Reloading 12g
- Thread starter Sandro75
- Start date
You need to get a shotgun load manual the Lyman#5 is a good one although it is outdated as it's 20 years old already
Then you need to decide what load you want to do and get your components for that load
A lot of the powders are hard to find or unavailable so keep that in mind
Shotgun primers are tough to get too but I have seen Cheddite and a few federal for sale but zero winchester primers
Claybuster makes the clones for the most popular wads and they are readily available, shot is expensive and you will need hulls
You can also get load data from Hodgon and Alliant online
If you want to make target loads then honestly you are better off just buying them when they go on sale as they will be cheaper then what you can load them for unless you want to make some light loads which you can't buy readily
The only real savings in 12 Guage is if you want to make specialty rounds like heavy hunting loads or buckshot
That said they are fun to load and try out different recipes but always use published load data and do not mix and match components willingly as you can get into trouble with pressures.
The real savings in shotgun loading is loading 410 and 28 guage
Then you need to decide what load you want to do and get your components for that load
A lot of the powders are hard to find or unavailable so keep that in mind
Shotgun primers are tough to get too but I have seen Cheddite and a few federal for sale but zero winchester primers
Claybuster makes the clones for the most popular wads and they are readily available, shot is expensive and you will need hulls
You can also get load data from Hodgon and Alliant online
If you want to make target loads then honestly you are better off just buying them when they go on sale as they will be cheaper then what you can load them for unless you want to make some light loads which you can't buy readily
The only real savings in 12 Guage is if you want to make specialty rounds like heavy hunting loads or buckshot
That said they are fun to load and try out different recipes but always use published load data and do not mix and match components willingly as you can get into trouble with pressures.
The real savings in shotgun loading is loading 410 and 28 guage
- Location
- Western Manitoba
As I am apparently learning the hard way, not much is the same between loading for centre fire rifle and loading for shotgun shells - about only a scale might be the same - and only initially to verify the volume measures used in a shot shell loader machine. Although I do understand that Lee Precision might have made or makes a die and tooling for loading shotgun shells on a "normal" reloading press. I ended up with mostly MEC stuff - one for 28 gauge and one for 12 gauge. The 20 gauge machine is a Lee LoadAll - I have never used it. To date, in total, I have loaded circa 250 rounds of 28 gauge ammo. I understand some people do 10 times that many shotgun rounds, every week.
From the various manuals, the shot shell load pressure is so low, that there is no "working up" like in centre fire rifle - there are no signs on the hull or when firing to gauge the pressure that was developed - I would imagine the shotgun comes apart when pressure is exceeded. I see SAAMI sets maximum pressures for some shot shells circa 11,000 psi - versus 65,000 psi for some centre fire rifle rounds - a substantial difference. The BPI book shows a 5,000 psi increase in some loads by simply swapping brands of primers - otherwise same hull, same wad, same powder and amount of it, same weight of shot - so when they say to use the listed components, they mean that - exactly the same - not just because you can't find some to buy, that it is okay to substitute. I suspect there are some folks that know what can be swapped with what, but I do not. I think the pressure tested published loads are almost all the ones tried that met criteria - I do not think anyone publishes pressure tested loads that are too hot - so if you can not find a recipe with the components you have, maybe you have not looked at enough sources, or maybe that combination has been tried and will not be published. Between the Lyman and BPI manuals and on-line, I think there are literally thousands of pressure tested recipes.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Re-reading OP's initial post - I found 12 gauge loads for 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" long hulls. Lead shot and steel shot. Various brands of hulls - differing construction, so different loadings used. Many types of powder listed. Many "weights" of powder listed. Many weights of shot payload listed. So, to reload "12 gauge", there is many choices to make.
Mec 700 versa mec for hunting loads
Pacific 366 target loads
As mentioned you will not save any money reloading any type of round
I load bismuth for my old shotguns plus it performs much better than steel
Other than that buying off the shelf is your best bet
Unless your are looking for a hobby
Pacific 366 target loads
As mentioned you will not save any money reloading any type of round
I load bismuth for my old shotguns plus it performs much better than steel
Other than that buying off the shelf is your best bet
Unless your are looking for a hobby
- Location
- Western Manitoba
The MEC machine that I used has you move one hull through various stations - maybe is possible to partially do multiple hulls at same time - not like centre-fire rifle at all, in that respect, so I am not sure that shotgun reloading machines are "manual" type or "progressive" type. I am sure there are machines with motors, but I think they only operate one step at a time, instead of pulling a lever. - so "motorized", but I think one handles the same hull repeatedly to get it re-loaded.
Maybe your best bet is to get a Lyman Reloading manual or similar - not so much for the loading recipes, but for the first part of the book that describes how to reload shot shells - I think the 5th Edition here is using mostly MEC machines in the pictures - was not done deliberately, but that manual and that MEC machine happened at the same time. Is probably many other machines that do the same thing, but I think the re-loading procedure is about the same - one to another brand.
