Reloading questions

[dmarbell]

I'm new to reloading. My dad has the equipment - MEC 600 Jr. reloader (pre-1985), bars for 1 1/8 oz. and 1 1/2 oz. loads, 31 and 37 bushings. He also has considerable reloading experience, some years ago, and reloaded some heavy duck loads. He has AA cases (maybe 2500), some of which he says are marked skeet and some marked trap. (He has others that are high brass, probably from the duck days.)

I've read in a couple of spots to buy or reload 7/8 oz. loads for 12 gauge target shooting. Can anyone give me opinions on powder type, bushing size and loads for overall SC and trap? I'd like to buy one shot size, say #8. Will this work ok for SC, skeet and trap? I know I'll need a bar for 7/8 loads (or something lighter than 1 1/8).

He has used Unique powder in the past, with 31 bushing giving 21.5 grains.

I've done some searching on THR, but there's a bunch to try to get through. If I missed it, please direct me. Also, I know I can talk to local dealers, but sometimes people can be narrow and one-track (like the guy at a local range who told me to forget 870s and figure on buying an Italian O/U), so I'd like opinions of people who shoot a lot.

Danny

 

[45auto]

#8 shot would be a good "all around" choice for the 3 sports.

I load a lot of 7/8 loads and would recommmend "Clays" powder from Hodgdon.

Reasonable price, so to speak , plentiful, and Hodgdon has a lot of listed 7/8 loads using AA hulls with various componants. So, stick to their recommendations and you will have no "trouble" with the loads or finding the "stuff" you need.

What powder you use and speed will dictate what powder bushing you need. You must have a powder scale to check the loads...IMHO.

For 7/8, I'd probably stay in the 1250-1300 FPS range. Get Hodgdon's free book or check on line and "print" them out. Don't rely on memory when loading, at least don't rely on MY memory.


There are others that work fine too of course.

 

[TaxPhd]

You will also need a 7/8 oz. bar or a universal charging bar.

 

[Dave McCracken]

First thing,Danny, buy the Lyman Manual. One chapter describes how to set up and run a MEC 600 JR. Lots of pics, well written instructions. And lots of 7/8 oz loads with AA hulls.

I use Clays powder. Loads from 16 gr to 18 gr work with 7/8 oz loads, including with 8s.

DO NOT SWAP COMPONENTS!! Stick to the recipes.

Here's my pet load, right from the Hodgdon manual.

STS or AA hull.

Winchester 209 primer.

18 gr of Clays. You should try 17.5 or so and see how things pattern for you.

WAA12 SL wad or the Claybuster clone.

7/8 oz of HARD shot.

 

[RNB65]

Never trust bushing charts. Get a powder scale and check, check, and re-check.

 

[dmarbell]

Reloading

Good information for me to start on. I picked up a Hodgdon book today from a gun shop. Pretty good info, even in there.

I did a quick calculation of the kick, based on p. 46 in the book. Based on my estimated 7 lb. Wingmaster, 18 grain charge, the difference between 1 1/8 load and 7/8 load is 33% reduction in kick. 1 1/8 load kicks about 24 f/bls and 7/8 about 16. I see now why, for those shooting several (or many) boxes of 12 gauge shells at a session would want the 7/8 oz. load.

So, how do I convince my Dad to help me load the 7/8 oz. load, when his first reaction was "...that ain't enough shot!" I suppose you guys shooting SC and trap are happy with the number of pellets in the 7/8 oz. load? Do you use a higher load for competition than for practice?

Danny

 

[Dave McCracken]

In order to function effectively, 7/8 oz loads need top components, especially hard, round shot. Stuff with 5% antimony is about right. I use West Coast most of the time. Hard shot is more expensive, but with these loads you do get 450 plus from a bag.

As to Dad. if he tries them he'll like them. Trust me.

I do not compete these days. I see no disadvantage to 7/8 oz loads out to 35 yards or so. Handicap trap can be done with these but hits get chippy. If I did compete, I'd use the same load.

For clay targets, 8.5 shot works well in 7/8 oz loads since it ups the pellets count. There's more pellets in a 7/8 oz load of 8.5s than in 1 1/8 oz of 7.5s.

 

[mswestfall]

I shoot two loads:
Win AA hull
1 oz. Magnum 8's
Claybuster 1100-12
Hodgdon Clays (32 bushing)
Win 209 Pirmer
This should be a 1,180 fps load. It chronographs at 1,207-1,210.
and

Win AA hull
1.125 oz. Magnum 7.5's
Claybuster 1118-12
Hodgdon Clays (33 bushing)
Win 209 Pirmer
This should be a 1,200 fps load. It chronographs just about right.

I shoot Trap. I shoot the same shells in competition as I do in practice. I shoot the 8's back to the 23 yard line and then shoot the 7.5's. I shoot an 8 in the first bbl and a 7.5 in the second for doubles.

