How to Load a 20 Gauge With Green Dot

Green Dot is a smokeless firearms propellant manufactured by Alliant Powders that's used primarily for reloading shotshells. A double-base, round-cut flake powder, Green Dot is noted for its precise burn rate and low fouling properties. Because its even burn rate delivers a high degree of ballistic consistency, Green Dot is particularly well-suited for reloading lighter weights of shot, like those typically used in 20-gauge shotshell loads.

Things You'll Need

  • Shotshell reloading press
  • 20-gauge die set
  • Primers
  • Shotshell wads
  • Green Dot smokeless propellant
  • Lead shot
  • Precision powder scale
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select the load recipe you want to use. Load recipes specify the components you need to use, along with the type and weight of powder, and the weight of shot. Alliant provides more than 20 different recipes for reloading 20-gauge shells on the company's website (aliantpowder.com.)

    • 2

      Prepare your reloading press. Select the powder bushing that matches the propellant weight of your specific load recipe and mount it in the charge bar. Note that some press manufacturers may not provide powder bushings that exactly match your selected recipe. In this case, choose a powder bushing that dispenses the weight of powder closest to your recipe, without exceeding the weight specified in the recipe. A slight propellant under-charge is safer than an over-charge.

    • 3

      Select and install the shot bushing that matches your load recipe, then mount the charge bar onto the press.

    • 4

      Set up and test the powder station on your press. Fill the powder dispenser with Green Dot propellant. Operate the charge bar to drop a powder charge into the pan from your powder scale, then weigh the powder charge to make sure the correct weight of powder was dispensed. Dump the powder back into the dispenser's hopper, then drop and weigh two more loads to verify consistency.

    • 5

      Fill the hopper of the shot dispensing station with the size shot specified in your recipe. Load the priming station with fresh primers.

    • 6

      Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your specific model of reloading press to load your shotshells. To ensure that your powder dispenser drops consistent loads of Green Dot throughout your loading session, use your powder scale to weigh the charge delivered to every tenth shell.