KY, your post brought up great points. The more pressure, the less variation. NSSA max is 229 grains. 1/2 ounce is 218.8 grains. If you drill your shot bar or bushing to throw 230 or so, you have a great load that will fill your green shells and give you every advantage in an NSSA shoot. I recommend that you throw a powder charge of 296 that will give you about 1225 to 1250. Tom and Sam also brought up good points.