There are more and more guys at my club that are shooting 7/8th oz. A friend just gave me a bag of 7/8th oz. wads. I've shot a few borrowed 7/8th. They were just fine. I may switch, but haven't quite convinced myself. Let us know how your Dad feels after he tries them.

Good luck.

 

[BozemanMT]

I shoot two loads:
Win AA hull
1 oz. Magnum 8's
Claybuster 1100-12
Hodgdon Clays (33 bushing)
Win 209 Pirmer
This should be a 1,180 fps load. It chronographs at 1,207-1,210.
and

yep, this is our load too, we do it about 17 grains which si right in the middle of the chart. It's "a little slow"
We shoot fine
It aint' the ammo, it's the nut behind the trigger.

This is a nice easy shooting load.

Once you get your reloading set up, it's very easy to switch shot size. You just buy another bottle. I use the same load but switch shot sizes. 7.5's for trap and long shots, 8's for most everything, lately 8.5's for anything within 30 yards and #9 for skeet
takes about 5 seconds to change out the shot size.

Don't store primers and powder together. Just in case you happen to drop one.

 

[dmarbell]

Posted to: The Decline of Shotshell Reloading also

Reload Costs

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I walked into a gun shop today and bought everthing needed to reload 7/8 oz. target loads, except the AA hulls, which my Dad already has. He also has a MEC 600 Jr. reloader. I bought one bushing and a new bar for the 7/8 loads, and I'm not including those in the costs. I don't know the cost of hulls, but was told to use about $0.10 each, and I figured with light loads they can be used about 4 times each. All costs below include 7% NC Sales Tax.

Powder - Hodgdon Clays, 14 oz., 18 grain charge makes 340 shells
$20.28 divided by 388 = $0.060 each

Shot - 25 lbs. of #8 magnum, 7/8 oz. load makes 457 shells
$34.19 divided by 457 = $0.075 each

Wads - $7.06 for 250 = $0.028 each

Primers - $4.23 for 100 = $.042 each

Subtotal without hulls = $0.205

Hulls $0.107 each with 4 uses = $.027 each

Total cost = $0.232

Cost per box $5.80 ($5.125 without the hulls)

Does this seem about right? Are there alternative sources for shot and powder, on the 'net, other than beating up on my local vendors? This might be ok for my 16 gauge gun, but doesn't seem worthwhile for my 12's. I'll have fun with my Dad reloading the stuff, and the light target loads will be ok, but we also wasted a gallon of gas and an hour going to the store. Oh, and I was a gnat's eyelash from buying another gun while in the store, so that cost probably needs to be included!! ;^)

Danny

 

[mswestfall]

I paid 3¢ each for the last 5,000 AA hulls I bought. I have 8 reloads on some.


Clays, 8 pounds at $100 17.5 grains makes 3,200 shells 3.2¢ ea.
25 lbs. at $17.95 of #8 magnum, 7/8 oz. load makes 457 shells 3.9¢ ea.
500 wads at $6.54 1.3¢ ea.
5000 primers at $107.00 2.1¢ ea.
Hulls at 3¢ each divided by 8 reloads 0.1¢ ea.


Total cost = 10.6¢ ea.

Cost per box $2.65

I'd buy in larger quantity. I can't buy from the same dealer for every component. I didn't add tax. The big box dealer in my area isn't the best deal. I do buy based on price but I also support my local gun shops.

 

[dmarbell]

Clays vs. Unique

So, I've joined a club and found some cheaper prices to buy reloading supplies. I'm trying to compare two powders, Alliant Unique and Hodgdon Clays. 1 oz. loads with the same hull, wad, primer, for Unique generates 1200 fps with 22 grains and Clays generates 1180 fps with 17.2 grains. Unique costs 104.95 for 8 pounds and Clays 99.95. 8 pounds x 7000 grains per pound = 56,000 grains per eight pounds. If Unique takes 22 grains vs. 17.2 for Clays, then Clays will load 28 more boxes of shells and cost $0.25 less per box than Unique? Am I doing this right? I know it's average load and waste and all, but the theory is right?

Danny

 

[RNB65]

That sounds right. Clays is good stuff. That's what I used back when I was into reloading. It's a little smelly when fired (has a fairly strong acrid odor), but it burns clean and you'll get used to the odor. Go for it.

 

[theCZ]

Unless you are really keen to use Winchester brand wads, I'd recommend looking into the Claybuster clones of the winchester wads, I use a lot of their lightning 7/8 to 1oz wads, they are about $8 for 500 versus $13 for actual winchesters. I hope you can find shot cheaper locally for less than $34! I was cringing when I bought 25lbs of magnum #9s for $28.50! I'm ordering a bunch of shot through my club and the component guy says he currently has it for $23 a bag and expects the price to be lower when he delivers it in a month. Let's hope so!