SHOTSHELL RELOADING QUERY

[RaymondMillbrae]

Hey folks,

I have a question for yall.

I am reloading Lyman 525 grain slugs using Hodgdon Universal powder. (Remmy Premier STS hulls, WAA12F114 wads, and Win 209 primers).

I have Hodgdon data that places 26-grains of Universal powder for a 1325 FPS load.

I tamed it down a bit by reducing the powder to 25-grains. (24.7 grains is a 5% decrease).

I was wondering if it is OK to reduce it further, like to 24 grains. (24.05 is a 7.5% reduction in powder).

I remember reading somewhere that 5% should be the most you should reduce a known charge for a slug load.

Is this correct? Or will a 24-grain load be OK?

Just curious to hear a different opinion from shotshell reloaders.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: Shotshell reloading is very different from pistol and rifle reloading. So if you are not a shotshell reloader with experience on this topic, please hold back your responses.

[CSACANNONEER]

Shotshell reloading is one thing but, reloading slugs is much more specialized. Tagged to learn more.

[Southpaw45]

Is this a smooth bore or a rifled bore in the shotgun? Whats your barrel lenght? Im thinking if its a smooth bore and your slugs have the rifling grooves on them, there is a lot of resistance from drag pushing that big slug down a bore thats lets say 26 or 28 inches long. Powder charge reduction would not be advised. Dont know why you want to reduce that load anyways. I dont think felt recoil will be an issue... P.S-- I have never loaded a SLUG round before but have loaded shotshells for over 22 years. Does this qualify?

[RaymondMillbrae]

I am shooting a Remmy 870P shotty, with an 18" inch smooth-bore barrel.

They are Lyman slugs, with no rifling grooves.




I want to reduce the load for recoil/flip control, as it is being used for 3-gunning. (Super quick target acquisition/engagement).

I have decided to go down to 24-grains of powder, which is a 7.5% reduction.

I have not shot them yet, as I had a USPSA match this Sunday morning, and it started to rain immediately after the match.

I loaded approximately 35 of these little boogers, and will test them out Monday or Tuesday. (I'm on vacation now until the 3rd or January - Woo-Hoo)!

More later.

In Christ: Raymond

UPDATE: I updated the photo to show the correct bullet weight. (It was incorrectly labeled). It is a 1 1/8oz slug (525 grains), and NOT a 1oz slug.

[sargenv]

PM sent

[shadowofnight]

Wow, those look just like airgun pellets

[RaymondMillbrae]

Vince (Sargenv),

thank you VERY MUCH for the info in your PM.

We will continue to keep in touch, and I will also post my findings. (Maybe it can help out another shotshell loader).

And Shadowofnight,

yes...it looks like a .177 pellet.

But it's a 525 grain pellet traveling at 1200 FPS, with a power factor of 656!!

And just to get it in perspective, a 200 grain .45 ACP bullet, traveling at 1056 FPS (+P round), only has a power factor of 211.

These "large pellets" are DEVESTATING!!!

There are different types of shotshell slugs, but these Lyman sabot slugs work great in smoothbore shotties. On top of that, because the weight is primarily in the front portion of the slug, it flies kinda like a dart, and is very accurate in smoothbores.

Kudo's, yall.

Shoot with a purpose.

In Christ: Raymond

[Southpaw45]

If you are using slugs that don't have the rifling grooves on them, you need to use a slug barrel that is rifled. They will tumble in flight if you shoot them in a smooth bore. Remember changing components or powder charges in shot shells changes the hight of everything inside. This can change your overall crimp.

[mif_slim]

Im getting my Lee Slug mold this week. I will try it out and let you know how that slug works. Maybe we can mold a few slugs and trade em? I dont mind loading those slugs at all, just that my wife bought me the Lee slugs so Im okay with it too.

[Southpaw45]

Wow! I'm surprised to hear these slugs shoot good in a smoothbore. I didn't see your comment on that. How in the hell do they stablize in flight if no rifling is involved? I would like to see what they do at 50 yards.

[mif_slim]

Wow! I'm surprised to hear these slugs shoot good in a smoothbore. I didn't see your comment on that. How in the hell do they stablize in flight if no rifling is involved? I would like to see what they do at 50 yards.

Its design to be like the Birde in Badminton.

[sargenv]

You don't neccesarily need rifling if you are keeping ranges under about 75 yards. Most slugs have weight forward like a shuttlecock and tend to fly in the direction they are shot regardless of spin or not. The rifling on "rifled slugs" is not so much to impart spin, but to be able to swage down in size in case joe fred wants to use dad's duck gun with a full choke. If there is room in the "rifled part" for the lead to squeeze, it is less likely to damage the constricted choke. I have been working with Lee Key slugs for a while and I get USPSA metric target accuracy out to about 50 yards.. I can and do generally put slugs onto that target with nothing more than the bead sights on my Bowning Gold. With rifle sights I would likely get better accuracy (but still not rifle accuracy).

Rifled barrels for the most part perform best with sabot slugs..

[RaymondMillbrae]

Southpaw45,

Sargenv hit it dead on the nose. Lead rifled slugs are ment to make direct contact with the barrel of a shotgun. But the rifling DOES NOT impart a twist. It is meant to be "swaged away" when shot through a choke...hence, saving the choke.

Other slugs, like the Lyman sabots I am using, will ride WITHIN a target wadding...hence, none of the slug actually makes contact with the barrel.

Like I mentioned before, as did a few other posters, the front of the Lyman sabot is heavy. This gives the Lyman slug aerodynamics similar to a badminton birdie, or a dart, or a shuttlecock.

For a good article to read on slugs and smoothbore shooting, click on the below link. (Read some of his ather shotgun articles as well. Good info).

SHOTGUN SLUGS, SABOTS, AND SMOOTH BORE BARRELS

Below are two good websites dedicated to scattergun users:

SHOTGUN WORLD

CAST BOOLITS

Shoot with a purpose.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: I just wanted to add that the Lyman 525 grain slug will start to fall and tumble badly within the 900 to 1100 FPS velocity range. (The transonic range). This is why it is perfect for 75 yard shots and under.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Im getting my Lee Slug mold this week. I will try it out and let you know how that slug works. Maybe we can mold a few slugs and trade em? I dont mind loading those slugs at all, just that my wife bought me the Lee slugs so Im okay with it too.

MifSlim,

where are you located?

Do you have any experience with shotshell reloading?

Let me know, as we may be able to touch bases and compare notes.

I am on vacation until the 3rd of January..."So I be gonna shootin my booty off deese next feew daiz. Uh-hum, yep, yep".

In Christ: Raymond

[mif_slim]

I'm in sacto area. But travel extensivly to Fresno. Where you at?