20 gauge reloading advice

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grebber

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Hi

I shoot a 1961 20 gauge browning auto 5. I have it set up for light loads. I just started reloading for it but it will not cycle the reloads. It cycles winchester target loads with no issues. I am reloading using AA hulls and used the hodgdon site to set everything up. I am using a clay buster wad. it says that you can use up to 16.5 grs of 800x powder. I am using 16 grs of powder. I read that you should go 10% less for the powder. Does anyone have advice on getting these shells to cycle in my gun? Thanks for the help
 
Im not at home now away working but I used 700X and less to, just not sure of it now but it worked in every thing we tried and I shoot skeet with it so have shoot thousands of them. look up a load with 700X and try some it takes less to load with it. hope this helps
 
Thanks for the responses. On the hodgdon site it said not to use the 700 x with the AA hulls. Not sure if that matters or not. I will try moving up a little bit with the powder just wanted to make sure that it was alright to do that. Gun in well oiled it cycles all factory loads.
 
Have never reduced powder charges in shotgun reloads and been doing it for many many years all gauges and always follow what it printed to the letter. No less no more
We are not talking rifle reloading here
700X cannot normally be used in 20ga AA hulls and 800x is probally one of the hardest to get to drop properly
Try to find some unique once you use the 800x up
There is no reason you cannot duplicate the factory loads and cycle 100% of the time.
Cheers
 
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I would look at the problem in this order clean the shot gun a5 shotguns need to be clean to function. They can look good and when you clean them the problems are gone. Number two look at your reloads not sure of the brand of reloader but presses like a ponsness Warren have what they call a taper crimp for reliable feeding in auto loaders look and measure your reloads. Third thing would be to check your powder and perhaps up the charge. Good luck.
 
TACTICAL111 said:
I use 12.5 of 700 x with a 7/8 payload of 9 shot. But this is not through a semi. It's a sweet load.
Used 700x cause it's all I have right now.
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Yep sweet load if one could not care less about your gun etc assuming you are using AA hulls.
Chamber pressures would be right up there at Maximun SAAMI specs or over which is why they stopped listing recepies 30 years ago
Federal hulls you could get away with pending primer and wad used but are still running about 12,000
To each their own but not something I would suggest to another
Cheers
 
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I have been measuring the powder. It was staying very close to the recipe that we had. I will definitely break the gun down and clean it up again just to make sure. I will up the powder to get closer to the 16.5 grs. I will also continue to check to make sure the powder is dropping as it seems that 800x does not drop from peoples comments. I will not be able to try these things for a couple weeks as I will not be able to shot until then. Thank you so much for your help. I am glad i have some options.
 
grebber said:
I have been measuring the powder. It was staying very close to the recipe that we had. I will definitely break the gun down and clean it up again just to make sure. I will up the powder to get closer to the 16.5 grs. I will also continue to check to make sure the powder is dropping as it seems that 800x does not drop from peoples comments. I will not be able to try these things for a couple weeks as I will not be able to shot until then. Thank you so much for your help. I am glad i have some options.
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Just keep doing that and take your time and you will be fine. I have never changed from published proven tested data in 45 plus years reloading shotgun and have never had even one issue
Why people will experiment is beyond me. Would they do that reloading rifle NOPE but for some strange reason think it is OK for shotgun. I have standardized on unique for 28, 20 and 16ga many years ago and it works and drops fine in my MEC machines. Many years 15,000 plus rounds per years in these gauges There are probally even better powders out there today but for me it works so I am not changing
800x and wsf I still have some 8 pounders of but don't like how either drops so rarely use any more and that is with the baffles and brass washers installed. One I find bridges and one too fine
All the best
 
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