[Sylvan-Forge]

I'm thinking 12ga hand-dies for bugging out ..

[GP100man]

ive not seen hand dies ,only a hammered powered deprimer& a set of dies to use on a single stag press with the bushing removed,which ive recently aquired with directions & all!!

GP100man

[mallc]

Lee makes a Classic Loader in 12 ga.

The Lee Load-All is a very inwxpensive but efficient way to reload shot shells.

Scott

[sniper5]

I believe Lee no longer makes the shotshell version of the Lee Loader.

However, the older ones are available used on ebay and gunbroker and at lots of gunshows. I have the 20ga 2 3/4 and the 20ga 3 inch. The more recent ones are combined in one kit.

[Travis Two]

I believe RCBS made dies that could be used in a conventional reloading press that would reload shotshells. Couple that with a Huntinton hand press and you might just have what you are looking for.

[snuffy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/DELUXE-LEE-LOADER-12-GA-3-MAGNUM-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ150215980020QQihZ005QQcategoryZ71120QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

No longer available as new, but available on fleabay as seen above.

I was curious about the SHTF/bug out capabilities of one in 12 ga. So I bid on and won one in 12 ga. It was primarily made for paper hulls, it requires a LOT of force to close the crimp on modern plastic shotshells. It depends on how badly you want shells to shoot in a desperate situation. It is painfully slow, and the quality is terrible. I will probably be selling it at the next gun show or on ebay.

[rcmodel]

I'm thinking 12ga hand-dies for bugging out ..O.K. I got a question?

If you have to bug out, wouldn't to make more sense to carry loaded ammo you already loaded at home on a press?
(Rather then reloading tools, 25 pound bags of shot, cans of powder, cartons of 209 primers, sacks of wads, etc?)

I mean, except for the empty hulls & the hand-powered reloading equipment, the weight would be exactly the same, and the loaded ammo would be much more convient, and far more weather resistant & safer to handle.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[BEARMAN]

For bug out to a retreat, having the capability to reload your shot cases would come in handy, but all you would need is the Lee Loader set and some primers. Powder could be a pistol/shotgun powder and shot could be made, by dribbling melted lead into a can with small holes then into water( not perfect shot but would work). Shot shell powder can be used for loading pistols and vise versa . Yes it would make more sense to bug out with loaded ammo but after a period of time all your loaded ammo will need to be replaced or replenished and having the means to do it would be beneficial.

[Sylvan-Forge]

BEARMAN summed it up nicely :)

[moosehunt]

Well, Ive been watching this to see if someone else would ask, but no one else has, so I have to--what in the world do you mean by "for bugging out"? That's a new phrase on me!

[Bad Flynch]

I have a set of RCBS dies in 12 Ga. that will work in a single-stage press--as long as that press has the large thread size (? 1.25 inch ?). RCBS made these in the 1990s, then discontinued them.

However, I hear that they are back in production, mostly because of the cowboy shooters loading brass shotgun shells. I have heard that they are a tad on the expensive side.


Call RCBS.

[scrat]

Well, Ive been watching this to see if someone else would ask, but no one else has, so I have to--what in the world do you mean by "for bugging out"? That's a new phrase on me!

yep im at a loss What does bug out mean

[rcmodel]

As I understand it, Bug-Out now means:
To escape a natural disaster, nuclear accident, zombie attack, etc. and go live off the land in your "retreat" in the woods.

I first heard it used in the Army in the 60's, and believe it probably originated during WWII or the Korean war.

Bug Out:
1: To retreat during a military action; especially: To flee in panic
2: To depart, especially in a hurry

As for me, if I had a "retreat", it would have a fully stocked arms vault, and enough loaded ammo, especially .22LR & air-gun pellets for food gathering, to last me & my family the rest of our life.

However, since I don't have a "retreat", we are probably just doomed when the Zombies come in the night.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[snuffy]

However, I hear that they are back in production, mostly because of the cowboy shooters loading brass shotgun shells. I have heard that they are a tad on the expensive side.

The RCBS dies that are now available are specifically made for the all-brass hulls made by magtech,(CBC). I doubt they would work for plastic shells. I have one, for the magtech brass shells I got from midway. No, I'm not into SASS, just curious about the all-brass shotgun shells. IF I ever get a press capable of the larger thread size, I will try loading some plastic shells on them. Since there's no means for a star crimp, I doubt it will work. The dies produce a taper crimp to close the brass shells.

[BEARMAN]

If a person goes to www.ebay.com searches "reloading equipment" there will be lots of " LEE LOADERS FOR 12 GAUGE" other gauges are not as plentiful. Also LOOK at gun shows. When you are looking be sure it comes with the instructions plus a piece of light cardboard with the loads for the gauge you are loading for. This goes for the Lee Loaders for cartridge as well. You need the load data on the piece of light cardboard because you will be using the dipper for measuring the powder.

[Vacek]

I started a whole thread on the subject of reloading with the Lee Loader 12 guage set. It is on the reloading forum of the shotgun forum. Go to this link.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=128455

This was a long thread with 39 replies. The gist was this. I was experimenting reloading with the Lee Loader. Using AA's, Greendot and #5 shot I could make a great load. The difficulty is getting a good crimp on plastic hulls. I was able to do it by softly using a rubber mallet to drive the plunger as the last step. Initially everyone was having a heart attack that I was doing this. However as the thread went on it was pretty well decided that it was probably ok. If you are familiar with lead loaders then you know that the last step in reloading rifle or handgun is the crimping step using the mallet. So, in short it works but I personally really wouldn't come out and recommend it strickly from the standpoint of danger.

It was critical to have a gap over the primer before the final hammering was done. Read the thread. You should find it interesting.

[Vacek]

Go to this link.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=128455

I started a thread on the Lee Loader for 12 guage and it contains 39 replies. Very interesting.

[Vacek]

Go to this link.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=128455

I started a thread on the Lee Loader for 12 guage and it contains 39 replies. Very interesting.

[Sylvan-Forge]

Indeed it was interesting Vacek. Thank you.

http://www.a2zoutdoors.com/original_lee_loaders.htm
has old Lee Loaders, but they don't list for 12 gauge...

found one or two here: http://search.ebay.com/lee-loader

I'd like to get one to reverse engineer and maybe see if I can come up with something. Something that could be used by hand and/or a small (and light weight) arbor press. Basically like what's been illustrated in the old Lee Hand Loader and current production LE Wilson hand-dies.

As mentioned, to "bug out", one needs to minimize heavy/bulky gear. The zombies are faster these days don't ya know ;)