Favorite Shotshell Reloads

[SixPointEight]

I've noticed I don't give my 12gauge enough love. So I'm going to start reloading for it, mostly 00 buck and some slugs, but...I don't know much about reloading shotgun shells. Gonna get some help, and a book before I dive in, but, in the mean time, lets share some favorite shotgun loads. Include any info I'd need to use a similar load.

[TERRYGER]

with the equipment and supplies needed for slugs and the buffering for the buck i don't see much use in it so i don't bother. i can buy 00 buck for 35-50 cents a round if i need it and i don't bother with slugs so it is not worth my time.

sorry i could not be of more help.

now actual birdshot-skeet -trap loads are diifferent story

[SixPointEight]

I've only ever found buckshot for .50-.90 +shipping. Or, 1.00+ a round local. Walmart's El Cheapo birdshot shells are so cheap it's not worth trying to find shot for that cheap.

Not sure what extra supplies you need for slugs, other than slugs and wads, or buffering buckshot is, but that's what reloading books are for.

[wlltest]

Where do you find the 00 buck that cheap?

with the equipment and supplies needed for slugs and the buffering for the buck i don't see much use in it so i don't bother. i can buy 00 buck for 35-50 cents a round if i need it and i don't bother with slugs so it is not worth my time.

sorry i could not be of more help.

now actual birdshot-skeet -trap loads are diifferent story

[checkenbach]

This would be good place to start http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...1b19b8c6cecdf7 DO be aware that shotgun loads are hull specific due to pressure issues. They are, all in all, just paper and plastic for the most part.

[TERRYGER]

Where do you find the 00 buck that cheap?

ya sure won't find it on the self waiting for you to come get it.


the computer is your friend.

as a matter of fact, out of the 5-600 rounds of 00 buck i have i 'm pretty sure i didn't buy any of them commerciailly. it's not like that stuff is an everyday shooter.


it requires a little research and the ability to strike what the fire is hot. but then again, ............everything is that way . not just ammo.

[TERRYGER]

I've only ever found buckshot for .50-.90 +shipping. Or, 1.00+ a round local. Walmart's El Cheapo birdshot shells are so cheap it's not worth trying to find shot for that cheap.

i load sts, fed goldmedal,aa and nitro 27 (all premium) for about $2. 70
a box. walmart has the same ones for $7.00 or better and some they just don't have at all!

Not sure what extra supplies you need for slugs, other than slugs and wads, or buffering buckshot is, but that's what reloading books are for.

i'm sure you'll figure it out
.

[bumpo628]

I've only ever found buckshot for .50-.90 +shipping. Or, 1.00+ a round local. Walmart's El Cheapo birdshot shells are so cheap it's not worth trying to find shot for that cheap.
Not sure what extra supplies you need for slugs, other than slugs and wads, or buffering buckshot is, but that's what reloading books are for.

First off, get a copy of the Lyman Shotshell Reloading handbook. The most important thing to remember about shotshell reloading is that you need to follow the published recipes. There are some substitutes that can be made, but in general it is best to find a recipe and then buy the components.

If you cast, get one (or both) of the Lee slug molds. They have 7/8 oz and 1 oz sizes. The Lee slugs are sized so that you just place them in a wad. No other parts are needed.

With low cost components, I can reload a box of low-recoil 7/8 oz load shells for about $3.50. The closest you can get at Wal-Mart is 1 oz loads for about $5.50.
For this load I use: AA hulls, cheddite 209 primers, 16.9 gr. of Promo, Claybuster WAA12L wads, and 7/8 oz of reclaimed shot.

Parts:
1. Powder: the most economical is Alliant Promo. $85/8 lbs at PVI. You can use either Promo or Red Dot load data.
2. Primers: cheaper Cheddite primers are interchangeable with Winchester in the load data.
3. Shot: consider buying reclaimed shot for $25/25 lbs.
4. Wads: look at the Claybuster brand. They replace standard Winchester wads.
5. Hulls: I would stick with either Remington STS or Winchester AA.
6. Shotshell press: cheapest way to get into it is the Lee Load All II for under $50.

[SixPointEight]

i load sts, fed goldmedal,aa and nitro 27 (all premium) for about $2. 70
a box. walmart has the same ones for $7.00 or better and some they just don't have at all!




i'm sure you'll figure it out
.

I'll buy the book. The only reloading I've seen, through videos is dropping a slug or buckshot into a wad and into the shell. There's much less experimenting than with rifles, the loads are just plug and play. If you don't reload shotgun, I think you might be reading too much into it. From my understanding, you only need to buffer the shot if you're going for better patterning. Practice shells don't matter to me much in that regard.

