Lightest possible 12 ga load

[Mike in Ct]

Using standard componets Ie Red-Dot, AA wad & 8 shot in an old federal paper case...Can you safely devise about a 7/8 Oz load inside a 12ga hull I'm going to try it for first shots over a new pointing dog...Mr Bernie is not blank shy but I've been told & think it is a good idea to work up to full power loads around young dogs....I bought a box of the new WIN-LITE 12 ga shells ...it says half the noise ...You guys use any of this stuff...or thoughts about loading light for training young dogs....The blanks I made with Pyrodex came out great...I used a 22short as a powder measure...couple of cotton balls inside AA wad..worked just fine in an old o/u I use for dog training...mike in ct

[Graybeard]

I don't use that component set but do shoot only 7/8 oz loads for skeet when using the 12 ga. I use 700X powder, CB gray 7/8 oz wads and either Winchester AA or Remington STS hulls and it works fine for me. I'm getting about 1125 fps and minimal recoil which is why I use it. I honestly don't think you'll find the noise level any different whether you use 7/8 or 1-1/4 oz of shot. Recoil will be different but not noise level.

[BCB]

Mike in Ct,

Many years ago when I was hunting rabbits using shotguns, I reloaded the Federal Champion (paper hull) using only 5/8 ounce of #4 shot copper.  I built the column up inside a Federal wad using 20 gauge shot cards and Winchester Super Grex buffer.  The powder was Green Dot.  This load was never found in any book or wherever, so I won't post the exact proportions.  I used the larger shot for efficient kills from few hits--in other words, the rabbits weren't all shot-up.  So, yep you can load very light loads in the 12 guage.  Good-luck and be careful...BCB

[Sir Charles deMoutonBlack]

16 gr RED DOT, Win WAAL grey wad & 7/8 oz #8.  Its listed in the ALLIANT Reloaders Guide, 2000 edition

[Mike in Ct]

Thank you all for the good info....I'll let u all no how the shells & the new dogs work...mike