12 Ga. trap load E3

[H Richard]

Since my favorite Rex-1 (and all Rex powders) are either no longer manufactured or no longer imported, I had to find a replacement. I used Rex because it was very cost effective, about $15 a lb. last purchased last spring. I debated about going back to Clays, but it's more expensive, and not any cleaner. Having made an inquiry here about a month or so ago, I was recommended Alliant e3. That's a powder I hadn't even heard of, not sure just how new it is. Alliant does have lots of loading data on their website. Locally was not available, so I stopped in at Graff's in Mexico, MO which I go past to see my back doctor in Columbia, MO. Got just 1 lb. at $15.16 retail.

I loaded 10 rounds at a time for chronographing, starting with a Mec #32 (17.0 gr.) bushing (which is 1 smaller than I had been using for Rex), With those results I dropped to a #30 (16.0 gr.) bushing which yielded pretty good results, but I went one more with a 29 bushing (15.5 gr.).

You can see by the chart the 29 bushing (15.5 gr.) went too light I have settled on the #30 bushing, (16.0 gr.).

This was shot using a 32" barrel in my BT99, so I imagine from a 28" barrel it will be down somewhere around 1100 fps. Guess I should chrono form my skeet gun next.

I will say it is very clean burning, one of the cleanest I have powders I have used.

12 Ga. "1" Oz. #8
Browning BT99+, 32"
Beta Chrony, at 9'
Remington STS Hull
Claybuster CB1100-12 WAA12 Replacement wad
Win 209
Mec Bushing 32 30 29
Powder E3 17gr. 16gr. 15.5gr.

Velocity 1 1258 1225 1186
Velocity 2 1261 1238 1193
Velocity 3 1293 1244 1182
Velocity 4 1252 1235 1172
Velocity 5 1167 1271 1198
Velocity 6 1283 1247 1161
Velocity 7 1272 1254 1254
Velocity 8 1250 1193 1194
Velocity 9 1235 1230 1154
Velocity 10 1240 1190

LO 1167 1193 1154
HI 1293 1271 1254
AV 1251 1236 1188
ES 126.4 78.13 99.9
SD 34.65 20.66 27.27


Sorry about the chart, copy form Excel doesn't exactly transfer very well. Hope you can read it all right.

 

[glowe]

I find that the recoil with E-3 is too much for me. E-3 is just about the fastest powder out there and the felt recoil feels too sharp to me when shooting lots of rounds of sporting clays or trap.

I used Clays for years, but tried Promo about 3 years ago and never looked back! Promo is as much as $40 per 8 pounds cheaper and I have never had any problems with the performance. I use 17.5 grains, CB1100, and NobelSport primers in both Winchester and Remington hulls and consistently get 1200fps.

Why NobelSport - again price. I have not had one misfire in 3 years of shooting them. They are basically a Winchester 209 replacement and seem to fit well into both Winchester and Remington primer pockets. Price per 5000 are about $30 to $40 cheaper than Winchester.

I have to admit that I am recoil shy, so I shoot a Browning Recoiless. If anyone knows these trap guns, they will tell you that these shotguns do not function well with light loads, but these 1 ounce loads with Promo function flawlessly. The only thing I have noticed is that there is a small velocity drop in cold weather, so for winter shooting, I add .5 to 1.0 grains more powder.