If I reloaded 12 ga, what other gages do I need?

[danez71]

That's the question..... this is what I mean.

I have a 12ga with an 18.5" OC and a 20" with removable chokes. It's pretty harsh on me... I haven't shot it yet since adding a LimbSaver.

I wanted a 20ga but ended up with what I have for a few reasons a few years ago.


I started thinking of another shot gun and my 1st thought was to get the 20 GA I had planned for originally.

But RC corrupted my thinking by bringing up the cute 510 Bantam and I started thinking maybe a 410 is a better choice so that there is a bigger difference between my 2 shotguns (not as much overlap as there would be with having a 12 and 20ga)


Realistically, I'm looking at $500+ to settle into a new shotgun gage.


So with that background in mind... my questions are:

Can the 410 and 20ga characteristics be replicated fairly closely by reloading 12ga?

Could I get a basic 12 ga reloading set up for $500 that doesn't require to be permanently mounted?

The primary purpose of trying to mimic 410 recoil would be for fun 1st and then practice. I understand I'm not going to get 12ga performance with 410 recoil.


Thanks for any input.

 

[Frostbite]

I do not reload. I think you should try some light target loads with your new Limbsaver on to see the difference and judge if it is tolerable for yourself. Federal produces reduced recoil loads you can use for practice.

My own experience is very positive with regards to recoil pads, I feel the difference they make. However, I am not that sensitive to recoil.

I enjoy slugs out of my shotgun and practically do not feel regular target loads used for clays wearing only a shirt. The only gun I own which kicks pain right into my shoulder is an older .30-06 wearing a metal plate instead of a recoil pad. That one hurts.

If you want to start reloading and experiment, that is another story and I could only wish you the best with it. It seems like a fun activity from what I understand about it.

 

[Candyman87]

You can absolutely get a 12 gauge reloading setup for under $500 and not be permanent. You can do it for around $100 with a Lee Loadall. Not the fastest machine but it will reload 12 gauge all day long for about $75.

As far as .410 recoil. Might not get it that low but I'm sure a 5/8 oz load can be found with a lighter powder charge that would get you fairly close. Just remember to follow published recipes EXACTLY.

 

[rule303]

Your budget will easily get you into a good reloading setup including components. A 7/8 or 1oz 12 gauge load at 1200fps or less will be very mild to shoot. You won't find many 12ga load recipes as light as a .410, but it can be done. Of course you could always buy a cheaper press like a Lee, and have enough money left over for a .410. But then you would need a press for that too..

 

[huntsman]

I have a 12ga with an 18.5" OC and a 20" with removable chokes. It's pretty harsh on me... I haven't shot it yet since adding a LimbSaver.

What are you going to use said gun for?

 

[danez71]

What are you going to use said gun for?

#1 is fun which I get # 2 practice.

410 ammo isn't cheap. Made me think about reloading. Thinking about reloading made me wonder how much does it dilute the need/want of a 410.

My BIL has invited quail hunting so that's a possiblilty.

I've never been much of a shot gun guy but time changes things and I'm more interested.


Now I'm just at a point that I want to buy something. There not much in rifles that I want and there's this new shot gun interest, so.....


I want a plinking shotgun!

Something that I can shoot more in a sitting. Something that I can start tossing things and shooting at to see if I want to get into flying targets. Sone thing to explore my interest with.

At this point I time I don't shoot enough volume to reload.

But, if I'm willing to buy a new shotgun, maybe the better choice is to get the max flexibility out of my 12 ga?

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

You might look into a 28 ga. I've got a couple after listening to advice here. Performance is so much better than a .410 and recoil is negligible. If you plan on shooting it much you would be wise to get into reloading. Plus, a 28 ga makes a really fine little game gun!

 

[huntsman]

I consider the action more important than the gauge. I have a 12 gauge SXS as a general purpose gun yet I hunt deer with a 20 gauge single shot, spent the bulk of my youth hunting/shooting 20 and 16 gauges.

