Shotgun Cartridge reloading

[deertalker123]

Hi All,
I am looking at getting into shotgun cartridge reloading, started with the centrefire's last year and really enjoying the process, so was thinking of getting into it for the shotguns too.
I am looking for any advice into where to begin, literature, equipment, any advice really. I am looking at reloading for the 12 and 10 bore too, in lead and non toxic shot.
Cheers everyone!

 

[Crowstalker]

Hi All,
I am looking at getting into shotgun cartridge reloading, started with the centrefire's last year and really enjoying the process, so was thinking of getting into it for the shotguns too.
I am looking for any advice into where to begin, literature, equipment, any advice really. I am looking at reloading for the 12 and 10 bore too, in lead and non toxic shot.
Cheers everyone!

It's an interesting subject, I speak from no experience but I would highly doubt it would be beneficial to load 12g. It could definitely be more of an option for the lesser used cartidges such as you say 10g, 410g 28g eg. But if your doing it just for fun and funds aren't an issue then why not?

 

[deertalker123]

It's an interesting subject, I speak from no experience but I would highly doubt it would be beneficial to load 12g. It could definitely be more of an option for the lesser used cartidges such as you say 10g, 410g 28g eg. But if your doing it just for fun and funds aren't an issue then why not?

Hi,
Yes for the 12 bore it would mainly be for non toxic stuff for wildfowling really, just seeing the superior performance I now get from home loaded rifle ammo, I would love to see if its possible with the shotgun too.

 

[Rookandrabbit]

Hello @deertalker123 depending on quantities you wish to reload I would consider firstly trawling through you tube videos to give you an idea of the process. Personally, good second hand MEC presses come upon the forums or auction sites with regularity as do the cheaper Lee loadall press.

For small bespoke quantities there are the old 19th century roll turn over tools.

Components can be bought from Clay and Game and Folkestone Engineering Supplies and both offer excellent advice in the form of data sheets for specific bore sizes. Reloading manuals are also an excellent source.

Depending on your 10 bore shotgun chamber size, mine is 2 5/8 , it may mean that you have to make your own.

Unfortunately Alan Myers who made custom black powder 10 bore loads has died and I am unaware if anyone makes them now .

Only you can decide how much you value you time and how much you wish to invest in a press and components to suit your current needs.

There are you tube videos of guys reloading with very “basic tools” to automatic machines knocking hundreds out!

Good luck, regards Rookandrabbit

 

[Pedro]

From the above and other sources, it's clear that you don't save any money loading shotgun cartridges. Given the nature of shotguns, I doubt that you will improve on readily available factory ammo either. Although for specialist loads and bores, where availability is limited there's probably an advantage.

But, if you enjoy the process, that's a different matter altogether. Let's face it, there's hardly any pastime/hobby that doesn't cost money. So if that's the case, fill your boots! I can't really give any advice on what to use and where to get it from, but good luck and I hope you enjoy it.

 

[GWP]

If you are after money saving forget it on standard 12b loads magnum or large bore are a different matter Mrs Myers is still selling components and some machinery claygame do everything small amounts Lee can be picked up second hand and work well or the really old fashioned way a decapper roll turn over and some scales and a piece of dowel i have some of the later if thats of interest pm your number for a chat

 

[Bernie]

The advantages for loading 12Ga are very specific to Wildfowling I believe. The cartridges available in the UK are not geared up for decent wildfowling loads unless you’re shooting 3 1/2 inch magnum HP Loads. The ability to load a 2 3/4” steel goose load is priceless.

If you load small bore the. There are some modest savings to be made. If you load exotic non toxic shot types then you’re winning because you can’t buy them here yet / ever.

Don’t overlook the Lee LoadAll 2. I’ve loaded steel and duplex non tox in 12 bore for 3 seasons now and it’s at around 1000 2.5, 2.75 and 3” loads produced.

I do use MECs in .410 and 28 though.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

I've got a stack of reloading equipment for sale. 12 bore, 10 bore and 28 bore

I'm giving up due to time and moving down south, but it's something I enjoy. You save a good amount on magnum stuff and the steel loads are alot better than factory purchased.

It's not the same as rifle reloading and takes quite a bit more to set up with the correct stack height etc. Also don't mess around with the powder as low charge weights can give you bad over pressure the same as large ones

 

[DesG]

I’ve dabbled in loading all sorts over the years. For shotgun standard 12g it’s cheaper to buy. For anything unusual go for it. I do 12g black powder, slugs and blanks and very light 410 carts for shooting ratties in the garden. Through a mod they are pretty much silent. A roll turnover is a must as case length isn’t so important if you chop the old crimp off. If nothing else it’s very good fun if you like that sort of thing.

 

[wanderer]

I’ve dabbled in loading all sorts over the years. For shotgun standard 12g it’s cheaper to buy. For anything unusual go for it. I do 12g black powder, slugs and blanks and very light 410 carts for shooting ratties in the garden. Through a mod they are pretty much silent. A roll turnover is a must as case length isn’t so important if you chop the old crimp off. If nothing else it’s very good fun if you like that sort of thing.

