder in the photo below by a retiring reloader friend.
A little searching has left me stumped on loading data for it. I'm wanting to use it for 3/4 oz 12 gauge target loads and Hogdens on-line data lists "Clays"..........not specifically, Universal.
Is the load data on their site applicable to the powder I have? Thanks for any insight.
Kentuckycook
 
#2 ·
Universal might prove to be too slow burning for 3/4 ounce in 12 gauge, but it's perfect for 3/4 ounce in 28 gauge. You just hit the jackpot on a powder that hasn't been available for a few years now and is highly in demand. See if you can trade it for 8 pounds of a powder more suited to 3/4 ounce in 12 gauge.
 
#8 ·
Also works well for 3/4 in 20 as well as a myriad of handgun loads; currently using it for 20 3/4 oz loads as I am out of Green Dot
 
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#4 ·
Clays and Universal Clays are completely different powders.

I've loaded a lot of 3/4 oz 12 gauge with Clays. IIRC Universal Clays is more of a 20 gauge powder???

But as Silver Is Money said, Universal is a very sought after powder that is for all practical purposes unavailable now, so if you have no specific use for it you will have no problem selling or trading it.
 
#7 ·
The burn rate of Universal is too slow for 3/4 oz 12 ga. loads. Universal's wheel house in 12 ga is heavy field loads. Where it shines is 20 and 28 ga. target loads.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Can't find data? Must be a bad powder. Send it to me for proper disposal.

It makes nice 12 gauge 1 1/4 oz. loads, 16 gauge 1 oz. loads, 20 gauge 3/4 & 7/8 oz. loads and 28 gauge 3/4 oz. loads, plus more in between.

12 gauge 3/4 oz. loads? Not a top notch idea.
 
#10 ·
Can't find data? Must be a bad powder. Send it to me for proper disposal.

It makes nice 12 gauge 1 1/4 oz. loads, 16 gauge 1 oz. loads, 20 gauge 3/4 & 7/8 oz. loads and 28 gauge 3/4 oz. loads, plus a more in between.

12 gauge 3/4 oz. loads? Not a top notch idea.
This is my first ever use of this powder, hence my unfamiliarity.😁 Sounds like I'll be using it in my 16, 20 and 28!
I have other powders for my 3/4 oz 12 gauge loads.
Thanks to all for setting me on the right path. 👍
Kentuckycook
 
#16 · (Edited)
Some powders that should be better suited to 3/4 ounce in 12 gauge (in no particular order, but the first eight listed are likely the best bets from a relative burn rate perspective):

Extra Lite
e3
Nitro 100 NF
Titewad
Perfect Pattern
700-X
Clays
Clay Dot
Red Dot
Promo
High Gun
Competition
WST

For 3/4 ounce I use Nitro 100 NF, Cheddite CX-2000 primers, CB0175 wads, and old Blue Magic hulls.
 
#17 ·
Some powders that should be suited to 3/4 ounce in 12 gauge (in no particular order):

Extra Lite
e3
Nitro 100 NF
Titewad
Perfect Pattern
700-X
Clays
Clay Dot
Red Dot

For 3/4 ounce I use Nitro 100 NF, Cheddite CX-2000 primers, CB0175 wads, and old Blue Magic hulls.
Yessir, I have enough Titewad and E3 for the wife and I to shoot 3/4 oz/12 ga for a couple years, this Universal will be relegated to my 16 and 28 in order to conserve my dwindling stash of 20/28 powder.
Remember when we didn't have to "jump through" so many hoops to reload? 🥺🤣
Kentuckycook
 
#22 ·
About the time I realized I could use Universal in all my shotgun loads and many handgun loads, it disappeared from the shelves. I have looked for over two years and am now down to less than one pound. It appears that the small plant in Belgium that makes Universal got a huge NATO contract and stopped production of Universal and some other powders that I can't remember.
 
#23 ·
About the time I realized I could use Universal in all my shotgun loads and many handgun loads, it disappeared from the shelves. I have looked for over two years and am now down to less than one pound. It appears that the small plant in Belgium that makes Universal got a huge NATO contract and stopped production of Universal and some other powders that I can't remember.
Universal, formerly Universal Clays, was made in Australia until the plant that made it burned down. Now, when it's made, it's made by General Dynamics at a plant in Canada. It never has been made in Europe. The General Dynamics plant, as i understand it, is busy making powders for defernse customers.