lil help with my new 50+ yr old C&H Shellmaster

[jeeptim]

Hey Fellow highroaders
Just got a sweet C&H shot gun press for 12ga looks to be complete only has 1 group L powder sleeve and two shot sleeves 1 1/4 and 1 1/8 oz and I'm good with that It's mounted on a factory wood platform with a wood storage box very cool.
I have reloaded TONS of rifle and pistol never for shotgun. My question is the instructions from 1960 show paper disks above the powder then a plastic and cork wad then shot and yes in the box were a few hundred of the disks and cork wads. Can I use modern wads with this unit? Has anyone used one?
Contacted C&H they got out of shot shell stuff in the early 70s.
So far have sized and primed 100 shells tomorrow picking up 25lb of shot.
Love reloading and have reloaded enough ammo for the next ten years and this shot shell reloader looks like it can keep me busy.
Any info of helpful hints would be good.
Thanx

 

[rfwobbly]

Unlike metallic reloading, shotshell reloading is HIGHLY scripted. That is to say, you must 1) have reloadable shotshell hulls, then 2) reload those hulls per the exact recipe. There is absolutely no component substitution allowed, and no playing with the loads.

So the first thing you need to do is hunt up a goodly sum of reloadable shotgun hulls (all the exact same type) and then find an exact recipe for that exact brand of hull. The recipe will prescribe the exact powder, wad, shot, and primer to use with those hulls.

Be aware that only about 1/2 of the hulls you'll find are reloadable. That list is very short and includes most of the Remington line, only Winchester AA, and a few Federals. I highly suggest you get a copy of the Lyman #5 shotshell reloading book and read it. That will explain everything.

 

[41 Mag]

As per rfwobbly's post, be sure of your components. The Lyman shotshell manual is one of the very best as it not only shows the exact brands which are mostly reloaded, it also list plenty of recipes for them as well.

Using modern components will be fine with the press, as long as your using the required powder and shot weights per the exact shells your loading. The wad pressure can be played with to some extent, but the proper starter and crimp must be used for the shell you use. Some have a 5, some a six, and some an eight point crimp. Just be sure you get these when your setting up.

You might not be able to find the exact parts for your exact press, but you might be able to find the plastic starters which might be, or can easily be modified for your press.

Once you get something figured out, on your hulls and loads be sure to set up some butcher paper at 40yd and check your pattern with all of your chokes. It might take switching some components around within the shells recipe to get the best out of your shotgun. Once you find a good load stick with it, and go along happy.

Good luck, and have fun.

 

[dickttx]

Thanks for the reference to C-H. I had no idea they were still in business. I have had a C-H CHampion press since they came out about 1970/71. Talk about strong. And they had the hole thru the ram for the primers to drop thru back then. Can't believe that thru all those years only the Lee Classic Turret has used that idea. I noticed on their website that they still make that press--Just about 10 times what I paid for it.