Reloading Data for Hulls

[JH]

hey everyone, i'm getting ready to start doing my own reloading but i'm still in the research phase. i have a variety of hulls, but i have a decent amount of the cheap universal/federal multi hulls and i'd like to find the data for them. another thing i'm confused about is what i can reload certain hulls with. is it possible to reload hulls like that with buckshot or slugs rather than shot?

also, is there any hull guides online that cover stuff like that? the hodgdon reloading data page doesn't have data for some of the hulls i have, like 3'' winchester xpert hi velocity steel shot hulls for example.

also, i plan on casting my own 00 buckshot and 1oz slugs to start, incase this makes a difference. i appreciate any help.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Welcome to the High Road.

Lyman makes about the best reloading manual for shotguns. I'd suggest you buy it and read up on shotgun loading before you start. Their manual has recipes for loading buckshot as well as loading two kinds of slugs, along with loading shot.

Shotgun loading isn't like metallic loading, in that you have recipes for shotgun loads, which must be followed pretty closely. With metallic reloading, there are some pretty wide parameters for each bullet/powder/caliber combination.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[ants]

Glad you joined us.

Lyman Shotshell, as advised by Fred.

There are also a hundred online resources. Have you done a search on "shotshell reloading" ? You'll get thousands of hits. Try the web sites by shotshell component and press manufacturers first: Ballistic Products, Claybusters, MEC, etc.

You will be pleased to discover a thousand more resources online than you can possibly read in a lifetime. But definitely get that Lyman Shotshell book first.

 

[JimKirk]

Like the guys said the Lyman Shotgun Manual is the bible of shotgun reloading.

I don't know how many different brands of hulls you have, but I would suggest that you find one that best fits what you want to load and stick to that type hull. Swapping in and out between different hull types is a pain in the azz. So stick to the same type and keep loading.

Some of the slug hulls are crimped different(rolled) than birdshot or buckshot loads, I think they would not work very well for different load. If you need to roll crimp, you'll have to get a crimper that fits a drill.

The simple way to judge what kind of hull you have, is to saw one of each brand in half and lay them side by side and compare them. If a hull has the same internal shape and volume then you can interchange them... otherwise stick to the recipe in the manuals. I made a hull board by hot gluing one of each brand that I cut in half to board that hangs in my shop, that way I can just look to see what hull fits what, I wrote the brand and what was loaded in each underneath each one.

Lots of data on the net for shotgun loads, just make sure it is from a respected source.

Jimmy K

 

[HOWARD J]

Also---pick up the RCBS shotgun reloading manual.
It has more loads than anyother manual.......................

 

[oneounceload]

You need to be aware that, unlike metallic reloading where mixing same caliber brass isn't a big deal for handguns, mixing hulls is NOT an acceptable practice - there are several hull designs and wads are designed accordingly. While recipes can be somewhat flexible in certain areas, in other areas they are not. Read the manuals, call the manufacturers if necessary, buy the right components and go have fun

 

[JH]

thanks for all the replies..

i'll start off by asking which lyman book is the newest? i see the 4th edition on amazon and that's the most expensive one but figured i'd doublecheck.

in terms of hulls, i can get different ones but these are the ones i currently have from shells i've already shot once so i was hoping i could re-use some of them. i don't have a crazy amount of variation, roughly 3-4 different ones, mostly the cheap wal-mart hulls that come in 100 packs. i have some slug hulls that definitely have a different crimping than the others.

i should also have mentioned that i'll be using a MEC 600 JR for the actual reloading process.

thanks again for the help, i'll get back to researching some more.

 

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR, JH.

You can take one of each and cut them in half and then do an inspection and comparison of the base construction.
I know that others have mentioned loading the Walmart hulls with no problems, but I don't remember what brand hulls match up with them.
Perhaps a search of THR will answer that.
I use a Mec 600 jr for my 410 hulls. Great press.



NCsmitty



NCsmitty

 

[JimKirk]

I've loaded many thousands on a Mec 600 Jr, good press!

Jimmy K