Metal god, I have loaded 20-16-and 12 GA shells but haven’t done so since I lost my Shorthair in 2005. I recently had a resurgence of interest because of sporting clays and I am back in action, but looking for more modern information. Maybe this will help you.
I have a Lyman 2nd Edition shotshell handbook that shows drawings of various hulls sectioned in half to demonstrate the internal wad construction. That was a valuable lesson to show me why one cannot simply use any hull you have available.
The very common red Winchester AA hull has probably not changed and is described as “Compression formed plastic.” It is virtually identical, and I have used these interchangeably, with Remington “RXP” plastic target hulls. They are typically green, but blue ones are “Peters” hulls, and I have those that are black ribbed, when hack-sawed about 1/2-inch above the outside brass portion, appear to be the same and I have used them without any problem.
The black cases differ externally. Both are ribbed, but one has a “silver” outside base labeled “Remington 12 GA” while the other is brass and labeled “Remington-Peters 12 GA.”
The common smooth red Winchester AA cases are stamped, “Winchester AA.” There is also a “silver” outside base, red, ribbed case stamped “Winchester 12 GA” – which has a plastic base wad inside rather than the AA compression formed plastic – but still looks like the AA, and allows the use of the same wad.
I loaded each of these with 19.5gr of Green Dot, a CB 1118-12 wad (Clay Buster generic white AA wad), 1-1/8oz of #8 and Fed 209A primers and fired them off with no issues. I have also loaded the same hulls as described with Remington *97 (209), Winchester 209 and CCI 209 primers. From the load data that I reviewed, all should provide 1200 fps but the pressures in psi differ. Just don’t use magnum primers like CCI 209M unless the recipe calls for magnum primers.
As you review various possible loads, just pay attention to the pressure generated. I looked up the SAAMI maximum pressure for 12 GA and it is 11,500 psi. My 5 loads above have different pressures, but none are near 11,500 psi., according to the load data I reviewed.
Regarding outside “High Brass”or “Low Brass” shells, that is a marketing concept, suggesting High Brass is more powerful. According to Lyman, 2nd Edition:
“High or Low outside brass is no indication of volume, strength or loading potential. Often, a trap, or field load, which has low outside brass will actually use a higher inner base wad to reduce volume and better accommodate its lighter charge.” (but the wad you use for the lead will be smaller as well).
The 2nd edition Lyman lists a LOT of loads, but here is one for 1-1/4-oz of shot, which I would imagine what you’d need if you’re using 00 shot. It considered a “heavy field load.”
Win AA compression formed hull; Unique 24.0gr; Win 209 primer; Win AA12R wad; 1245fps – 9820 LUP
LUP=Lead units of pressure, so cannot be equated to psi.
The Alliant 7-96 issue lists NINE loads with 5 different primers and wads for a 1-1/4oz load in a Win AA hull, using Unique powder. The velocity is 1220 fps but the pressures range from 9500psi to 10,700psi
with charges that vary from 22.5gr to 24.0gr of powder. The difference is due to the type of wad used!
So, pick a hull and primer, then a recipe from any source (Hogdon Reloading site is a good start); wads from Clay Busters can be matched to work with those you may need in the recipe. You will probably have to bite the bullet on powder unless you can find a recipe that uses what you have on hand. Common powders I’ve seen are Red Dot, Green Dot, Blue Dot, Unique, 70-X, 800-X, Herco, Clays, International, Universal, Titegroup, HS-6 and Longshot, just to name a few.
