anyone load the lee 1oz slug 12ga

[JO JO]

well I am going to cast some lee 1oz keydrive slugs ,
using fiocchi clear hulls , questions is what wad or wad and card combo works well ?
I will be using red dot powder and also deciding on fold or roll crimp any advise on this is welcome
thanks

 

[Akula69]

Been experimenting with the LEE 1oz slug for some time now. I load the slug for home defense...so my projected range is 8-70 feet (3 to 20 yards).

I use the Federal Gold Medal hull (straight wall) and have used both the 12S3 Claybuster clone wad and the x12x gas seal with 2 - 1/4 inch cork spacers under the slug. I have contemplated buying an unslit wad and duplicating the 'Flitecontrol' wad Federal makes....but my projected range is too short - the wad would not separate from the slug in time...basically creating a wad/lead sabot that just wanders all over the place. I only use Federal 209A primers in my home defense loads - be aware they are on the upper end of brisance for the 209 series primer.

I have had success with the following powders:

HS-6 25.1 grains
Unique 26.7 grains
700X 25.5 grains

All are eight petal fold crimps - and are variations of recipes from Lyman's and Hodgdon's shotshell loading books. I tried Red Dot with a roll crimp (it failed to get above 5000 PSI) and gave up on it - my load data is too hot for a fold crimp and i have not had time to start over with a ladder on it. LEE has an old chart which used AA#5 with the slug....but I had no success with that either...with a roll crimp (as they advise) it was even slower then the Red Dot.

All are in a Remington 12Ga 870 with an 18" barrel. Results may vary, as you lose about 7 FPS with every inch of barrel you take away. I tested these loads with Tom Armbrust
for safety - all fell well below the 11500 PSI rating.

My recommendation: Please use proven recipes or get your loads tested. You can easily ruin a good weapon or your good looks if your not careful.

 

[Howa 9700]

well I am going to cast some lee 1oz keydrive slugs ,
using fiocchi clear hulls , questions is what wad or wad and card combo works well ?
I will be using red dot powder and also deciding on fold or roll crimp any advise on this is welcome
thanks

I am about 2 months ahead of you. From the jump, I decided to go with the 7/8 oz slugs, which are nose heavy, and appear to have an inherent accuracy advantage over the 1 oz, at least when fired from a smooth bore gun. My slugs are landing within an inch or two of my target at 50 feet, fired through an 870 Wingmaster with smooth bore and single bead front sight.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/loading-lee-slugs-and-buckshot.901989/

Crib notes version is with Fiocchi hulls, my best wad is the Fiocchi 1 oz:

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/82506

Can be used with either 6 or 8 point crimp. Powder choice depends on desired velocity. Faster powders like Red Dot would work for sub 1,200 fps velocities.

Faster velocity.......like 1300 fps......intermediate powders like Green Dot or International. You get the velocity without the high pressures.

Fast loads loads in 1,500 fps + as were intended by Lee.......Longshot, HS6 or similar. Recoil for those will be heavy and similar to high velocity or magnum factory loads. Apparent intent was a high velocity slug load to be fired out to 100 yards or so and used for hunting. Since that is not my intent, I've stuck to the low recoil, lower velocity options. Even so, 1300 fps is not something to mess with if you are the one on the receiving end.

Load data from Lee is at least 20 years out of date. Load data from BPI also iffy. I'm treating mine as a 7/8 oz load where there is ample load data from a variety of powders. It is only when you get into the fast loads greater than 1,500 fps do you wander into uncharted waters.

 

[dannyd]

I use the 7/8 and 1 oz. Used BPI data but the biggest thing what ever wad you pick make sure you can push the wad with the slug in it through the barrel with about 10 lbs of pressure.

 

[troy fairweather]

I've read many times the 7/8 lee are more accurate, the 1 oz seems some have had problems.

 

[Howa 9700]

On powders for the low recoil to intermediate speed loads up to 1,400 fps.........both 7/8 oz and 1 oz payloads........two powders that show a lot of promise on paper are Ramshot Competition and Hodgdon International. Load data for both centers over 1,300 fps.....+/- 150 fps above and below.....all with reasonable pressure. International being the most versatile of the two.......and the only one I've been trying to get my hands on and haven't.

I did find a pound of Competition and it is doing fine with my 7/8 oz loads. Also been using Green Dot for both slugs and buckshot, and it is doing well too.

 

[JO JO]

good info it is to bad lee slug data is scarce , I have bought the lyman cast and shot shell books plenty of info on lyman slugs lee not so much
perhaps one day I will look into the lyman 525 pellet slug

 

[Howa 9700]

Do you have the Lee slug molds already? If not, and a guy just wanted a few slugs to try, this has been an option (currently sold out):

https://www.robsbullets.com/store/p12/Lee_12Ga_Slug_-_7/8_oz_OR_1_oz.html#/

Unless you already have it, lead is not free, and buying them already made saves on cost of molds and melting pot. That is if you only want a few.

