My grouse load is 80 grains of APP 2f then a plastic shotcup. Be sure to push that all the way down FIRMLY onto the powder charge. As Wabi so well warned, cards and wads can trap air. You will feel it as you push them down. After I have the wad down, I drop an equal amount of 7-1/2 bird shot from another shot cup. After that I put two thin over the shot cards. This will knock snot out of a grouse at 25 yards.

Another good load is dump the powder (and I have used the needle in the over the powder card as well) and push a over the powder card. Then I push in a fiber buffer wad. This keeps the shot off the powder card. I like to smear a little bore butter or lube on this wad. Then I dump shot from a shot cup down the bore and then an over the shot card. This is another good hard hitting load.

Handy shotgun data for the new smooth bore shooter...

(this is from my book of notes on the .62 caliber but should apply to your 12 gauge.

BLACK POWDER DRAM TO GRAIN CONVERSION
DRAM MEASURE-------GRAIN EQUIVALENT
2½ --------------------68.0
2¾ --------------------75.0
3 ----------------------82.0
3¼ --------------------89.0
3½ --------------------96.0
3¾ --------------------102.0


LEAD SHOT SIZE AND WEIGHT
Shot#---Diameter---Weight ea.--------# pellets/oz (approximate)
#2 -------.15" -------4.86 gr ----------------------90
#4 -------.13" -------3.24 gr ----------------------135
#5 -------.12" -------2.57 gr ----------------------170
#6 -------.11" -------1.94 gr ----------------------225
#7 -------.095" ------1.25 gr ----------------------350
#8 -------.090" ------1.07 gr ----------------------410
#9 -------.08" -------0.75 gr ----------------------585

1. Measure and pour the correct powder charge down each barrel. If shooting a double barrel gun it might be wise to charge each barrel at the same time to avoid confusion as to what has been done in the loading process.

2. The over powder wad is next. Depending on the choke of your weapon, these wads can be snug to very tight. Start an edge of the wad and then finish it off by pushing it down on top of your powder with the ramrod. Seat the wad firmly on top of the powder.

3. The fiber cushion wad comes next---unless you are using a plastic sleeve type at this time. Fiber wads are not loaded dry. If not pre-lubed---Wonder-Lube , Natural Lube 1000 or another readily available lube can be used. Push the cushion wad firmly down on top of the over powder wad. If using a plastic sleeve, seat the sleeve just as you did the cushion wad.

4. Measure and pour the desired charge of shot down the barrel.

5. The over-shot card wad is next. Again---firmly push the wad down the barrel till it is firmly seated on top of the shot charge.

6. Return your ramrod to the thimbles.

Gauge/Caliber/Weight/gr.
8 .835 875
10 .776 700
12 .730 583
13 .710 538
14 .693 500
16 .663 438
20 .615 350
24 .579 292
28 .550 250

I hope this helps. Also you have to take the choke off to load the plastic wads sometimes. There is a choke tool that will help you take the choke off. I made one in the shop after looking at one on the Thompson Center web sight.