The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
[ The L.C. Smith Collectors Association ]

16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by Michael Hatton on June 23, 2024, 2:05 pm

Recent short load for my old Elsie and others. 15.7 gr of Alliant Green Dot with BP SG 16 short wad and around 13/16 oz #8 shot (what the 7/8 charge bar drops). I roll crimp these with my Makita using the BP overshot wad. Breaks a lot of clays. For a spreader, I cut off the petals like BP suggests and insert the BP X. No chronograph, however, mild recoil. Anyone have a good Alliant 20/28 powder or other low pressure load for the 16 gauge? I have a lot of 700 and 800 X plus Longshot inventory.

My favorite short 12 gauge light load uses Alliant Extra Lite and similar shot weight. Federal cases cut down and a roll crimp.

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by David Williamson on June 24, 2024, 8:24 am, in reply to "16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

For 16 gauge I was using Longshot, Universal and Unique, but ran out and will not buy any Alliant powder until they do something about the price. I load all the gauges and all with Hodgdon powder, which is getting higher also.

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by Byron Whitlock on June 24, 2024, 2:15 pm, in reply to "16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

Your load sounds similar to what I load my 2 5/8 hulls with except that I fold crimp my longer hulls. They shoot great and break targets when I do my part.

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by Doug Precourt on June 30, 2024, 6:31 pm, in reply to "16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

Does anyone have a 16 gauge low pressure shell recipe (under 7600 psi) that could be completed using some of the limited ingredients listed below that I have collected:
- Hulls: Cheddite 2.5” or 2.75” hulls with Cheddite 209 primers
- Powders - Any of these: Alliant Red Dot, Win AA SuperHandicap, Alliant E3, Win 572 Ball Powder, Win 473AA Ball Powder, Alcan AL-5 or Win 680 rifle
- Wads - one of these three: ClayBuster CB0078-16 or CB0100-16 Or Ballistic Products Sporting 16 wad (BP/SPTG16)

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by Doug Precourt on June 30, 2024, 6:43 pm, in reply to "Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

Oh! I also have the following old style wads that can be used:
- Circle Fly Shotgun Fibre Wads
- Federal Components Card Wads .200 inch thick
- Ballistic Products Overshot Card

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by John Pulis on September 26, 2024, 7:58 am, in reply to "Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

Charlie Brooks posted some time ago on this site 20/28 powder recipes for 16 Cheddite hulls with, if I remember correctly, commander wads from BP. Some else posted l20/28 using DR 16 wads, 3/4 oz loads. Not sure who or when but a search should locate them.

Good luck

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by Charlie Brooks on September 27, 2024, 6:42 pm, in reply to "Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

I like 17-17.2 grains of 2028 using the BP Commander wad with 1oz. of shot.I have tried many other combinations but I liked this one the best for the short RST hulls.Feel free to call.Charlie.

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by Douglas Precourt on October 7, 2024, 3:37 pm, in reply to "16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

In an attempt to get my arms around the 16 gauge low-pressure reloading options, I created a spreadsheet of recipes with PSI near 7,500 from 4 different reloading resources. This is helping me, so I thought that it would be helpful to others as well.

I was able to collect all 5 of the Lyman shotshell reloading manuals, which I thought would help me use some old older powders I’ve been able to obtain during our current powder shortage, but found that the many and varied wads are no longer made or unavailable but more importantly, the pressure to measure was not P.S.I., like we use today, but L.U.P. From what I have read, the two measures don’t have a conversion table to each other.

Please let me know if I have missed anything or crossed a line that I am not aware of.
Thanks,
- Doug

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by Max Close on September 28, 2025, 5:09 pm, in reply to "16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

Where are you guys obtaining your powders, 2028, Green Dot etc

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by Jay Baskette on September 29, 2025, 9:10 pm, in reply to "Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

Doug, did all of your recipes come out of reloading manuals, or were they tested to obtain the ballistics? Thx

Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load

Posted by Steve Arnett on October 2, 2025, 7:18 am, in reply to "Re: 16 Ga 2 1/2 Inch Load "

Precision Reloading in Mitchell, SD has occasionally gotten shipments of Alliant powder. Prices are very high, and stock disappears quickly anyway. I have some Green Dot, which I will try to stretch out for as long as possible. I have been using 15.5 Green Dot, W-W 209, RST 2 1/2" hull, BP SG-16 wad and 7/8 oz. #8, fold crimp. Tested by Tom Armbrust, 1,202 ft./sec., 9,440 psi. Very consistent, 33 ft./sec. ES, 400 psi ES on pressure.

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