As I recall from doing it - have to de-prime, size the case head, re-prime, insert powder, insert a wad, insert shot, start the 6 or 8 fold crimp, then finish the 6 or 8 fold crimp. Some loads use an "over shot" card, and a roll crimp - so different tooling required for that. And a proper recipe seems to start with what length / brand / type of hull is used - that tells you which wad to use for what shot weight in that hull, and usually how much of what kind of powder to use for that wad and that shot weight in that hull. Appears to be different recipes whether using lead or steel shot - I do not know about other "non-toxic" shot - but can not simply swap 1 1/8 ounce steel shot into a 1 1/8 ounce lead shot recipe.
Maybe your best bet is to get a Lyman Reloading manual or similar - not so much for the loading recipes, but for the first part of the book that describes how to reload shot shells - I think the 5th Edition here is using mostly MEC machines in the pictures - was not done deliberately, but that manual and that MEC machine happened at the same time. Is probably many other machines that do the same thing, but I think the re-loading procedure is about the same - one to another brand.
As I recall from doing it - have to de-prime, size the case head, re-prime, insert powder, insert a wad, insert shot, start the 6 or 8 fold crimp, then finish the 6 or 8 fold crimp. Some loads use an "over shot" card, and a roll crimp - so different tooling required for that. And a proper recipe seems to start with what length / brand / type of hull is used - that tells you which wad to use for what shot weight in that hull, and usually how much of what kind of powder to use for that wad and that shot weight in that hull. Appears to be different recipes whether using lead or steel shot - I do not know about other "non-toxic" shot - but can not simply swap 1 1/8 ounce steel shot into a 1 1/8 ounce lead shot recipe.
Last edited:
Depends a lot on how many round you shoot.
A skeet/trap shooter who shoots hundreds of rounds per month is looking differently at this then the guy who loads up a box or two for his hunting needs.
Reloading hundred rounds on a single stage will be pretty much a minimum of 500 cranks on the press and the same 100 rounds on a progressive would be like 104 cranks if it has 5 stations so that's quite the difference.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I do not have "the book". I have BPI Small Bore Manual 10th Edition, BPI Slug Loading & Field Application 8th Edition and Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook 5th Edition - in one of those, somewhere - I did not mark it, since I did not own either primer at that time. I do not even remember if it was .410, 28 gauge, 20 gauge, 16 gauge, 12 gauge, 10 gauge or whatever - was more of an "eye-brow lifter" for me as I was trying to learn the do's and dont's about shot shell loading - which was and still is pretty "new" to me.
Last edited:
As already mentioned, a manual is always place to good start. With the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual, being full of useful information. The internet is also a good source for information on just about every aspect of shotshell reloading.
Mec for example, features a full series of helpful videos on set up and tuning their presses, for best performance.
The online: Hodgdon Reloading Data Center features data on a variety of 12 gauge, plus other shotgun gauges. Well worth checking out.
What brand of single stage press do you currently own? This will help narrow down the various tools or accessories that you may need to get started. Also, where are you located? This may also prove useful in pointing you toward component sources.
In southern Ontario for example,: Hummason or Lawry's are always worth checking out. Both sites are pretty thin on powder and primers especially, right now. But, we can hope that will improve in the future. So be sure to check back regularly. Shot though, should be relatively easy to buy.
Also parts. If you own a Mec press for example: Hummason stocks a full line of replacement parts. Good info to have on hand.
Hulls should be relatively easy to find. If your local gun club features trap shooting, once-fired hulls will be plentiful after most weekend shoots. Have scrounged many hundreds of good hulls hat way.
In many cases, it may be cheaper to simply purchase 12 gauge shotshells off the shelf. Especially for casual shooting. But, where specific performance goals are important, say....for hunting or competitive shooting. Then, reloading is the way to go.
Plus, there's great satisfaction in knowing that every time you pull the trigger, you had a direct influence on how well your gun performs.
Mec for example, features a full series of helpful videos on set up and tuning their presses, for best performance.
The online: Hodgdon Reloading Data Center features data on a variety of 12 gauge, plus other shotgun gauges. Well worth checking out.
What brand of single stage press do you currently own? This will help narrow down the various tools or accessories that you may need to get started. Also, where are you located? This may also prove useful in pointing you toward component sources.
In southern Ontario for example,: Hummason or Lawry's are always worth checking out. Both sites are pretty thin on powder and primers especially, right now. But, we can hope that will improve in the future. So be sure to check back regularly. Shot though, should be relatively easy to buy.
Also parts. If you own a Mec press for example: Hummason stocks a full line of replacement parts. Good info to have on hand.
Hulls should be relatively easy to find. If your local gun club features trap shooting, once-fired hulls will be plentiful after most weekend shoots. Have scrounged many hundreds of good hulls hat way.
In many cases, it may be cheaper to simply purchase 12 gauge shotshells off the shelf. Especially for casual shooting. But, where specific performance goals are important, say....for hunting or competitive shooting. Then, reloading is the way to go.
Plus, there's great satisfaction in knowing that every time you pull the trigger, you had a direct influence on how well your gun performs.
Last edited:
NZClaybuster
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
if you are in the Calgary area, please reach out before you buy.. I have single and progressive presses, and am happy to lend for you to try before you buy... send me a pm
Mec has been around since the early 60’s
Are WW-AA's still the Gold Standard ?
