12 gauge slug casting

[rcschummers]

Anyone do it, are they accurate and is it worth it?

[emptybottle151]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=877023

[ER308]

I was frankly, shocked, at how well the 1oz lee slugs shot. Out of a 18" cyl bore, I was getting 8" groups at a 100 yds. Went home and immediately cast a few hundred more.

I loaded them light with ~19 gr Unique for 1060 fps. Next batch is with WST at 21 gr for ~1200 fps.

[3006mv]

I was frankly, shocked, at how well the 1oz lee slugs shot. Out of a 18" cyl bore, I was getting 8" groups at a 100 yds. Went home and immediately cast a few hundred more.

I loaded them light with ~19 gr Unique for 1060 fps. Next batch is with WST at 21 gr for ~1200 fps.

i have had similar results using HS6, am never buying factory slugs again.
i have also tried the 7/8 oz with buckshot on top (or below, i cannot recall) for some interesting buck and "ball" loads.

[rcschummers]

Thanks guys, I should be getting a mec shotshell press here in a couple weeks and I am looking forward to moving into casting my own stuff. Any advice about shotshell loading?

[kostner]

I found out how much fun shooting slugs & 00 buck can be once my Lee slug and buck shot molds came. Have been using 19 grains of Red Dot and can shoot them all day without hurting my old body. Figuring it cost about .25 cents a round and thats about .75 less than store bought. Great fun you will enjoy your shot gun more.

[rcschummers]

I found out how much fun shooting slugs & 00 buck can be once my Lee slug and buck shot molds came. Have been using 19 grains of Red Dot and can shoot them all day without hurting my old body. Figuring it cost about .25 cents a round and thats about .75 less than store bought. Great fun you will enjoy your shot gun more.

I enjoy slugs quite a bit, problem is the $1 a shot is quite prohibitive. Im looking forward to getting more shotgun time at a fraction of the cost.

[3006mv]

Yeah I have noticed my hand loads to be softer shooting but more accurate than factory.

[elemenope]

The video made it look so easy to cast your own slugs. Man...now I want a new pet project. I don't even shoot my 870, like ever.

[sixgunner]

Slugs

Jump in with both feet. I use the same powder weight and wad that I use for my 1oz trap loads. Also cast for 00'buck. I like the 000 buck better. You can get into shotgun loading on the cheap with the $40 lee setup. I use a Mec 9000 and it's well worth it. I pick up all the hulls you could ever want at Chabot. I use About anything made by Remington.

[yoitsbruce]

how toxic is the smelting process? very interested but just concerned about the safety of it. i have very limited space and dont want to contaminate my living area.

[Fishslayer]

how toxic is the smelting process? very interested but just concerned about the safety of it. i have very limited space and dont want to contaminate my living area.

It's pretty safe. Use common sense. Most people smelt & cast outdoors. And don't try to melt down car batteries.

One thing you might do is get your blood checked for lead right away. That will give you a "normal" baseline. I got tested & was higher than most but we didn't know what it was before so we didn't really know how much was actually from indoor shooting.

[yoitsbruce]

ok sounds good. the thing is i have very little back yard space and dont want to contaminate the backyard. neighbors have fruit trees dont want to put any thing their way. but i will consider it, i want to make the birdshot bulk pack all into slugs. but i will use all the precautions like a mask and all that i guess it will be more research, thanks again

[Whiterabbit]

Also, keep in mind two things:

anti point of view: There is NO acceptable level of lead in your blood.
CA point of view: The nation says 10 mg/dl is the threshold for action, so we'll make it 5 mg/dl.
Reality: If your house was built in the 40's and you knocked down a couple walls, might be time for a level check. You might be surprised.

fyi, my level is 6. Kaiser called and asked some nosy questions before I put a stop to that.

Casting is safe. You won't smoke, you'll wash your hands, you won't touch your face, mouth, or mucus membranes with dirty hands. And you'll be fine. Any safety precaution you would use with an open cup full of acetone, that's what you need to handle molten lead.

Your backyard is a fine place to cast. The garage might be more comfortable, but the back yard is fine.

I clean lead outdoors, and cast from clean lead in the garage with the door open. The interesting days are when I get petition seekers from the university asking me to sign whatever about whatever corn/gmo/gas/energy subsidy they want cut. And oh by the way, what are you doing?

"...do you really want to know?"

[ziconceo]

Be sure to never let the lead rust! Lead oxide is EXTREMELY toxic to all life! Store your lead in a clean, dry place

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