 

[sappyg]

I'm sure you can load 12s down to 20 performance and it's not that much of a stretch to load 20 up to light 12 gage performance.
The most desirable feature of the 28 and 410 bore is the size of the frame. Most are very light and petite. Thing is, most 28 gage guns are on the pricey side and many are built on 20 frames. Might as well be a 20.
Between the 28 and 410 with things being as equal as possible the 410 edges the 28 gage for me ever so slightly. 410s have lots of ammo options right off the the shelf. Slugs, Buck, duplex, birdshot... You name it. Plus, if you can hit with a 410 (not that hard with practice) you practically can't miss with a 20 or 12 gage.

Best advise is to shoot more shotguns and follow your heart. My favorite shotgun is a 20 gage 870 youth express (I like the frame size and fits perfect with a slip on limbsaver) but my favorite gage/ bore is the 410. Neither would be my 1st choice for a sporting clay match.

 

[I6turbo]

You can absolutely get a 12 gauge reloading setup for under $500 and not be permanent. You can do it for around $100 with a Lee Loadall. Not the fastest machine but it will reload 12 gauge all day long for about $75.

^^^ I can attest that these Lee loaders work great -- I still have my old 12- and 20-gauge setups from 35 years ago. They're certainly not the fastest, but they do the job and come with the necessary bushings to load a variety of powder and shot charges. If you are just thinking you'd like to give shotgun loading a try, don't hesitate to cut your teeth on one of these.

http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/43...Lee-_-436640&gclid=CNKW8pyqncsCFYJZhgodaacIYA

 

[FL-NC]

How much shotgun ammo do you shoot? Remember it will take more than a few rounds after you have invested in reloading equipment, components, etc., AFTER which you start saving money incrementally. I would say buy lighter loads to practice with.

 

[entropy]

Put a Limbsaver on that 12 ga.; problem solved, money saved.

 

[mgkdrgn]

It's pretty harsh on me... I haven't shot it yet since adding a LimbSaver.

First, make sure you are mounting it correctly. Tight to the shoulder, and lean into it. Make it push you, don't let it smack you.

Also, what kind of loads are you shooting, and for/at what? There are plenty of "reduced recoil" loads for 12 g.

I wanted a 20ga

Kick might not be all that less. Yes, the power isn't as high, but the gun will likely be lighter.

Can the 410 and 20ga characteristics be replicated fairly closely by reloading 12ga?

Could I get a basic 12 ga reloading set up for $500 that doesn't require to be permanently mounted?

I don't know about 410, but you can for sure reload to 20g power, and you can do that for 1/4 of the $500 you said you are willing to spend. Good MEC 600's are abundant.

 

[Wildfire]

Mec

I load for .410, 20, and 12.
I use Mec loaders. I know I have a few bucks into this. But, I also have a Lee that is slow, makes poor rounds and you will not like it at all.

The .410s are stupid money now. I load for my grand Kids and do not have to look back at where my money went.
12s are hard to compare at times when they are on sale it makes loading look like a waste of time. Once in a while 2os dip to a low price and it is hard to load for them then.
I won't comment on reducing the 12 loads. I use an 1187 and there is no recoil.
If you had a budget of 500.00 for a loader and supplies, that Mec is what you want. Don't hate your self later. They make very nice loads and work right.
There is also a "Universal" charge bar that allows you to fine tune your powder and shot weights. NICE.....
The photo should show a plate I made for mounting. Any of the 3 different loaders can be put on in a few minutes.

 

[number1wrench]

If I reloaded 12......

You pose multiple questions. Does the gun fit you? If not differing loads to adjust recoil will not solve the problem. If you don't shoot high volume, over 1,000 rounds a year, stay with what you have if it fits. Other than the ability to create loads that meet your needs exactly you could probably just purchase satisfactory loads without reloading. If I am understanding your desired outcome you can probably obtain satisfaction with what you currently have. There is always need for another shotgun. Handloading is a most enjoyable pursuit. I encourage you to pursue this sport and gather as much reliable information as possible.

 

[Jim Watson]

I shoot recreational Skeet with 7/8 oz 12 gauge, comparable to standard 20 gauge.

Reloading shotshells is much more recipe driven than rifle or pistol. I don't care what brand of .45 brass I load, but when I was shooting a lot of Trap, it was Winchester AA all the way. Now I think it would be Remington STS.

 

[au_prospector]

Buy your 12 gauge shells on sale, get a reloader for 28 or .410

MEC 600 JR is around $200, I have one in .410 and it is wonderful.
On 12 gauge, you can buy them on sale for just a tad more than you will spend making them, but .410 and 28 GA I would get the loader.

