Reloading shotshells

[e_smith2000]

Okay, i have a lot of used primers from handgun rounds, and i have been wondering what i can do with them. Now, assuming i can clean them, would there be anything wrong with loading up 12 gauges with these used primers?

 

[rcmodel]

I suppose you could.
But pattern, range, and penetration would be dismal at best compared to round lead shot.

The irregular shape & ultra light weight would result on the the primers stomping on the air-breaks as soon as they got outside the muzzle & wad, and veering off to parts unknown.

rc

 

[kingmt]

The brass primers are good for the salvage price.

 

[oneounceload]

throw them away and use real lead shot

 

[Uniquedot]

Save them and sell them to a recycler so they can send them to China where they can be made into something else and sold back to us.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

Some people just have too much time on their hands.

 

[PapaG]

Many have steel components, whether the cup or the anvil and will scratch the daylights out of the bore of the shotgun.....even if you use plastic wads. Don't do it.

 

[gamestalker]

Right off the bat I would be concerned about finding a a recipe that would work. Your going to be dealing with a completey different desity compared to lead shot. If you know someone who loads rock salt that might be a place to start from for a recipe. But I sure wouldn't just pick a powder charge from listed data intended for a lead load. Just like loading for any other cartridge type, pressures are unpredictable when substituting with unintended components.
I knew a guy many years ago that was a regular in the gun store I worked in that was trying to develope a steel jacketed bullet. He used steel tubing and filled the inside with lead. His bullets, which looked really clean and functional, were loaded according to data for that weight and caliber, but when he fired the first round, the pressure was so extreme, it sheared the bolt lugs off of his 30-06. Our gun smith just laughed when the guy showed him the rifle. If your just wanting to reap some kind of monetary return or another use for those spent primers, I would just use them as scrap metal and put the money toward some reclaimed lead shot, or not?

 

[snuffy]

Many have steel components, whether the cup or the anvil and will scratch the daylights out of the bore of the shotgun.....even if you use plastic wads. Don't do it.

Rifle and handgun primers are composed entirely of brass! Shotshell primers are steel, the battery cup, the primer cup itself is brass.

+1,2,3 or however many have said it's a lousy idea. They won't fly straight, and you won't get a functional load with any of present day powders.

 

[teddy52food]

Sometimes you can add 1 or 2 to a lite load just to take up space to make a better crimp.

 

[kingmt]

Rifle and handgun primers are composed entirely of brass!

True but not true of all. I have seen near 1-2K primers that had brass caps & steel anvils.

 

[Uniquedot]

True but not true of all. I have seen near 1-2K primers that had brass caps & steel anvils.

What brand or at least what manufactures stamp on the cases? I can't say that i have ever seen any. Not that i stick a magnet to all my spent primers, but i do sell them for scrap brass.

 

[kingmt]

Not sure. I found then after deprimeing several & a magnet fell in my bucket. I then dumped my scrap brass bucket & found a few hundred of them ether SP or SR though. I can send you some if you like(I think I still have a few). They were a pain to separate from the brass cups. Best way to separate them is to stick them to the magnet then smack them on the table.

 

[RugerBob]

I Saved mine and made a bench rest bag. Just took a pair of the kids small jeans and cut the leg off had the wife sew 1 end up and filled it the sew that end up. Cheap and disposable after time. Also scrap yards take em .
As far as shotshell, well never wieghed em to equal 1 or 1 1/4oz.