SHOTSHELL RELOADING QUERY

[RaymondMillbrae]

Where am I at?

Ummm...Millbrae? (Two minutes from Daly City and San Francisco).

Let us know how your slugs come out. (Are your Lee Keys 1-ouncers, or heavier)?

About the closest I get to you are the USPSA matches at Yolo (Targetmasters), and the long distance matches at Sac. But those are few and far in between.

Keep us updated on your reloads, as you never know...maybe we will meet up somewhere. And even if we don't, I would still be interested in your reload data.

Shoot with a purpose.

In Christ: Raymond

[CSACANNONEER]

Well, did you get your aswer via PM? If so, care to share it so that the rest of us can learn a bit. I'm also wondering if the type of hulls you are using are working well for you? Have you ever thought about going to a roll crimp for your slug rounds? Are there advantages to using a crimped hull vs a roll crimped hull? Casting and loading slugs has been on my want to do list for a while now and I'd love to hear from people with experience doing it.

[RaymondMillbrae]

A few answers to your question:


1) Lyman 525-grain slugs work best in the 1150 FPS or faster velocities. When in the transonic-velocity level (900 FPS to 1100 FPS) they have a tendancy to tumble and drop very quickly. For the Lyman 525-grain sabot slug to work at it's optimal "low recoil" charge (and stay reliable), it will need to stay within the 1150 FPS to 1250 FPS mark.

2) Because of thie above-mentioned transonic stage, low recoil Lyman 525-grain slugs are most effective at distances of 75-yards or shorter. (Folks that claim predator kills at over 150-yards with "low recoil Lyman 535-grain slugs" are full of big stinky doo-doo)!

3) Because Hodgdon Universal is a medium burning powder - it should be fine to reduce the powder charge 7.5%. I kind of knew this already, but it was REALLY GOOD to have another person verify this for me. (It is the reason I specifically chose this powder over Clays).

4) A 1oz slug is something like 440-grains. (I don't load 1oz slugs, so I didn't know that. But all info is good).

5) If using a roll crimp, it gives you about 1500 units of lower pressure. But then again, certain slugs are meant to be used only with specific crimps. (Study and you shall learn, Grasshopper).

6) I am using Remington Premier STS hulls. In the 1 1/8oz loads, these and the Win AA pretty much reign supreme. (The gold Nitro's, and the grey Winchesters are also up there with them). You can get a good 10 to 12 reloads from the shells if you are not loading them too hot and are taking care of them.


Shotshell reloading is a very exact science, and you really need to focus on what you are doing. Not only am I gathering information from different sources...but I also have a very good grasp on powder (their differences, their compositions, their burn rates), and the benefits of using slower vs faster powders per dram weight. After all the information is acquired, I will then need to sit and meditate on what I have, verses what I know, and tred gently from there.

Once again...shotshell reloading is VERY DIFFERENT from regular pistol and rifle loading. You were forewarned. (Is "forewarned" one word)?

Shoot with a purpose.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: I will be shooting at a 20 yard indoor range today (Jackson Arms), and I will post the results later.

[mif_slim]

Where am I at?

Ummm...Millbrae? (Two minutes from Daly City and San Francisco).

Let us know how your slugs come out. (Are your Lee Keys 1-ouncers, or heavier)?

About the closest I get to you are the USPSA matches at Yolo (Targetmasters), and the long distance matches at Sac. But those are few and far in between.

Keep us updated on your reloads, as you never know...maybe we will meet up somewhere. And even if we don't, I would still be interested in your reload data.

Shoot with a purpose.

In Christ: Raymond

Thanks, sorry for "where you at?" thing..lol I was on my phone and it was getting "ghetto" on me. Anyways, I will update you on my data. The Slugs I got (Just received it yesterday) are 1oz. I made about 50 already and I cant wait to try it out. Once I get data I'll put em up on here. I'll send you some to try out too if you want or vice-versa. Let me know.

[RaymondMillbrae]

OK,

let me say a few things:

1) I was hoping that someone had already gone this route and produced a tested/verified low recoil load. But since no one has, I guess I am treading on fresh waters.

2) I have (on hand) 8-pounds of Hodgdon Universal powder that I purchased for this very purpose. I purchased this medium-speed burning powder to propell BOTH my low recoil 1 1/8oz, #7.5 shot, target loads...as well as my slug loads. (Both used for 3-gun competition).

3) I ended-up reducing the 525-grain Lyman slug load posted in the 5th Edition Lyman book by 5% (25 grains)...and then took it one step further and reduced it 7.5%. (24-grains of powder).

I just got back from the indoor range a few minutes ago, and I can say that this load was very successful. Since both my loads (target and slug) were the same weight, I loaded half-and-half in the magazine tube to see if I could tell the difference. (The target loads of #7.5 shot were rated at 1250 FPS).

Wow...they both had the same felt recoil.

The indoor range only went to 20-yards, but my groups were a solid 3" to 4" inches from a standing, unsupported, position. (But I was "bull doo-dooing" with my buddy, and was not 100% concentrating).

I think I was successful in this endeavor.

I cannot positively say if this load would be reliable in a semi-auto shotgun, as I was using a Remmy 870P - but it sure felt nice and tame, and shot tight.

The next time I go to the outdoor action range the load will be shot in a few different semi-autos to test for reliability. They will also be chronographed for speed.

Anyhoo...if anyone has any KNOWN low recoil load data for Lyman 525-grain slugs, please share it with us.

Thanks, and more later.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: I forgot to bring my camera again.

PSS: I will be taking my shotty apart a little later, and checking for unburnt powder residue and dirtiness. More later.