 

[plumberroy]

I have a lee loader in 12 ga. I used to shoot a 28 or 410 nearly all the time only because I could kill all the small game I ever wanted with the loads these guns shot . After I got the lee loader I now load 7/8 oz shot @ 1200 fps 12 ga. It works the same as my 28 Ga. single but if I do need 12 ga oomph it is just switching shells . I load my every day shells 7/8th oz #6 or #7.5 and buy the box of 1 1/4 heavy loads that I may shoot in a year
Roy

 

[danez71]

Thanks to every one. I appreciate it.

To clarify a little, if I got a reloader I could only see a savings if it were for 410 simply because I don't see myself shooting enough to see a savings in 12ga.

I pose the question more as if I was willing to spend the money on a 410 or 20ga and gear, would I be better off spending the money to get into reloading for the 12ga I have?

Only I can answer that. But, I'm not shotgun and reloading savvy enough to make an informed decision.

I've shot a 410 before; not much but enough to say I could shoot a couple hundred rounds in a days outing and not be sore.

I havent shot my 12GA since adding the LimbSaver but I'm thinking it won't be enough to shoot that volume in a day (for me)


So if I can replicate the recoil of a 410 by reloading my 12ga, then that may be my best decision.

If I cant, then I either need to consider a 410 for the recoil to get to that volume (and possibly reloading for savings later) or a 20ga because.... well, because the 20ga is kind of the sweet spot in a lot of ways.

 

[huntsman]

I pose the question more as if I was willing to spend the money on a 410 or 20ga and gear, would I be better off spending the money to get into reloading for the 12ga I have?

I have a little over $50.00 invested in my Lee 12 gauge equipment, The purpose was Y2K SHTF and not really about saving money.

My rule is not to spend money on gadgets or accessories so before I dropped $500. on a 12 gauge reloader I'd buy another gun, whether I'd dump the 12 would depend on my SD needs.

 

[plumberroy]

Thanks to every one. I appreciate it.

To clarify a little, if I got a reloader I could only see a savings if it were for 410 simply because I don't see myself shooting enough to see a savings in 12ga.

I pose the question more as if I was willing to spend the money on a 410 or 20ga and gear, would I be better off spending the money to get into reloading for the 12ga I have?

Only I can answer that. But, I'm not shotgun and reloading savvy enough to make an informed decision.

I've shot a 410 before; not much but enough to say I could shoot a couple hundred rounds in a days outing and not be sore.

I havent shot my 12GA since adding the LimbSaver but I'm thinking it won't be enough to shoot that volume in a day (for me)


So if I can replicate the recoil of a 410 by reloading my 12ga, then that may be my best decision.

If I cant, then I either need to consider a 410 for the recoil to get to that volume (and possibly reloading for savings later) or a 20ga because.... well, because the 20ga is kind of the sweet spot in a lot of ways.

I was in a hurry when I posted above. Even with a cheap lee loader you can load enough for all but serious clay games you can load 20 ga level loads in 12 ga hulls
benefits are:
lighter shot loads recoil less >less mass in shell = less recoil
12 ga. guns are usually heavier . more mass in the gun soaks up felt recoil
When everything else is equal bigger bore diameter usually patterns better
ability to shoot a heavy load if needed
combined with a good pad you should get recoil down to 20 ga levels
By the way is something like a Garcia bronco or even a m-6 scout 410 recoil will surprise you
Roy

 

[rsrocket1]

You definitely need to reload. No need to reload anything other than 12 guage for now. Learn how to reload 7/8 or 3/4 ounce shot in 12 gauge. The recoil is minimal (somewhere between shooting an AR-15 or an AK-47). Lots of published loads nowadays for 7/8, 3/4 oz and 24 gram 12 gauge loads. If you use reclaimed shot at $25/bag, you can load for about $3.50/box which is barely saving money, but more importantly, you will save your shoulder. I can shoot 6 rounds of skeet/trap and not get fatigued at all other than from the time being out on the range.

With skeet or 16 yard trap, 3/4 ounce is plenty. If you're on target, you will smash the clays. If you are off, 1 pound of shot won't help.

Good luck.