I might be getting a Serbu Super Shorty soon, and I want to handload reduced velocity slugs for it. I'm thinking of using all-brass shotshells, and .730" diameter musket balls. Could probably wrap a ball in a cloth or paper patch and jam it into the shell with finger pressure, given the larger internal diameter those things have. So really, the only reloading equipment I should need is something to resize, deprime, and reprime the brass. Anyone make anything really cheap that'll do that?
cheapest way to resize shotshells?
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308win
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Since these are straight wall brass and will be used in the same chamber do you need to resize? (If it is a SXS will shells fired in one barrel chamber in the other barrel without resizing?) Other wise, a MEC Jr. might work although I have only used with plastic hulls and really don't know how much if any resizing of the brass base is accomplished using a MEC.
The Super Shorty is a pump-action, so I imagine resizing will be necessary for it to function. I don't know how much the cases would expand, though. And I'd rather not drop the money on an entire shotgun reloading setup, since this is likely to be my only shotgun, and the only type of ammo I'll be handloading. Maybe buckshot too, but once again, that's practially tool-free with all-brass cases. Push in a fiber wad with my finger, put in the buckshot, push in another wad, and seal with wax. Shouldn't need anything fancier than that, I don't expect stellar patterns or accuracy out of a 6.5" barrel!
308win
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I would cycle some fired cases through it. If they will chamber load a couple up and see what happens. You could knock out the expended primers with a decapper out of a die set you already have and seat the 209 primer with a couple of pieces of wood and a c-clamp. Does Lee make the hand reloading sets for shotguns like they do for rifle and pistol? If so, that would probably be your lowest cost route unless you can find something at a garage sale/ebay/estate/etc. sale.
Unfortunately, Lee doesn't make a hand reloading set for any shotgun calibers. I did find the sizer part of their Load-All, though. Only $5. http://www.leeprecision.com/graphics/parts/1046.jpg I guess I could try attaching it to an appropriately sized PVC pipe.
scout26
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Lee used to make the Lee Loader for Shotgun Shells ( used to have a couple in various gauges). I'm not sure if you can still find them on Evil-Bay, but check you're local shows, Gunbroker.com, etc. and you might find one. If not, get a used Lee Load-All for ~$15-$20. It would probably be a better choice for depriming, resizing, priming and dropping powder. I've used mine to load buckshot loads and it works better then a MEC for low volume/small quantity jobs like loading slugs and buckshot.
Edit: Here's one listed on Evil-bay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Lee-Loader-12Ga...ryZ71120QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Price + shipping is ~$17.00
There are also Load-All's listed the end cost is roughly the same as a Loader, but the Load-All's are eaiser to use.
Edit: Here's one listed on Evil-bay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Lee-Loader-12Ga...ryZ71120QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Price + shipping is ~$17.00
There are also Load-All's listed the end cost is roughly the same as a Loader, but the Load-All's are eaiser to use.
Good find, thanks! I guess I'll keep looking around for Class IIIs near here, and keep in mind the extremely low Load-All prices on Pee-bay. Still debating what to get, but cheap reloading gear definitely tilts the scales in favor of a sawed-off. 
snuffy
Member
whoa!
The all-brass mag tech shotshells do NOT have a 209 primer. They use a large pistol primer, the flash hole is WAY too small to allow a shotgun decapper to pass through. Oh and I'm not guessing, I have and load the all brass shells.
Another thing, you will need oversize wads to load these, most use 10 ga. card and fiber wads. Then there's the crimp, or another way to hold the load in the front end. Wax won't do it, neither will glue. Water glass is used by some, it can be found at a drug store. I found a liquid latex sealer that works. Buckshot loads will need a over-shot wad. These and other specialty wads, along with the all brass shells are available at ballistic products, http://www.ballisticproducts.com/
Good luck, it sounds like a neat project.
The all-brass mag tech shotshells do NOT have a 209 primer. They use a large pistol primer, the flash hole is WAY too small to allow a shotgun decapper to pass through. Oh and I'm not guessing, I have and load the all brass shells.
Another thing, you will need oversize wads to load these, most use 10 ga. card and fiber wads. Then there's the crimp, or another way to hold the load in the front end. Wax won't do it, neither will glue. Water glass is used by some, it can be found at a drug store. I found a liquid latex sealer that works. Buckshot loads will need a over-shot wad. These and other specialty wads, along with the all brass shells are available at ballistic products, http://www.ballisticproducts.com/
Good luck, it sounds like a neat project.
Could have sworn I said something about hoping that using large pistol primers, rather than 209s, wouldn't mess up the press. Also knew about the different internal diameter. Once again, I'm not expecting great accuracy or patterns, so I was figuring I could just make my own cardboard wads. Cardboard wad over the powder, toilet paper buffer, t-shirt patched musket ball... that'd probably work.
Anyway, didn't know about the flash hole difference. Is it fairly easy to remove the depriming thing from a Load-All? On sealing them, do you think nail polish would be strong enough?
Anyway, didn't know about the flash hole difference. Is it fairly easy to remove the depriming thing from a Load-All? On sealing them, do you think nail polish would be strong enough?
G33InMyPocket
Member
I use the Lee Loadall 2 to load buckshot and slugs. I've loaded a few thousand rounds of them with out any problems. You can use regular hulls (AA,STS,etc) with a fold crimp.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=436640&t=22164010
YMMV.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=436640&t=22164010
YMMV.
scout26
Member
Yep, I'd go with using Win AA or any current production Remington hulls. No real good reason to use expensive fancy all brass shells, when there's tons of data for buckshot and slug loads using hulls you can easily find lying all over any trap or skeet field and wads you buy for $7-9 a bag of 500.
Here's a good place to get slugs:
http://gardnerscache.com/12_gauge_sabot_slugs.html
Here's a good place to get slugs:
http://gardnerscache.com/12_gauge_sabot_slugs.html
I don't understand something here . You are buying a $725 specialized defence type shotgun that requires registration ,special taxation, fingerprints, batfe approval and you are going to make ammunition using toilet paper and pieces of t-shirt. The toilet paper or t-shirt material may not hold the ball in the case under the recoil of the first shot and maybe jam the second shot. Regular slugs and buckshot are cheap at WAL MART . Or if you want less recoil, buy a box of light load police ammo and know that they will chamber and fire when you use it. Or buy a reloader and make them right.
Yes, and between the cost of the gun, and the $100 transfer fee that most Class IIIs charge (though I've yet to find one around here), my gun funds will be completely drained. I will have close to no money at all for ammo, so I'll have to make it as cheaply as possible.
I'm only going to buy this thing (if I can find a Class III, and if I don't come to my senses and buy something less crazy) for fun, not any kind of serious use. But with the Class III situation, I may need to get something like a Super Redhawk for my hand cannon fix. I think .454 Casull would actually be more powerful than slugs from such a short barrel, anyway.
I'm only going to buy this thing (if I can find a Class III, and if I don't come to my senses and buy something less crazy) for fun, not any kind of serious use. But with the Class III situation, I may need to get something like a Super Redhawk for my hand cannon fix. I think .454 Casull would actually be more powerful than slugs from such a short barrel, anyway.
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