If you have the slugs and want to try the Fiocchi wads, you can get them from Graf's, but they have a min order size of $40. If you only want a few, I have a 250 count bag of each, which is more than I will ever need, and could share some of mine for cheap.......plus I'm only 30 min or so away and can always get more.

 

[JO JO]

That is very nice of you and thanks
I have already got the mold ,pot and soft lead
I am new to casting starting with the lee slug and so how it goes

 

[JO JO]

My local Store has some cb1600 in stock worth a try in fiouchi hulls?

 

[dannyd]

I use a Cheddite hull, PT 1205 wad from BPI, WST powder and a Cheddite primers with a Lee 7/8 slug. The 7/8 is going to give better performance than the 1oz. Try to use just plan lead the slugs need to be on the soft side.

Some people just use the 7/8 or 1oz regular lead shot load data; I don't see anything wrong with that as long as the slug and wad together can be pushed though the barrel with very little resistance. That's the move important thing.

Mine worked out to 75 yards with no problem.

 

[dannyd]

That is very nice of you and thanks
I have already got the mold ,pot and soft lead
I am new to casting starting with the lee slug and so how it goes

Need to get the mold hot because of the center pin; if you new to casting that's just about the hardest mold to start with. Please use the Lee instructions it will make it a better experience.

 

[Howa 9700]

My local Store has some cb1600 in stock worth a try in fiouchi hulls?

I assume you meant CB 6100. With my curiosity up and wanting to check out stock in Graf's anyway, I made a quick run over there this afternoon.

They showed the 6100 in stock.....but did not find any on the floor. They did have the same wad in 1 1/8 oz, which I do have use for and came home with a bag. They had another wad that is described as a figure 8 for Remington (tapered hulls?), but the data said for straight walls. Brought a sample of that home and that worked too. Both have smooth petals and allowed an easy fit of a Lee 7/8 oz slug into a Fiocchi hull......so you should be good to go with a CB 6100. One nitro card for 7/8 oz......no card for 1 oz.



From left to right........the BPI 078 Lightning wad for Lee 7/8 oz slugs
CB3118-12AR https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013123641 (Plus 2 - 20 gauge nitro cards for filler)
CB6118-12 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1023807742?pid=381203 (Plus 2 - 20 gauge nitro cards for filler)
CB2118-12 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013124462 (Notice the rib on the petals. The other two do not have that).

As noted in the other thread, if you use a 1 1/8 oz shot cup, the same hull, primer, powder and wad combo can do double duty to load both Lee slugs.....or buckshot. 1 oz of #4 Buck, 15/16 oz or 9 pellets of of 32 caliber (0.310) round lead balls (also #1 1/2 buckshot).......or 6 pellets (3/4 oz) of 00 Buckshot.

In the photo above hull on far right is loaded with 9 pellets of #1 1/2 buckshot. Either of the other two look to be a better fit.

 

[JO JO]

Thanks for all the great info,
Another question which is preferred fold or roll crimp ,

 

[Howa 9700]

All of mine are fold crimp. Have used both 6 and 8 point on the new Fiocchi hulls and both work.

 

[dannyd]

I use a fold crimp 8 point

 

[JO JO]

I reload for all my handguns and rifles,
Looking forward to jumping into the loading shotshell rabbit hole, I really appreciate all of this advice
Going to order some supplies tonight
I have red dot and some blue dot to try and will pick up some other shotgun powders as I see them

 

[dannyd]

Blue Dot is good for Buckshot.

 

[JO JO]

Im guessing low brass is good enough

 

[dannyd]

Im guessing low brass is good enough

According to all the information in manuals and from places like BPI it's doesn't matter anymore low or high work just fine.

I'm a big reader of reloading books library goes from 1920 to 2022.

 

[Howa 9700]

From the "things that wear me out" files.............exactly the same......but different.

Both wads CB3118-12RA. Wad on left sample I picked up from Grafs. Wad on right......the one with ribs........from Midway. The ribs make it different. Appear to be different lots. Without ribs, works for Lee slugs. With rib.......does not. Rib splays petals out and will cause a bump when inserted in hull.

Stuff like this has made finding modern era wads for Lee slugs and real adventure. Make that a really frustrating adventure.

 

[JO JO]

does the 7/8 oz have that much of an edge over the 1 oz

 

[dannyd]

does the 7/8 oz have that much of an edge over the 1 oz

It's not that it has an edge (I have both) the 7/8oz is more balanced than the 1oz. (far left)

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

does the 7/8 oz have that much of an edge over the 1 oz

I have experimented with Lee 1 oz slugs. Don't have the data with me now. Lower velocity, 1200fps or so, produced the best accuracy. Riffled Hastings barrel is vastly more accurate than any smooth bore.
I don't have a 7/8 oz mold, so I have not tried them. Every thing I've read said it is difficult to prevent the Lee 7/8 slugs from tumbling.