Reloading 12 gauge slugs/buckshot with Unique powder problems

[saskgunowner101]

Hey guys, buddy of mine reloads for his 12 gauge, and was out here today having a bunch of problems. His shells will mostly misfire (click and nothing) and leave a slug in the bore, or blooper with the wad/slug flying out, barely sticking into a poplar log.

I know my way around pistol and rifle reloading, but what's happening here?

I asked him to just load 5 shells primer only, and they all popped. His powder looks fine, smells fine, and burns up easily by itself on a log. He was using a Lee shotgun loader of some sort, and bushing 1.55. This bushing holds 27.3 grains according to my scale. He's using a Lee slug. Not sure on the wads or hulls.

I got him to try the 1.63 bushing and it was still hit or miss, mostly misfire or hangfire. Bumped up to the next bushing, 1.71 and it seemed to work sometimes, but he figured it was kicking too much (it's a 12 gauge, not a kitten lol).

We went back to the 1.63 bushing, and I said to maybe try a chunk of corrugated cardboard to take up some space below the wad, might increase the pressure. The next 3 shells worked fine.

Were the loads not generating enough pressure? His book showed various loads with Unique, and I recall one was around 35 grains, so I didn't think he was making enough pressure. But I don't reload shotgun, so it was a guess.

Any thoughts or guesses appreciated.

 

[Spawn-Inc]

i don't have near enough experience with 12ga loading or unique but my guess is it likes to be compressed which is why the cardboard wads helped to add some compression for a more consistent burn.

 

[just having some fun]

For any one to point you in the right direction we would need to know
Powder unique
wad?
primer?
Hull?
Lee slug ?

the wad and hull can make a big difference (increase or make a safe load ---- unsafe)

sometimes one powder will work but another powder would be better

 

[legi0n]

If the loads misfire, hang-fire or are generally weak, the primers are usually the culprits.
Perhaps some were contaminated with oil/grease/whatever.

I have loaded hundreds of lee slugs on the Lee loader and they still shoot fine.
Used Unique, cheddite primers, trimmed waa-12 wad equivalents and federal red hulls once fired. Cardboard discs to achieve the crimp height.

 

[legi0n]

Could also be that the wad is not sealing well.
Some shells have a taper inside towards the head and some don't.
Using a wad for a tapered shell in a straight one lets pressure escape.

 

[saskgunowner101]

For any one to point you in the right direction we would need to know
Powder unique
wad?
primer?
Hull?
Lee slug ?

the wad and hull can make a big difference (increase or make a safe load ---- unsafe)

sometimes one powder will work but another powder would be better

I never thought to ask him the specific components. I know the primers were old (20-25? years, old style packaging). The slug was one of those key drive type IIRC. Hull, was probably a Winchester or Federal. Wad, no clue....white.

 

[Lead Loader]

sounds like a wrong wad in the bore if it is a federal is a straight shell, winchester and remington hulls are tapered and sounds like a white WAA12 wad that was used. but primers might be an issue but i doubt it unless they have gotten wet.

 

[saskgunowner101]

I know he was using the same kind of wad you would use for birdshot or buckshot (for the slug).

 

[legi0n]

sounds like a wrong wad in the bore if it is a federal is a straight shell, winchester and remington hulls are tapered and sounds like a white WAA12 wad that was used. but primers might be an issue but i doubt it unless they have gotten wet.

The op said among others "misfires (click and nothing)". Misfires can't be attributed to wads. Only primers misfire.

 

[willysman]

Maybe it is not an ammo issue at all but a mechanical issue with the shotgun. Try some factory ammo in it to make sure that it is not the gun. If no mechanical fault then it really is sounding like faulty primers due to the misfires. I would also find some reloading data as guessing about the proper charge size and just upping the bushing size is not a great way to prolong your firearm or health.

 

[saskgunowner101]

I would also find some reloading data as guessing about the proper charge size and just upping the bushing size is not a great way to prolong your firearm or health.

As mentioned, he has a reloading manual, shotgun reloading specific. Charges over the various loads/weights were listed (23.5 grains was the lowest I saw, 35 grains the highest).

The bushings weren't guessing, I just don't recall specifically what the 1.63 or 1.71 were (27.3, 28.6? and 29.9?) or somewhere there abouts. He is looking for lighter than standard loads, for all I know a faster powder would serve him better.