New to reloading shotgun shells

[drinktothat421]

Thinking about get a lee load all mainly for 00 buck loads for range and steal/defensive rounds for my 870. Does the shell case matter a whole lot? I can understand using a bird shot shell not being the best for a defense 00 buck load. When looking at wesite on mixtures they called for a shell case. I will most likly be using 00 buck shells either reloaded or new. Like fiocchi shells. I know there is much more to it. But i plan i just making the same 00buck 9pellet and maybe slugs if needed. i dont mind buying cheap walmart for clays until i get the hang of reloading. Any input would be great. I am only looking at the lee load all not looking to invest in reloading Please keep the bs answer to a minimun. I know i wont save a ton of money just sounds fun and wont have to wait on good ammo deals.

[wild_weasel]

The Lee Load-All will load any 12 GA shells you have data for; I have had one for years myself. However, shotgun shell reloading recipes are very specific the components required; hull, wad, primer, powder and shot weight deviating can cause serious damage to both the gun and shooter! I’d suggest getting a current shot shell reloading manual from a reputable source that has data for OO buckshot. Lee offers data for their OO buckshot mold you can download on line as well.

[Goesfaster]

Get the Lyman shotshell reloading manual. It helps to explain the reason for different types if hulls. I use a Lee Load All for slug loads and love it. After lots of reading I was easily able to make good slugs first try. Good luck.

[Cheep]

I second reading the Lyman Shotshell Manual and you will have a good understanding before getting started.

[rsrocket1]

The hull is very important with respect to shotgun loading. The reason why there are so many specific recipes for shoshell loading is hull volume, wad height and powder density all which add up to stack height. Too much "stuff" and not enough hull and you can't crimp. Too little stuff in too large a hull and your crimp will be caved in. Some hulls have good thick plastic which will hold a crimp well, others have thin walls and will open up the crimp after a few days.

Unless you are really experienced, try to follow the recipe for the hull, wad, payload, powder and primer as closely as possible.

Good luck.

[CSACANNONEER]

I've got a couple of Lee Load All Jrs that are great for low production rounds. I'm guessing that the rest of the people here are talking about Lee Load All IIs and have never seen a Lee Load All or a Jr. Right?

To answer the question, YES, hulls and wads both make a huge difference. DO NOT DEVIATE from published load data AT ALL when it comes to loading shotshells. It could lead to a very painful lesson if you do.

[sl0re10]

Thinking about get a lee load all mainly for 00 buck loads for range and steal/defensive rounds for my 870. Does the shell case matter a whole lot? I can understand using a bird shot shell not being the best for a defense 00 buck load. When looking at wesite on mixtures they called for a shell case. I will most likly be using 00 buck shells either reloaded or new. Like fiocchi shells. I know there is much more to it. But i plan i just making the same 00buck 9pellet and maybe slugs if needed. i dont mind buying cheap walmart for clays until i get the hang of reloading. Any input would be great. I am only looking at the lee load all not looking to invest in reloading Please keep the bs answer to a minimun. I know i wont save a ton of money just sounds fun and wont have to wait on good ammo deals.

the shell and wad type (and combo dynamics between the two) can be less dangerous / an issue if you use certain low resistance wads (like paper and fiber) and don't crimp the shell.

I make slugs from random birdshot shells including walmart AA.. but I use a [paper] nitro card (over the powder), a fiber wad, lubed cloth patch right under the slug, and some soft wax (not pure bees wax; which is pretty hard, tacky, and heat resistant... which could be bad in a shotshell IMO), with the top of the shell (where the crimp was) cut off for less resistance. Added bonus; bio degradable internal components for BLM... if I miss anything during clean up. Over shot card with a little lacquer holds the slug in... I think the same idea should work for 00 buck...

also; no lee load all. I just use little hand tools... one less press to mess with.

[CSACANNONEER]

I just found a picture of a Lee Load all JR. I have one that I bought new in the mid 80's and a NIB one I found on ebay a few years back.

[Thefeeder]

I second reading the Lyman Shotshell Manual and you will have a good understanding before getting started.

+1 a must have ...everything you need to know in one place...+ lots on OO recipes

[Huntsprig]

I can understand using a bird shot shell not being the best for a defense 00 buck load.

This is incorrect.
High or low brass, buckshot or dove hunting load often they are the same shell.

For example, my dad is a retired LEO.
When I bought a reloader in 1980 he started saving the empty shells for me when they practiced with their shotguns.

At that time the Winchester Super X 00 buck that they used was the same exact shell as the Winchester AA trap and skeet shell except the Super X had high brass and the AA were low brass.
They reloaded exactly the same.
I still have a couple of apple boxes full of those Super X empties.

As others have said, get the Lyman shot shell reloading manual.
It describes the different shells and how they load.

[ireload]

The high and low brass profile does not have any bearing for loading buckshot. I've used cheap hulls that are once fired from a indoor range and they worked fine but of course they can handle 2-4 loading before I have to toss them due to tear on the folds or the folds does not crimp good anymore.

I also use the Lee Load All II. But I weight each powder charge. The buckshot I use are casted by me. .319" diameter of what ever lead I can get. I like using the plastic wads for my buckshot since the ease of loading but it does limit the amount of buckshot I can stuff in a shell. 9 buckshot is good enough for me to practice.