Any trap shooters in the house that reload AA's

[PoorRichRichard]

Buy a reloading manual or two. There are a number of Shotshell reloading books.

The Web is great but its good to have published tested load info. And the books have how-to info.

https://flic.kr/p/2jamRMF

Happy Reloading, and stay safe .
-rich

[jimmykan]

CaliAngler, what powders do you already have, and what other powders are readily available to you?

Are you loading for a manual (pump or break action) or auto-loading shotgun?

For manual shotguns, I like Alliant Red Dot, Hodgdon Clays, IMR 700X or Ramshot Competition. Clean burning, low recoil.

For auto-loaders that need a little more recoil or gas volume to operate, I choose slower powders: Alliant Unique, Hodgdon Universal Clays, Winchester Super Handicap or WSF.

I would advise you to stay away from IMR 800X (too chunky, meters like crap) and Alliant Herco (does not burn cleanly, nicknamed "Alliant Flaming Dirt").

As for where to buy shot, the pro shop at gun club with a clays area should have bags of shot for sale, new and reclaimed. I buy reclaimed whenever I see it.

Some say reclaimed shot does not pattern as well as new shot, because the pellets are a mix of #7.5 #8 #9 and slightly deformed from firing and impact, but I'm not good enough to tell the difference.

From the 16 yard line, I don't think it matters. Maybe new shot does make a difference from the 27 yard line, but I never stand that far back from the trap house .

[CaliAngler]

I have tons of unique for 45. WST for whatever reason its on my shelf. and just picked up Green Dot.

Picked up about 1000 Win 209 primers.

Im shooting trap w my remington 870.

[whutsup40]

!7.7 titegroup, chedite primers, 8 petal downrange wads, 1 oz of 8 shot, kills clays all day long.

[RNE228]

Check local trap/skeet ranges for reclaim shot? Did that years ago at the old Rancho Cordova range.

Just picked one up at Bass pro but walked out without any 12ga winchester wads or lead shot.

ANYONE know where to get 25lb bags of lead shot in the modesto area? and wads? Willing to drive a short distance from the area to buy some

[CaliAngler]

For the life of me I cannot find any Winchester AA12 wads anywhere near me. Nor can I find shot anywhere at any gun store even bass pro.

I got the Green dot and W209 primers and lyman shotshell load manual.

Got bored and thought I strip a 7 1/2 shot from a federal cartridge out of one of my boxes try this out. Not sure if it looks good or work. No live primer but pulled the load data from one of the suggestions for the AA Super-Lite (vintage) wads box of 500 that came with some old AA hulls i got. 18gr of Green dot. It isnt bulging after reload. Does the pellets look a little too high up or is this what it should look like? Think this load would be safe?

<img src="https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=904974&stc=1&d=1591753 661">

[Thefeeder]

For the life of me I cannot find any Winchester AA12 wads anywhere near me. Nor can I find shot anywhere at any gun store even bass pro.

I got the Green dot and W209 primers and lyman shotshell load manual.

Got bored and thought I strip a 7 1/2 shot from a federal cartridge out of one of my boxes try this out. Not sure if it looks good or work. No live primer but pulled the load data from one of the suggestions for the AA Super-Lite (vintage) wads box of 500 that came with some old AA hulls i got. 18gr of Green dot. It isnt bulging after reload. Does the pellets look a little too high up or is this what it should look like? Think this load would be safe?

<img src="https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=904974&stc=1&d=1591753 661">

Looks perfect. Weighted your powder and shot drop, used the recipe components , no reason for it to not be safe

[rsrocket1]

If you are desperate for shot, order a 25 pound bag from Sportsman's Warehouse at $40 (!!) and pick it up in person (about 35 miles from Modesto). You could also call ahead to see if they have any of the shot size you want in stock.

Many SW stores also carry a good assortment of wads, there were plenty of bags of AA-12's and Claybuster AA-12 clones at the store in Rocklin last week.

[CaliAngler]

If you are desperate for shot, order a 25 pound bag from Sportsman's Warehouse at $40 (!!) and pick it up in person (about 35 miles from Modesto). You could also call ahead to see if they have any of the shot size you want in stock.