Just out of interest whats your light 410 load in terms of shot size and weight and what powder do you use.
Cheers

 

[DesG]

I'm only shooting ten yards so not much needed. I use about half an ounce of 7,8 or 9 with 4 or 5 grains of pistol or shotgun powder. I should stress that using 12g type powder in a full velocity 410 load is a very bad idea as the fast burn will raise pressure dangerously. My loads are on par with a 3 bore (9mm garden gun) but they cost virtually nothing.

 

[bullet chucker]

I have a MEC Jnr, with two 12g loading bars for powder & shot delivery. Also an unopened bag of lead shot weighs a good bit not sure could be size 9. They have been indoors since I bought them, so in tidy condition.£200.

BC.

 

[ronscomon]

I've reloaded 12b for 25+ years and 28b for about 8. It's not a money saving thing for 12 but can be a little bit for large & small bores or particularly heavy or light loads. The advantage is you can tailor the load to what you want. Like any of the roll-your-own arts it's very satisfying to catch/shoot something with a thing you've created.

Of late I've more or less stopped now as I don't do much with a shotgun any more. I've been selling off kit but still have a Steelmaster with 12,20 & 28 dies, heaps of cases, shot, powder, primers , data etc etc available if they'd be of interest.

 

[mike243]

are the guns you are using high pressure steel shot proof, if not forget steel shot, are you loading 70mm, 76mm or 89mm, MEC 600jr machines will be more than good enough, if you are loading 89mm 12b and 10b the 10b steel master machine will do both with a couple of modifications, the 10b decapping rod needs to be turned down so it will fit inside the 12b cases and you will need a 12b crimp die and a 12b collet for the resizer unless you have an off press resizer, the single micrometer end charge bars are much better, powder bush one end and an adjustable shot dispenser the other end, i suspect that 2nd hand presses now cost a fortune, back in the day there were scores for sale on US ebay for about 50 quid plus shipping to the UK, they are a bit of a ball ache to set up correctly, once i had a machine set for a load that is all it would ever load and i would buy another machine for another load, in the end i had 6 12b machines, a 12 and 10b 89mm machine and some RTO basic gear for 8b, if you buy 2nd hand buy presses with steel crimp starters and crimp die bodies, much better than the plastic modern versions, american once fired cases are better than new chedite, either federal GMM or remington nitro are the best, if you are reloading steel shot dont be lured into trying to get as much shot as you can into the case, 24g in 70mm, 32g in 76mm, 89mm in 12b is a waste of time unless you are shooting massive pellets, BBB or T size shot, the nearer you can get to a square shot charge the better the loads will perform, i used to get 1800+ fps with 24g #3 steel shot in 70mm, 1650+ fps with 76mm 32g #2 steel shot, even in 89mm 10b i would load 36g steel BB at around 1600fps, the best powders back then were Aliant Steel, TK8 and CSB0

 

[Bowland blades]

It's an interesting subject, I speak from no experience but I would highly doubt it would be beneficial to load 12g. It could definitely be more of an option for the lesser used cartidges such as you say 10g, 410g 28g eg. But if your doing it just for fun and funds aren't an issue then why not?

It is very worthwhile fiscally so long as you buy in bulk . I have a number of shotgun reloading presses including a Poiness warren ( these are as good as they get ) , loads of cases many unfired. I really dont shoot the amount of shotgun i used to and am now considering selling up . Re-loading is especially usefull for Wildfowling , I loaded some real good steel loads for Foreshore Geese but i also loaded 410 and those are real cheap to make . Heacy fox loads etc was my thing . But then a none sponsored clay shooter can cut his costs drastically if they are doing it regular . Remember a case can usually be re-l0aded many times ( range empties can often be collected from the bins ). Shoot a 28 bore or 410 and the price to load is so way cheaper as there aint much inside and that's what the homeloader truly saves a lot of cash 410 are ridiculous prices considering the materials but even 20 bore users are paying over 12 bore prices frequently .
Folks make there own shot drippers via smelting old roofing lead , speak to a few because the yards are a hassle for them to deal with now with all the legislation and paperwork .

 

[stan1664]

Hi All,
I am looking at getting into shotgun cartridge reloading, started with the centrefire's last year and really enjoying the process, so was thinking of getting into it for the shotguns too.
I am looking for any advice into where to begin, literature, equipment, any advice really. I am looking at reloading for the 12 and 10 bore too, in lead and non toxic shot.
Cheers everyone!

I have a Mec 9000gn in 12gauge, very easy to use.
Message me if you’re interested I have photos and im in Leeds West Yorkshire.

 

[Czhowa]

I've been loading shotgun cartridges for years, I mainly got into it to make subsonic loads for the .410 and 12g. Once you get the hang of it though it becomes quite good fun. Id stick to published data as pressure signs are hard to read and can spike rapidly.
For me it's a bit like tying my own trout flies, a lot more time consuming than just buying them outright but you have the satisfaction of knowing that you made the thing you're catching/shooting with. I've got a 21gram .410 load that flattens pigeons.
Good luck

 

[Bowland blades]

I have an number of presses and components , though i hardly shoot shotgun any more and neither does my daughter . Its a fair list of stuff and i think its time i went back to factory ( not even sure when i last took out a shotgun ) likely i will be using the guns here and there and have already thinned out the collection .