reloading shotgun shells

[Brother in Arms]

Hi everyone
this is a shotgun reloading question. I have shot muskets for years and I have shot plenty of ball out of them. Back when I was a lad there was an old man who reloaded shotgun shells and I asked him if he ever reloaded slugs. He said but he made round ball loads for them. I was wondering if there is any data available for this. I have several round ball molds, .20 gauge, .16gauge., 12gauge, .10gauge. I was thinking about loading up some 12 gauge ball rounds cause I thought it might be fun. Any idea what I should do? I was considering wieghing the ball and seeing how much it wieghed then compare data for slugs of similiar wieght but chances are most slugs will be lighter than a ball. I know the old timer used fiber wads in his because he showed me some.

Any ideas would be appreciated but I want to keep this safe and fun.

Brother in Arms

 

[00-Guy]

Answer: Look in the Lyman's Shotshell Reloading Guide #4

There are examples of slug reloading. In the for what it is worth category, it appears to be cheaper to buy your slugs rather than put together the necessary items. Remember that you will need in addition to the normal hull, primer, wad and powder, you will need a slug and a buffer compound and a paper or plastic cap. You might also need the roller since it is more likely that the slug will be rolled crimped rather than just crimped. Also a shotshell hand loader might be very handy. (Alright one of the Lee Load Alls might work.)

Also if you want to load "balls", consider buckshot. Similar answer.

Have fun and be safe.

 

[kudu]

The Ballistic Products site is a good place to find some different ideas as well.

 

[Dave McCracken]

BP has round ball info and sells the components. They have one ball that fits into standard shotgun wads and crimps like a standard shell.

A 16 gauge round ball weighs 1 oz.

Stick to published data unless you want a Darwin Award.....

 

[ATAShooter]

Just don't forget about your choke.... My Dad found out the hard way about putting a slug thru a turkey choke.....

 

[Rembrandt]

I was thinking about loading up some 12 gauge ball rounds cause I thought it might be fun. Any idea what I should do? I was considering wieghing the ball and seeing how much it wieghed then compare data for slugs of similiar wieght but chances are most slugs will be lighter than a ball. I know the old timer used fiber wads in his because he showed me some. Any ideas would be appreciated but I want to keep this safe and fun.

Solid round balls will be heavier because commercial slugs are conical and hollow. While manufacturers recomend cylinder choke for best performance, I can't help but think a hollow slug has the ability to compress if used in tighter chokes. Depending on hardness of lead a solid ball may not compress possibly causing barrel damage. Shotgun barrels are paper thin compared to a rifle or pistol barrel shooting solid projectiles.

The only slug reloading I've done involved the Barnes slugs w/sabots. They recomend new unfired 2 3/4" hulls or use once fire 3" hulls with 1/4" trimmed off. After the powder is in a plastic gas seal is installed followed by a wad, then the sabot. These are then finished with a roll crimp like the old paper shells.

 

[pete f]

talk to the people at ballistic products. as nice as can be and they have people there who have put everything you can imagine and more into shotshells.