Reloading shotgun shells

[Junkie]

I've done a little bit of reloading of 45ACP, on a friend's press, but not much.

I recently picked up a 12ga and would like to be able to afford to practice with similar ammo to what I keep in it for HD. I'd prefer not spending $1/rd for buckshot or slugs if I'll be shooting a lot of it, though.

It looks like I can get a Lee Load-All for $50ish. Looking into component prices I won't be able to save much vs inexpensive birdshot, but I should be able to shoot buckshot for near-birdshot prices - or am I overlooking something?

Can I load birdshot shells with buckshot?

Is there anything particularly difficult as far as reloading shotgun shells goes? I read elsewhere that you can even get away with not using a press, but it seems to me like the press should be worth it.


Also, any suggestions for what powder/cups/shot to use would be appreciated. I'll most likely be playing around with #4-00 buck, maybe some wax slugs, maybe even cast a few of my own slugs. I don't currently have any reloading equipment so I'll need to buy close to everything.

[EL_NinO619]

Don't do it, IMHO its not worth it unless you plan on shooting A LOT of buckshot. I have the LEE and it sucks. Get a MEC if your serious. Also shotshell reloading is pretty much strict recipes, really not that much experimenting, buy a book. But again, I say don't do it, wait until the panic is over and go to SGammo and buy some cases of 00, darn near price of bird.

[tiller]

look into rio.... its about 2.59$ per 5 rounds

[Bill Steele]

You can do it and it will save you money, although pretty sure you can't do it as cheaply as birdshot.

You can use target hulls for buck loads. Ballistic Products Inc. is a good place for components. You can go online to Alliant or Hodgdon's website and get receipes. Find one that duplicates your favorite HD load product (number of buck shot and velocity) and then buy those specific components from BPI. Look for ones that use Longshot from Hodgdons or Pro Reach from Alliant and you should be close. Follow the exact receipe (i.e. don't substitute primer brands, wads (other than dups of the same wad in another brand), even hulls all must be what is in the receipe).

Another approach is to buy Ballistic products Coyote load book (buck book) and buy their components, you will get more flexibility in loads that way, while doing the exact receipes.

In my opinion, if you wanted to load for field or clays, I would skip the Lee shotgun loader and get a better brand like MEC. For buckshot loading the Lee will work fine as you will just be using the press just as a press and measuring each charge on a scale and counting the buck dropped into the hull by hand.

Good luck, have fun.