Shotshell reloads blooper problem

Static! Wipe bottles with a dryer sheet, and even use a humidifier in the room in the winter. (At least in cold weather)

Side note; I've been using Red Dot for 35 years, and now have tried Clays. I've always had a small amount of residual gunk in the barrel after shooting Red Dot, but the Clays powder left my barrel clean of the residue. Shot one round with Red Dot and had gunk, shot the next round with Clays and it actually blew the gunk out. Both powders were new within a couple weeks, (maybe the Red Dot sat on the store shelf longer, but it's been that way for years). Not sure why it worked that way, but I'll be a Clays user from now on!
 
Sweet shot - if you like Clays, you might also want to try ClayDot - their answer to Clays. Load data the same, pricing a lot less (at least in the 8# jugs). I have used all three and all work great in my 3/4, 7/8, and 1oz reloads for 12 gauge
 
Clays is my choice in 12ga...( with a lot of good loads for 7/8oz, 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz of shot ) ....although I load 1oz 99% of the time...

in 20ga ...I use Hodgdon International (but Universal is common too)
in 28ga ....I use Hodgdon Universal
in .410 .....I use Hodgdon H 110

and I've been using more and more Universal in my handgun loads for 9mm, .40S&W, .45 acp, .38 spl, .357 mag and .44 mag... and its been working well there too.
 
I agree OneOunce.....long term I'll quit using International probably in the 20ga ...while Universal is dirty in a 20ga ...it isn't a big enough deal to go out and order another 8lb keg of International especially since 90% of the time the 20ga I shoot is an O/U.
 
Thanks guys, I'll try the claydot after I burn through the 8# keg of clays. I'm about 85% 1oz. loads with a few 7/8 (skeet) and 1-1/8 (trap doubles 2nd shot).
 
1oz of shot is plenty on Trap doubles ....even on Continental Trap .../ save yourself some money on shot...and try some 1oz loads and see how you do. ( especially if you load 1 oz of 8's ...its a real versatile shell ..in my opinion).

7/8 oz is plenty for skeet ...and even for Trap singles out to the 20 yd line...

Price of shot ... and recoil ...durability of our shoulders, hands, wrists, etc ...has caused a lot of us to look at lighter payloads.
 
Hey big Jim, I already shoot 8 shot. I'm thinking you're onto something. 'Specially with the price of everything. I just paid 130 bucks for the 8# Clay keg and shot was around 40 bucks a bag.

What grains do you load with 7/8 and 1oz loads using Clays, and what hulls/wads/primers? I've got a million AA's, and I've been using DRXL-1's for 1oz and WAA12L for 7/8. (Nobody seems to carry DRXXL 7/8 size in bulk around here). 209 winchester primers....

Summer, I do shoot handicap and our squad is typically at 20 to 23 yards depending on the weekly score, so I still like the heavy 1-1/8 with heavier powder load for that, but that's only 4 boxes a week.
 
I use Duster wads ( Green Duster for 1 oz ) ...and I only load Rem STS or Rem Nitro hulls in 12ga...( win 209 primers ) and at 18.3gr of Clays for a shell that is about 1225 fps....in 8's.

I just load the one shell for everything in a 12ga ....for skeet, sporting clays, trap, or whatever....( I used to load about 6 different velocities, and some in 7/8 oz, some 1oz, some 1 1/8 oz ...etc ....) ...but quit about 5 yrs ago... ( I don't load 9's or 8 1/2's or something different for Skeet either ...) ...I just stay with the 8's for everything in a 12ga ( I do load some 9's in 20ga for skeet and some 8's for sporting, etc / and I only load 9's in 28ga and .410 ) ....

If the 1oz of 8's will break Continental Trap targets....they'll break single trap targets out to the 24 yd line real well too ....now I might be tempted to load some 7 1/2's if I was shooting beyond the 24 yd line....( but I'd still stay with 1 oz of shot ).

I don't think getting away from 1 1/8 oz shells ...hurt my scores one little bit ...over the years....less recoil = better focus on the target...and way less abuse on the body in a long 4 day tournament where you might shoot 200 or more shells a day ...

Tomorrow I'm going to my club with 6 boxes of 12ga ( all 1oz 8's ) and 6 boxes of 28ga 3/4oz of 9's and a couple of Citori XS Skeet model O/U's ...I'll shoot the 12ga / but if my shoulder hurts or I get tired of the 12ga...I'll shoot my 28ga instead...( and I would not be surprised if my scores are better with the 28ga ...)...
 
I just paid 130 bucks for the 8# Clay keg
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OUCH! I bought mine for $99 delivered

What grains do you load with 7/8 and 1oz loads using Clays, and what hulls/wads/primers? I've got a million AA's, and I've been using DRXL-1's for 1oz and WAA12L for 7/8. (Nobody seems to carry DRXXL 7/8 size in bulk around here). 209 winchester primers....
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Gamaliel and Graf's typical have them in stock. As to the 209's, go with NobelSport, Fiocchi or similar - MUCH cheaper than Winchester
 
The last 8lb keg I bought was about $ 110 or so ....

prices do vary a little accross the country ....I just deal with local guys .
 
CLAYS is running about 110 to 120, but CLAYDOT runs at a promo price, typically about 99, making it worth the effort to get. Mine come delivered on the distributor truck that delivers the targets to the club, so we save on shipping and hazmat
 
Hey Oneounce, thanks! Are the Noble, Fiocchi, and other 209's interchangeable with Win 209's? I know that Federal 209A's usually call for a minor recipe change with different wad or powder drop.
 
As far as I am concerned, they are. i would not mix the hot magnum primers or certain ones from federal or CCI necessarily. but Nobel Sports are an exact sub for Win 209 and most folks feel the same about the Fiocchi 616 - basically any "regular" primer is going to be close enough not to make much of an issue with basic target loads. Using them, and clone wads from ClayBuster, DownRange, or similar will help cut costs. If your local club can't (or won't) order them in for you, go in with a group of folks and do a group buy, helps save on freight. Same thing with powder and primers - the more you spread out the hazmat fee, the easier it is to accept.

As I said, I am lucky in that my club orders from one of the big distributors so they deliver on their own truck - no additional shipping or hazmet since the truckload of targets basically pays the freight bill. i wind up paying regular catalog price but that includes delivery, hazmat, sales tax and a small profit for the club -fair enough trade-off for me
 
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