Reloading non-toxic shot for hunting?

[lewdogg21]

Hello reloaders,

Just wondering who in here loads their own non-toxic shot for hunting. The reason I ask is I was gifted a MEC jr. 600 from my great uncle and being a duck hunter I have my eyes squarely on January 1st. I have about 7 cases of waterfowl loads but regardless of how much I stock away at some point I'll run low or out and need to either buy or reload. I'm also squirreling away pistol/rifle reloading products and supplies so I can learn how to reload and avoid the "store" (based on principal).

Thanks,

[JagerDog]

I've dabbled a bit (I hunt mostly upland so haven't had to be non-tox till recently). Just shot commercial on the occassion I had to be non-tox (Fed refuge, etc.)

Last year started late developing a 3" 20g ITX load. Test came back "hot", so carried the 12g last year I had years before loaded up some 2-3/4" bismuth. Need to get back on that 20g load.

I've never loaded steel, but quite a few do.

What's the ?

[lewdogg21]

I was wondering if anybody in here actually reloads steel for hunting (or other non-toxic but if it's $1.00 a round I'm not really interested in that metal).

Maybe they would have some good pointers or say "Hey, check out this website for buying stuff from or this load, etc". I've got enough lead to last forever probably so I won't be buying for that.

[JagerDog]

Ballistic Products has the market share for steel reloading components and data. Precision Reloading is probably next in line.

If you're on Shotgunworld.com, there's quite few folks who reload steel and can tell you what worked for them.

And ya...any of the "exotics" (not steel) are gonna be expensive.

FWIW, Mec sells a kit for converting loader to steel. It's primarily charge bars calibrated for steel shot payloads and a larger ID drop tube to accomodate what is typically larger diameter shot (#1, 2 3...).

[lewdogg21]

^^^thanks Jager, I never even thought about a conversion kit. Your post helps a ton.

[JagerDog]

Duckhuntingchat supposedly has a lot of non-tox shot reloading folks.

[NapalmCheese]

I've been working on a bismuth 16 gauge load off and on for a while.

I need to take one apart and see if I'm still having powder migration problems in fact.

[sargenv]

I've been a reloader of non-toxic shot since it was mandated to use it 25+ years ago.. BPI, Precision, Graf's, Midway, and Gamiliel all offer components to load the non toxics.. Natchez had a supply of #2 and BB Heavy Shot for a pretty good deal some time back, not having a need I haven't looked if they still had it in stock. Sometimes Midway USA has sales on steel shot as a component. They were blowing out Steel #2 a cpl seasons back and I stocked up at that point since it was the best deal out there. You could pm me and I would be happy to point you in the right direction.

[Huntsprig]

Natchez had a supply of #2 and BB Heavy Shot for a pretty good deal some time back, not having a need I haven't looked if they still had it in stock.

I checked a month or two ago and Natchez was out of the hevi-shot.

When I bought some over a year ago I found out where they got it from and it was a one time only purchase, so I doubt we will see that price again.




.

[Thefeeder]

><

Reloaded steel for about 4 years straight for small bore. Last year I started with Pheasant loads and I'm still experimenting to find a good load.... Meanwhile I have at least a years worth of factory stuff that patterns and ranges well for Geese, plus boxes of 2 3/4" steel #4 for the chickens

I stocked up on Alliant Steel powder

My suggestion is to trade components so experimenting doesn't mean buying a full batch just to test 10 shells. I found steel to be picky, much, much, more picky the lead

[sargenv]

That doesn't surprise me.. I picked up some when I ran out last season and figured that was going to be the last of it.. I'll be using it sparingly from here on out. It's too bad since I found a very nice load for it utilizing powder that is no longer available but I have a good stock of.

I checked a month or two ago and Natchez was out of the hevi-shot.

When I bought some over a year ago I found out where they got it from and it was a one time only purchase, so I doubt we will see that price again.

[Trapdude86]

Pick up Lyman's 5th shotshell reloading guide it has a lot of non-toxic recipes.

[Scota4570]

http://www.bucksrunsports.com/Reloading_Specialties_Inc/Reloading_Specialties.html

They can help you and sell what you need. Get a loading manual from them . Pick a load, buy the supplies. There is no improvising with steel or hard tungsten.

I would not bother with loading steel, you will not save any money or make anythign better than what you can buy. All steel loads suck, it is the nature of the beast.

I do load various tungsten blends. They really do work far better than steel. You can do it cheaper than factory. Bucks has two types right now. The soft one interests me. I really miss lead. It is superior in every possible way to any subsitiute. I like my doubles and prefer them to hunt with. The soft version may be equal to lead.

[mif_slim]

Lewdogg, and here I thought you were always a reloaded!

I have a shotgun press I can sell to you. PM for details... best deal you'll ever find! As for rifle and pistols, yup, gather up now since it'll be a rush next year and come 2019, the leadfree stuff be off the shelf!

[JagerDog]

http://www.bucksrunsports.com/Reload...ecialties.html

They can help you and sell what you need. Get a loading manual from them . Pick a load, buy the supplies. There is no improvising with steel or hard tungsten.

I would not bother with loading steel, you will not save any money or make anythign better than what you can buy. All steel loads suck, it is the nature of the beast.

I do load various tungsten blends. They really do work far better than steel. You can do it cheaper than factory. Bucks has two types right now. The soft one interests me. I really miss lead. It is superior in every possible way to any subsitiute. I like my doubles and prefer them to hunt with. The soft version may be equal to lead.

What's that stuff cost? There's no price or shopping cart on the site.

As above, I need to get back on my 20g 3" ITX loads.