Shotgun reloading

Benellijake

Active Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2019
Messages
41
Location
Colorado
Dear LRH

I was wondering if there's a wad that generally works well with most hulls. I'll be reloading 12 gauge.

Thanks John
 
There are generic power piston that will work. I don't have the material to tell which one they are. I load for 12, 20, & 28 gauge shotguns. I load for heavy shot loads in all gauges, unless I am at the trap and Sheet range. I used an 1-3/8oz load in my 12gauge and only changed the shot size, depending on what I was after. The steel shot kind of took me out of duck hunting. I have several barrel for the 870 I used in 12 gauge, from 24" I.P. Choke to a 34" trap barrel. I set my boys with same system. If the birds especially dove were flying high I would move my 34" barrel, and reach out there. Some places I hunted around people using and thinking there 7/8 or 1oz loads were anti aircraft guns, and are sky busters. with the 1-3/8oz loads I could easy reach 50yds on most birds. With the 34" I could reach somewhere around 80+yds on dove. You should have watch them trying to reach out there wondering why I was taking my birds and they weren't.
Back to reloading. Look at several manuals to see what does work. Graf & Son and Ballistic Products have a fair amount of info and charts. I used deep cup piston to hold the shot in them. The deeper the cup the tighter the shot column out to longer distances. The heaver shot loads, the denser the pattern is for longer ranges. Shot sizes also extends ranges too. I have several P/W presses. They make a pressure that you can get the plates from 410 2 1/2 to 10 gauge 3 1/2 gauge, and all the stops in between.
The only thing is primers: The reloading manuals call out the primer for each manufactures hull. I don't know it they are inter chainable. Now I have cross Fed 209 into Winchester, Federal cases and a few others, with on problem. I don't recommend others doing that. I feel that the overall shots shell primers may vary in length some, and that were the problem maybe at. The internal length of base height is what you have to watch for.
 
Just about any quality wad works well for clay targets. I prefer AA or clay buster version but the rem wads are also good. For hunting use specific wads for the weight you are loading .
 
Been a while since reloading 28s..but.....
Shotshell primers have same characteristics as metallics...Metallica....
Some are hotter than others....but learning to substitute for each isn't the end of the world.....but...there are primers larger in size to others....I believe Fiochhi is larger in size(diameter) than winchester and remington....Remington.... having the larger size can add a couple more shots to hulls with loose pp to winchester/remington.....
Metallica work without being 'compressed'......compressed...... shotshells work best with the wad being compressed..making the round 'tight from powder to crimp gives best performance...
In this case 'loose lips'..don't sink ships...bbs just fall out of barrels.....
The correct wad is determined by hull diameter..load weight..and compression...
 
From my experience reloading shotgun shells, mostly AA. There are specific wads for hulls and the amount of shot you want to shoot.

IMR makes a Handloaders guide which is downloadable and Lyman has a nice reloading handbook you can purchase.
Thanks again
 
Been a while since reloading 28s..but.....
Shotshell primers have same characteristics as metallics...Metallica....
Some are hotter than others....but learning to substitute for each isn't the end of the world.....but...there are primers larger in size to others....I believe Fiochhi is larger in size(diameter) than winchester and remington....Remington.... having the larger size can add a couple more shots to hulls with loose pp to winchester/remington.....
Metallica work without being 'compressed'......compressed...... shotshells work best with the wad being compressed..making the round 'tight from powder to crimp gives best performance...
In this case 'loose lips'..don't sink ships...bbs just fall out of barrels.....
The correct wad is determined by hull diameter..load weight..and compression...
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

John
 
Decide on what ounce load you intend to load for, what hulls you're going to use and then get one of the afore mentioned manuals. FYI, Claybuster works decent in Remington, Winchester or Federal hulls for 1 to 1 1/8oz loads. Otherwise I would stick with brand-to-brand - if you can find them. Good luck on your endeavor!
 
Get yourself the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook.

Use Claybuster wads in the summer and WW, Federal, Remington wads in the winter.

The Claybuster wads harden in the colder temperatures.
 
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