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Posted: 11/28/2008 2:14:00 AM EDT
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Hi guys,
I've been considering reloading 12 gauge shotgun shells. It's not really worth my time to reload bird shot considering how cheap it is. My primary interest is to load buckshot and slugs. I'd imagine a single stage press would be ideal for this? I'm running a Benelli M4. Factory buck and slugs are pricey, so I'm wondering if this would make economic sense. It's not uncommon for me to go through 200 - 300 rounds in a single outing. Also, I see mountains of shotgun shells laying around. Is there any specific brands to stay away from? |
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The press selection really depends on the number of shells you shoot. If it's a case or two every week, a good progressive is in order. For a case a month, a single stage will work. You'll need a single stage to load slugs in any case; one of the MEC's is perfect, their cost is not high, and this is the one reloading press that is easy to find second hand because there are so many in circulation.
As far as buck shot size goes, I have to wonder how well large buck will feed in presses with a bottle. MEC and RCBS both have the manuals for their presses on line, so I would check there first. I just don't recall reading anything, and that's because I skipped over it as I don't intend to load buck shot in any quantity. I have 3 MEC Grabber presses and one RCBS Grand. They are all about the same speed. The Grand is easier to adjust and operate without spills. A Grabber in good condition and adjustment is just as good as the Grand, but a worn out Grabber is a miserable pain in the neck. I have both types. I disagree about the cost of loading bird shot; there's no way I can buy shotgun ammunition for the cost of loading. We were upside down last winter for about 6 months before the new ammunition contracts were in effect and lead prices were sky rocketing, but it's back to normal now. Shot prices have fallen to $31 per bag here. What a deal!  [I shot the last of my $12 per bag shot this fall.]
The other factor is the premium price on buck shot. It's a little harder to find, and it costs more than more common 8's an 7 1/2's. Slugs ain't cheap either unless you cast. Ballistic Products is probably the best overall source of specialty shotgun loading supplies. Gamaliel and Graf's are the other popular and good sources of components. |
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Thanks guys. How cheap is birdshot to load? I usually just buy birdshot in the Walmart valuepak which is like 13 - 15 per 100.
I've heard there may be some issue with 00 Buck feeding through a shot feeder. I've heard you have to drop them in manually and stack them in a certain method. |
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Before they changed a few rules on 3-gun I was reloading some special rounds.
Drop a 50 cal round ball in the bottom of the shot cup and finish filling it with #5 or #6. The 50 cal stays in the middle of the shot pattern out to about 40 yards. If you have a dot sight on your shotgun it'll hit a 8" plate with authority to about 40 yards. |
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Quoted:
Thanks guys. How cheap is birdshot to load? I usually just buy birdshot in the Walmart valuepak which is like 13 - 15 per 100. Unless component prices have gone down significantly, it's cheaper to buy the promotional shells than it is to load your own. On the other hand, you can load shells with better shot(hard shot produces better patterns) for just slightly more. I've heard there may be some issue with 00 Buck feeding through a shot feeder. I've heard you have to drop them in manually and stack them in a certain method. Buckshot is not going to work through the charging bar/bottle feed. You'll have to manually put the shot into the hull and "nest" it in the proper order. Pick up a copy of Lyman's shotshell manual for info on it. |
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I recently aquired a used Mec Versa-Mec (1980's vintage) with all the components etc..to make about 1000 shells. I found it to be FUN! Way more fun than rifle rounds! once I picked a load for the components I got with the setup, tested a batch of rounds and then went bezerk! I loaded about 300 shells in an evening, and that included dinner!
As far as cost, I couldn't give you an accurate estimate at current shot/powder prices but it would be right there with the cheepie bulk stuff, maybe a bit cheeper, but you would be shooting better ammo tailored for your needs. Look through the shotgunworld forums. |
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Quoted:
Thanks guys. How cheap is birdshot to load? I usually just buy birdshot in the Walmart valuepak which is like 13 - 15 per 100. I've heard there may be some issue with 00 Buck feeding through a shot feeder. I've heard you have to drop them in manually and stack them in a certain method. Birdshot: Can't be done. Cost of shot, wad and primer exceed the cost of factory ammo. I gave it up years ago. Actually I might start again, as I have some shot I bought at $25/lb. Buckshot is not loaded through the shot feeder, you manually "stack" the pellets. 00 is pretty easy, as you stack 3 balls per layer. Slugs: I've never seen commercial slugs for sale. Most folks who load slugs also cast their own. Lee makes a mold for a key drive slug that is designed to work with a standard star/fold crimp rather than a roll crimp. |
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I disagree about the cost of loading bird shot. I can easily beat the price of factory loads with current component prices. When Walmart has Winchester or Federal value packs on sale the price is par or slightly in the favor of those factory loads. But for Estates, Rio, Fiocchi's, and so on, I'll beat their price every time.
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Interesting.
Thanks for the info guys. Tuesday, I'm going to go out in the field on one of my weekly brass hunts and see what kind of shells I can find. Then I'll hunt me down a Lyman manual to develop some loads and try to find out what the costs are. My desire is to practice with magnum level buckshot in my Benelli M4. It turns those shoulder buster rounds into something pretty manageable. |
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Another nice thing about reloading 12 guage target loads is you can load light if you want to.
For a while I loaded 7/8 oz loads and found them more comfortable to shoot in my O/U on the skeet field. A bit more challenge to the game and your shot will go noticeably further. |
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Quoted:
Interesting. Thanks for the info guys. Tuesday, I'm going to go out in the field on one of my weekly brass hunts and see what kind of shells I can find. Then I'll hunt me down a Lyman manual to develop some loads and try to find out what the costs are. My desire is to practice with magnum level buckshot in my Benelli M4. It turns those shoulder buster rounds into something pretty manageable. what part of the state are you in stevenb? |
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