[juelz919]

I have done about 10% below.. I don't have the exact stats but i remember it was when i first started doing slugs and i was like "thats way too much powder"
nothing broke or went wrong, but i don't know about accuracy because i was just exploding milk jugs..

[RaymondMillbrae]

The name of the game is consistant accuracy, and cleanliness.

In Christ: Raymond

[mif_slim]

Its too bad Im shooting 1oz slugs instead of 1 1/8oz. I can get lots of info on the 1oz slugs Im making. Im headed out to the range today to shoot more and test more. Last night I made some reduced recoil loads but I am too going to try it on a 11-87 to see how it reacts to semi-auto shotguns.

[RaymondMillbrae]

OK, folks,

this is not the last post...but it is ALMOST the last post.

I went to the indoor range last night to try out a few more shotshell reloads - and this time I brought my camera with me.

I was working on a few different things for multi-gun matches (pistol and shotgun), so I could not concentrate on my shotgun 100%. But let me say, the slugs reloads are pretty nice.

Below is a picture of my paper target at 25-yards. It will show my slug-zeroing process.

The 1st group was aimed at the circle on the far right. It shot a touch high and to the left - so I made an adjustment.

The 2nd group was shot at the circle on the far left, and I guess I over adjusted. So a further correction was made.

The last group was aimed at center-mass of the head - and it was still a touch to the left. The grouping was acceptable for the moment, but it will ultimately need to be zeroed at the 50-yard range for "true zero".





Let me also add a little tid-bit of information here:


1) All the shots were taken in a standing position. The first group (3 shots) were shot at a medium speed. But after I established that it was on paper, and the windage correction was made, the following shots (2nd group and 3rd group) were done at a rapid fire rate.

2) I know that I am shooting a pump action shotty, so low-recoil loads are not that huge of a factor in controlling the flip to get it back on target (because racking the shotty to eject the spent shell, and to get a new shell into the chamber, moves the barrel pretty violently)...but the recoil-reduction was very nice on the shoulder, and it really helped in controlling the "flinch factor".

3) The accuracy was very decent at 25-yard.

4) The last 2 shots on the far left circle were just for play.



Ultimately my shotgun will need to be zeroed with these slugs at 50-yards for me to be "match accurate" at 50 to 75 yards shots. But as it stands right now, I am a happy camper with these very controllable slug rounds.

I was also doing a bit of number crunching, and thought yall would like to PHYSICALLY see some actual numbers.


7000 grains = 1 pound

437.5 grains = 1 oz

492.2 grains = 1 1/8 oz

546.9 grains = 1 1/4 oz

Lyman Sabot Slugs = 525 grains...which is a touch LIGHTER than the 1 1/4 oz loads of 546.9 grains.


And very lastly (in case yall are interested), here is my current shotshell load data:

Lyman 525-grain Sabot Slug
Remmy Premier STS Hulls
Hodgdon Universal Powder - 24-grains
Winchester W209 primers
WAA12F114 Wads



I will post the chronographed data, as well as the 50-yard groupings, when I get a chance.

In Christ: Raymond

[ireload]

RaymondMillbrae thank you for posting the end results. I see I'll be a happy reloader with the Lyman slug mold. I am planning on purchasing one in a few months. I currently load birdshots and bucks.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Jew're Velcome!

I was going to shoot and chronograph them on Saturday...but the wifey talked me into taking her to the MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM instead.

But they will be chronograaphed soon...velly, velly, soon.

By the way, the shots were taken with my SMOOTH BORE, 18" inch, Remmy 870P.

In Christ: Raymond

[anyracoon]

Raymond
Since theWAA12F114 wads are no longer being manufactured who still has them or who sells a replacement wad? I have plenty of WAA12s and have been looking at using Herco 25 grs, Lyman 525 gr slug with STS hulls(which I scored a couple of 1000s a few years back) with a W209 primer. Got the load out of Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Look around, and you can still find plenty of WAA12F114 wads. And if not, there are a few replacements that will work fine. (Click below for a few options).

WAA12F114 - MIDWAYUSA

WAA12F114 SUBSTITUTE WADS - GRAF & SONS (Great shotgun place).

WAA12F114 SUBSTITUTE WADS - GAMELIEL (Another great shotgun place)!

BEST REPLACEMENTS WADS -DOWNRANGE MANUFACTURING (A++ virgin plastics used).

Let me say that CLAYBUSTER makes a very decently-priced wad. But they are not the best quality plastic, and tend to "funky-up" your barel with plastic residue. But they are fine in a pinch.

Downrange Manufacturing makes the best quality hulls from what I know. Even better plastic than the originals...but pricier.

And let me end with this one note...525-grain Lyman slugs pack a whollop!

These are heavy beasties of a slug, and are meant to put an animal down. But if you want something more manageable for multi-gunning...then go with a 1 oz slug. Something like the above posters have mentioned. (Like Lee Key's, or some other shape). The 1-ouncers will be more than enough for your multi-gunning needs...and use less lead per slug

Personally, I practice with what I use. This pertains to my pistols, shotguns, rifles, and carbines. I do not purchase my toys for USPSA matches. I just use USPSA matches to get more practice with my toys. (Did that make sense)?

Shoot with a purpose.

In Christ: Raymond

[sargenv]

Are you casting the 525's or buying them outright?

[RaymondMillbrae]

Are you asking me, Vince?

Personally, I am purchasing them.

But if I were to speak from the heart, I am actually considering casting them myself now.

I saw a video clip the other day of casting slugs, and it looks very doable.

Very, very, doable.

But boolit casting is still a subject I have not thoroughly researched, and I would need a bit more information (and possibly hand's-on experience) before I go down that path.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: Do you know any locals that sell these Lyman 525-grain slugs at a reasonable price?