[SixPointEight]

First off, get a copy of the Lyman Shotshell Reloading handbook. The most important thing to remember about shotshell reloading is that you need to follow the published recipes. There are some substitutes that can be made, but in general it is best to find a recipe and then buy the components.

If you cast, get one (or both) of the Lee slug molds. They have 7/8 oz and 1 oz sizes. The Lee slugs are sized so that you just place them in a wad. No other parts are needed.

With low cost components, I can reload a box of low-recoil 7/8 oz load shells for about $3.50. The closest you can get at Wal-Mart is 1 oz loads for about $5.50.
For this load I use: AA hulls, cheddite 209 primers, 16.9 gr. of Promo, Claybuster WAA12L wads, and 7/8 oz of reclaimed shot.

Parts:
1. Powder: the most economical is Alliant Promo. $85/8 lbs at PVI. You can use either Promo or Red Dot load data.
2. Primers: cheaper Cheddite primers are interchangeable with Winchester in the load data.
3. Shot: consider buying reclaimed shot for $25/25 lbs.
4. Wads: look at the Claybuster brand. They replace standard Winchester wads.
5. Hulls: I would stick with either Remington STS or Winchester AA.
6. Shotshell press: cheapest way to get into it is the Lee Load All II for under $50.

I take it this is a birdshot load? Other than reduced recoil, what is the purpose of the 7/8oz load? Lower load cost? I don't think I'm going to bother reloading birdshot, though it seems reclaimed seems to be the way to go with that. I haven't found many sources for finding #00 buck, so for my first loads, I just bought some hornady #00 buck.

That's the press I was going to get as well

[Cheep]

W209 primer, AA hull, WAA12 wad, Red Dot powder 17-20grn depending on your purpose/gun/shoulder...pick whatever shot you want and add 1 1/8oz of it.
You can find deals on shot if you look for an older guy that doesn't want to shoot anymore, he paid pennies per pound for it...

[bumpo628]

I take it this is a birdshot load? Other than reduced recoil, what is the purpose of the 7/8oz load? Lower load cost? I don't think I'm going to bother reloading birdshot, though it seems reclaimed seems to be the way to go with that. I haven't found many sources for finding #00 buck, so for my first loads, I just bought some hornady #00 buck.

That's the press I was going to get as well

The main purpose is lower cost. Plus it's fun to empty 9 shots into a target as fast as you can without feeling it afterwards.

Lee just came out with a 00 buckshot mold too. It makes 18 pcs at a time.

[mjsweims]

3. Shot: consider buying reclaimed shot for $25/25 lbs.

Hey bumpo
Sorry to threadjack but where are you getting lead for $25/25#. Best I've seen for reclaimed shot is close to $1.50/#?

[TERRYGER]

I'll buy the book. The only reloading I've seen, through videos is dropping a slug or buckshot into a wad and into the shell. There's much less experimenting than with rifles, the loads are just plug and play. If you don't reload shotgun, I think you might be reading too much into it. From my understanding, you only need to buffer the shot if you're going for better patterning. Practice shells don't matter to me much in that regard.

i have reloaded shotguns for 40+ years. my first loader was a lyman hand set.

i have 4 shotguns loaders at this time. 3 mec 600 and a mec 9000.

they are set for .410, 20, 12 and 12.

what i said was the extra cost of reloading for slugs and buck was not worth it to me and i said why.

if it is what you would like to get into, by all means go ahead. it's your money.

[RaymondMillbrae]

The biggest savings you will get from shotshell reloading is when making slugs.

Good, low-recoil slugs are expensive (approximately $2.00 a piece), and are sometimes hard to find locally. And when you do find them online for cheap, the shipping fees will get you.

Factory target loads are kind of hard to beat, pricewise. If you are a competitive trap or skeet shooter, then being able to make custom-loads will trump all. But for just playing, the factory bulk brands are just a little more expensive than reloaded ones.

Personally, I have been purchasing bulk Rrio shotshells, and more recently, the Federal bulk packs from Wally World. I believe the Fderal shotshells cost me $40.00 per 200 each...which breaks down to $5.00 per box of 25 each.

But I smelt and cast my Lyman sabot slugs, progressively. (Yes...it can be done progressively. See the video below my signature).

Someone also made a coment about it being very easy to load shotshells. (Plug and play)?? This is true, once all the proper ingredients are gotten. But you need to know what you are doing! And the wad/hull/primer/powder chosen are VERY IMPORTANT, as there are sooooooo many different types.

In Christ: Raymond