It has been awhile since a blog post or video, but getting back in the swing of it with one of my favorite powders Longshot.
Longshot is a true magnum shotgun powder for 12 gauge. It can be used for high velocity loads, and heavy magnum loads. Here are some of the balisitics provided by Hodgdon for the Federal 2 3/4" Gold Medal hulls. 1 1/4oz of lead can be pushed to 1,495fps, and 1 1/8oz can be pushed to 1,585fps.Which 3" steel shot velocity coming from a 2 3/4" hull with lead.
Now I praise this powder because it is an effective hunting powder, and pistol powder. That will do 12 gauge 2 3/4" loads to 12 gauge 3 1/2" loads. It is even very effective in 20 gauge and is the go to powder for my son's 20 gauge for field and target loads. Per Hodgdon's website this powder is an effective powder from 12 gauge to 28 gauge. It is also great in handguns from .32 H&H all the way up to 500 S&W. It is great for replicating military ballistics for 124 grain 9mm loads.
If you have issues with standard style flake powders this powder will surprise you as it meters very well even being a traditional size flake powder.
I use Federal 2 3/4" Gold Medal hull 1 1/4oz load data with BPI buffer as one of my main hunting rounds for squirrels in summer brush or long distances in the fall. With the pressure, and velocity this powder can push lead to buffer becomes very important to avoid set back into the shot cup or deformities of shot as it travels down the barrel. Without buffer i got a lot of flyers, but once the buffer was added it tightened up real good. I use it for .45 Auto with great velocity and accuracy out of my 1911's with Hornady 185 grain XTP. It is also good for replicating military 9mm 124 grain FMJ ballistics, and is great with velocity on all jacketed rounds in each caliber I use it in.
Now there are only really four negatives that some people may have with this powder though only one applies to me. Being a slow burning magnum shotgun powder it is typically $2 or so more a pound for just about all other Hodgdon powders which is my one negative, but I can be a cheapskate on stuff so take it for what you will. The other issues some people may have is for 12 gauge it is strictly a magnum hunting powder. In 20 gauge its a switch hitter, but 12 gauge it is limited. That I don't have an issue with as I bought the powder strictly for hunting rounds. Being a slow burning magnum powder for magnum loads you get a good muzzle flash, and a good amount of recoil. Muzzle flash bothers some, but with this I don't find it an issue because it does what it is supposed to for me which is kill squirrels and crows dead quickly. It also is going to have some recoil to it. Not as bad as steel shotshells, but you know you're shooting it. Again for me it is a trade off I will take due to its ability to drop game. I am extremely confident in my shot, and my loads as I shoot regularly, and when I am able to shoot leagues and matches. So I will take shots other people will not because I know I can drop what I am shooting at, and the limits of me and my ammo. Which due to that I have used high velocity loads made with Longshot to drop squirrels, and crows at greater then 50 yards. I have used this powder and those same loads year round a lot of the time here in Missouri without any real difference in the pressure, and grouping. From the horrible summer heat of 110 degrees to the negative -18 winters in rain, snow, sleet, and hail, and in the mountains of Wyoming at about 8,000ft up in heavy snowfall with really no noticeable difference in pressure or accuracy.
If you are a shotgun hunter this powder should be at your loading bench for all your lead shot, and Bismuth needs. If you reload handguns this powder will sit nicely for just about anything, and especially with those jacketed rounds. It might be limited on uses for 12 gauge, but it still is a go to powder for me, one I will always highly recommend, and make sure I have at least a pound or two on hands at all times.