Many SW stores also carry a good assortment of wads, there were plenty of bags of AA-12's and Claybuster AA-12 clones at the store in Rocklin last week.

LOL Yeah I am pretty desperate. thanks for the info.

[CaliAngler]

Thanks to all the replies and help greatly appreciate it. Managed to work up some loads and my fingers an eyes are in tact after the first run.

One load data i couldn't figure out where my shot was going and is a light load was the win load data on their website calls for: 18gr green dot, WAASL, AA hull.

Off the Federal walmart special; 100pack targert, Mod choke, take the shot st 30'sh yards, beed on target and bust that clay no issues. Recoil is almost the same as the load I worked up shown right above. Solid round.

Now the question is, Is that load information Max load? Feels like the pattern shoots slightly under the beed.

[Thefeeder]

Thanks to all the replies and help greatly appreciate it. Managed to work up some loads and my fingers an eyes are in tact after the first run.

One load data i couldn't figure out where my shot was going and is a light load was the win load data on their website calls for: 18gr green dot, WAASL, AA hull.

Off the Federal walmart special; 100pack targert, Mod choke, take the shot st 30'sh yards, beed on target and bust that clay no issues. Recoil is almost the same as the load I worked up shown right above. Solid round.

Now the question is, Is that load information Max load? Feels like the pattern shoots slightly under the beed.

There is no Min/Max in shotshell reloading. There is just the recipe. You can load a recipe that has a higher feet per second ( FPS) rating for more speed

Solution is at a patterning board to see where and what is going on

[JagerDog]

Thanks to all the replies and help greatly appreciate it. Managed to work up some loads and my fingers an eyes are in tact after the first run.

One load data i couldn't figure out where my shot was going and is a light load was the win load data on their website calls for: 18gr green dot, WAASL, AA hull.

Off the Federal walmart special; 100pack targert, Mod choke, take the shot st 30'sh yards, beed on target and bust that clay no issues. Recoil is almost the same as the load I worked up shown right above. Solid round.

Now the question is, Is that load information Max load? Feels like the pattern shoots slightly under the beed.

Shotshells don't really change POA vs. POI. They can change size and evenness of pattern.

[LynnJr]

AA HS or CF hull 24.0 gr. of Unique or a 35 bushing with a MEC , WAA12 wad, Win 209 primer.
This was my handicap load as it was for thousands of other shooters.
Unique is a softer burning powder so you load it up for handicap rounds.
Greendot at 18 grains is a faster powder that works well at 16 yards and lighter 1 ounce loads.
If the gun is patterning low you need to adjust the stock. My guns shoot 1 foot above the bead. Does your gun have a field stock on it?
I only ask because most field stocks require you to cover the bird to get a bit.
Confirm everything online at Alliants website.

[CaliAngler]

Yes thanks for asking. With Federal walmart $20 100rds pack: I cover the bird with the beed and Im dead on target down. Not the same when I use the 18gr green dot, WAA12SL, 7 1/2 shot, 1 1/8 load, win 209 primer. Not even chipping a clay. Even though the AA's are the older one piece the plastic is still good and all the primers i been popping out are orginal brass primers from factory so they have been reloaded for the first time.

Shooting with a 1967 Stock 870 wingmaster magnum, original walnut stock, with a 28" ribbed modern barrel and Mod choke. I do have a mid bead as well helps line things up and somehwat of a slightly higher fiber optic sight.

I did order some #8 magnum. I shot a federal dove load and managed to do real well on a run busting 22 birds on a run. Velocity and everything else was about the same as the walmart target boxes for $20 mentioned above. But may be a good run I've only done 9 trap shoots my whole life

Not sure if the wads make a difference but I did manage to find some windjammers that call for exactly the same recipe for the green dot 18gr of it. attachments below of both wads. Pink ones are the ones I have used and loaded.

[LynnJr]

When you are looking down the barrel if the center bead lines up with the front bead you need to cover the bird.
If the center bead is under the front bead as you come up to the bird but still below it you will get a hit.
Sight down your barrel and see where your center bead is in relation to your front bead.
The picture shows my garbage can and recycling bin after trying to give away thousands of empties.