Empty Federal Bird Shot shells?

[Tekkno]

I have got plenty of Federal Field &Target Multi Purpose load shells laying around and I wonder if there are any uses for those empty shells?
Can they be reloaded for buck shots or slugs? or everyone just throw them in the trash can?
Thanks
they are 12ga 71/2 shots red shells

[sl0re10]

I use random shells for slugs.... but my recipe is based on low resistance (very little that could create pressure problems).

I don't use a crimp and I cut off the whole crimp section off so the hull is (truly) straight.

I use lyman 525 gn slugs or a 69 cal ball... both easily slide / roll down a 12 gauge barrel via gravity.

I don't use plastic wads. Paper nitro card over the powder, a fiber wad over that (for my shoulder really), patch for a ball or a little cut out from a box for some food item in the kitchen for a slug to wrap around it in the shell (I use a second nitro card though with slugs, over the fiber wad / right under the slug). Some SOFT wax on top (its a lube; not a projectile.. hard wax not always safe) with a thin paper overshot card pushed into the wax... then glued.

In general; its sort of hard to have a problem with shells made / loaded like that. So; its not hull dependent. If you overestimate the powder required (within reason / based on load data numbers close to that with plastic wads)... you'll probably never know since the extra force will just go out the barrel... since there is so little resistance. If you underestimate; the slug just won't go far but will still make it out of the barrel.

[Skoonie]

stuff Christmas tree lights into the hulls for cool patio/man cave lights

[ireload]

Sure you can reload them for buckshot or slug. Just keep in mind that those hulls or shells won't last as long as the premium grade ones since the plastic are a bit thinner. I've loaded then about 2 to 3 times before cracks starts showing on the crimps.

[stilly]

You can reload just about anything when it comes to shotguns. BUT the problem is that you gotta find the right combination of hull/wad/powder... The most important thing being the hull/wad combo. I have heard that if they are not a good match, you will have poorly flying shot. (yeah it will actually STOP and beg the target to get hit...)

[sl0re10]

You can reload just about anything when it comes to shotguns. BUT the problem is that you gotta find the right combination of hull/wad/powder... The most important thing being the hull/wad combo. I have heard that if they are not a good match, you will have poorly flying shot. (yeah it will actually STOP and beg the target to get hit...)

slugs and 00 buck are the easiest though. You can do a patch or some very thin cardboard you cut up around the slug as the 'wad' on slugs. 00 buck is really a bunch of 32 cal balls stacked.. you don't need anything as a wad. Just stack the balls in the hull.

[Tekkno]

well looks like I should keep those hulls instead of throwing them away

[Sky_DiveR]

Can always reload for trap or skeet.

[Tekkno]

Can always reload for trap or skeet.

Havnt do too much on reloading bird shots.. how much per shells to reload them?
Walmart is selling them for $19/100 rounds

[Sky_DiveR]

Havnt do too much on reloading bird shots.. how much per shells to reload them?
Walmart is selling them for $19/100 rounds

Ya... not too much in savings compared to budget loads. I guess ya can still have peace of mind that when you reload, you're being green. Reusing the materials (brass/plastic) and cutting back on waste and trash.
Sounded good anyways.

[sl0re10]

Ya... not too much in savings compared to budget loads. I guess ya can still have peace of mind that when you reload, you're being green. Reusing the materials (brass/plastic) and cutting back on waste and trash.
Sounded good anyways.

I buy the walmart AA birdshot and then reload it with slugs.

[Tekkno]

I buy the walmart AA birdshot and then reload it with slugs.

Sounds like sth I have always wanted to do!!! would you mind giving out your formulas ?!

[sargenv]

Depending on which federal hulls you have.. some are worth reloading, others are not worth the stress and hair pulling to try to reload. There are some hulls I will not spend the time on to reload since they will crush, not seal the crimp, or do some other goofy thing to drive me batty. Anymore I will only load the old style Winchester AA's, the new Remington either gun club or actual STS hulls, or the Kent/Cheddite hulls I see laying around everywhere. Some of the Federals are worth loading (the ones with brass colored metal heads) but others I will let sit (the Federal hulls with the silver metal heads). I won't even bother with the cheapie Winchester walmart hulls.. they weren't really meant to be reloaded.. If you are hell bent to reload, you can load anything.. I just don't want to spend the time when there are better hulls out there.

[sl0re10]

Sounds like sth I have always wanted to do!!! would you mind giving out your formulas ?!

Right now I'm doing this with 70 grains (by volume not weight) of triple seven FFFG (yes, FFF not FF). I'd say 'its great' except for the powder being corrosive. So I'll be trying another this weekend. I'll report back. But this load has been tested (by other people) with significantly higher powder levels and is still safe (at 85 grains, by volume, it starts to kick hard though). Its also been used in brass shotshells with large pistol primers. Also fine.

The cheaper round balls are actually more accurate than the slug shaped objects. Counter intuitive I guess but I'm not the only person to notice it.

----
I don't use a crimp and I cut off the whole crimp section off so the hull is (truly) straight.

I use lyman 525 gn slugs or a 69 cal ball... both easily slide / roll down a 12 gauge barrel via gravity.

I don't use plastic wads. Paper nitro card over the powder, a fiber wad over that (for my shoulder really), patch for a ball or a little cut out from a box for some food item in the kitchen for a slug to wrap around it in the shell (I use a second nitro card though with slugs, over the fiber wad / right under the slug). Some SOFT wax on top (its a lube; not a projectile.. hard wax not always safe) with a thin paper overshot card pushed into the wax... then glued.

In general; its sort of hard to have a problem with shells made / loaded like that. So; its not hull dependent. If you overestimate the powder required (within reason / based on load data numbers close to that with plastic wads)... you'll probably never know since the extra force will just go out the barrel... since there is so little resistance. If you underestimate; the slug just won't go far but will still make it out of the barrel.

[sl0re10]

Update: did 30 grains of 800x this weekend with the 69 cal ball load above with a 209 shotgun primer (some of my hulls don't use those so I'm clairifying). No bad signs / worked.

Used four unlike types of hulls.