any one reloading 16ga?

kevin82

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southern ontario
New to shotshell reloading and looking for someone who reloads 16ga to help me in my new endeavour. As of now I have claybuster waa16 clone wads, black RGL hulls 2 3/4, federal purple slug hulls with a paper base wad 2 3/4, cheddite 209 primers, 7 1/2 shot, lee load all 2, 700x powder and lymans 5th ed. shotshell reloading manual.
The claybuster wads are the only ones I can find, and of course the manual doesn't list them as something useable, nor 700x in a 1 to 1 1/8oz load the wad is designed for. Not a problem to buy other powder but Im kind of stuck with the hulls and wads as there isn't many options out there.
I loaded 5 rounds from the hodgdons online data with the components I have except the wad, they say sp16 an bp g/bp wads.

Any help would be great
thanks
 
I never loaded for 16 but I did it for 12. Basically you have to follow the load data from the manual. Do not substitute anything. If with the components you have can't reload safely anything then don't do it. Get the proper hulls, wads and powder and start fresh. I know cheap is better but safe is the best of all. I have too thousands of hunting wads I can't use for trap and I hate it but there is nothing I can do. No offence but the RGL hulls won't last you more than 2 reloads. Dig hard for quality hulls and you won't regret it.
I love reloading shotshells more than reloading for pistols. Reloading is awesome if done right.
And 700x is an awesome powder. Use it with the proper shells and wads. You'll love it.
 
I have no experience loading 16 gauge, but also load for 12gauge.

The reason you can't find much data with 700x, is that it is too fast burning for 16 gauge loads with more than 1oz of shot.

Lyman's 4th edition shows 1oz loads for a couple of hulls with 700x, but not the combination of components you have. This is one of the biggest problems for loading 16 gauge from what I know, is limited component options, limited published data, and generally poorer quality of the available hulls.

You may wish to look into the 16 gauge society website, as I understand they have tested data available for a relatively nominal fee that will broaden your options.

As mentioned proper practice in shotshell loadings to follow the recipe exactly. Many people do swap components,with caution and in low pressure loads only,but all bets are off and the risk is on you if you choose to do so.
 
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You need to go to 16ga.com - lots of load data on-line with attribution to its original publication source.
Also join the Yahoo usergroup - reloading16gauge for their collection of published data, just about everything ever published in one place, sorted by hull type or wad choice..

Black Remington game hulls have less capacity than Purple Federal hulls and will be easier to find a load that crimps nicely, I expect. Most powders are not bulky enough to make full cases and nice crimps in Federal hulls with the wads on the market now, without using overshot wads.

Hodgdon's reloading site on-line lists loads with new Winchester 572 and Longshot for your components.

Claybuster AA-16 clone wads are supposed to be direct substitution, but I do not substitute at the max. end of pressure in the reloading tables. The only 16 gauge one ounce loads for 700X with your hulls and wads that I can find are over 11,000 psi.
There are lower pressure choices with slower powders on the Yahoo reloading16gauge spreadsheets for your hulls and wads.
 
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