Making Slugs

cycbb486

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Has anyone or does anyone reload there own slugs?

I have acces to some soft lead and was thinking of melting it down and possibly loading some slugs if there is a mold available.

Anyplace I can find this info????

Thanks in advance.
 
I use lee drive key slug mold for 7/8oz and 1oz slugs.

Cheddite primer
Rem sts hull
36.6gr hs6 powder
Claybuster grey 7/8oz wad
7/8oz soft lead slug

1625-1635fps. Awesome close range power
 
i have been loading alot of slugs for my H&R ultra slug hunter.
i am shooting lee 7/8th and 1oz as well as the lyman 525grain.
in my first go around i got 2" groups at 5yards with the lymans.
the lees are good if not loaded too hot. the key cuts the wad.
i have a lyman mold on order. and some other components too.

ask zippy-the-wonder-chimp. has has lots of experance with the lee stuff.
 
Full power loads:

Fed gold medal hull
Fed 12S3 wad
Fed 209 primer
40gr HS-6
1oz lee slug

Rem STS/gun club hull
WAA12SL
Win 209
35gr HS-6
1oz slug

Reduced recoil loads:

Win AA hull
WAA12 wad
Win 209 primer
24gr 800-X
1oz slug

Win AA hull
WAA12 wad
Win 209 primer
31gr HS-6
1oz slug

Rem STS/gun club hull
WAA12SL
Win 209
32gr HS-6
1oz slug
 
Can a once fired hulls be used (AA target load)? Do you roll crimp or fold crimp? Six or eight fold crimp?
 
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Winchester doesn't sell hulls anymore so you'll need to find some once fired hulls. All the loads I've listed are fold crimp, whether you use a 6 or 8 point depends on your once fired hull.

Thanks for that.
I have everything except the slugs for this recipe. Where can the slugs be bought? Any particular kind work better than others? Any idea of the FPS of this load?

Win AA hull
WAA12 wad
Win 209 primer
24gr 800-X
1oz slug
 
Thanks for that.
I have everything except the slugs for this recipe. Where can the slugs be bought? Any particular kind work better than others? Any idea of the FPS of this load?

Win AA hull
WAA12 wad
Win 209 primer
24gr 800-X
1oz slug

I developed this load for the lee 1oz slug; it clocks around 1300-1350fps out of a 20" cylinder bore shotgun.

The cheapest way is to buy a lee 1oz slug mold and start casting. If you don't really want to get into casting, you can usually find them for sale in the EE.
 
I developed this load for the lee 1oz slug; it clocks around 1300-1350fps out of a 20" cylinder bore shotgun.

The cheapest way is to buy a lee 1oz slug mold and start casting. If you don't really want to get into casting, you can usually find them for sale in the EE.

do you have one like that for rem gunclub hulls? I have been using 18 gr 800X for 1oz buckshot load, but am hesitant to push that more, seeing how people tend to say not to deviate from published loads
 
do you have one like that for rem gunclub hulls? I have been using 18 gr 800X for 1oz buckshot load, but am hesitant to push that more, seeing how people tend to say not to deviate from published loads

Buckshot loads:

Rem STS/Gun club hull
WAA12
Win 209 primer
23gr 800-X
8 pellets 00 buck(4 layers, 2 pellets per layer

- Take a small square(1cmx1cm) of card stock/thin cardboard, fold it in half and use it to cover the top layer of pellets for a really nice crimp.

Rem STS/Gun club hull
WAA12(cut all petals off)
Win 209 primer
22gr 800-X
9 pellets 00 buck(3 layers, 3 pellets per layer)

-Use a small strip(1"x 3") of vapor barrier as a shot wrap
-A small square(1cm x 1cm) of cardboard on top of the pellets will make the crimp real nice but it isn't necessary.

Slug load:

Rem STS/Gun club hull
WAA12
Win 209 primer
23gr 800-X
1oz lee slug

-Lots of cardboard spacers will be needed to even out the crimp.

As usual with all untested data, use at your own discretion/risk.
 
DigitalBlue, have you ever tried a Sabot slug? Just wondering how they compare in the accuracy department. I have been debating getting the Lee 1 oz mould and a Lyman Sabot mould. The Lyman is A LOT more money though.

They will be used in a single shot Cooey that can handle up to 3" Magnums.
 
The lee slugs are sabot slugs, they sit inside the shotcup of a plastic trap wad. From a 20" cylinder bore barrel, I was able to keep most of the slugs on paper at 100 yards. I don't have a slug barrel but I'd imagine that they'd do much better.

I don't have first hand experience with the lyman mold but I've heard some mixed reviews about them. IIRC, they are steel and do require 50+ casts to warm up before you get good slugs.

I'd recommend getting the lee slug mold, they're only ~$25 so you won't be out much if you don't like it.
 
I got both Lee & Lyman molds, have to use really hot lead for Lyman. Haven't hunted with them yet but have been told Lee slug works good for mid-sized deer & smaller, Lyman for larger like moose & bear. Really depends on what you want to do.
 
The other thing I am thinking is making bullets for my Muzzleloader. I know this is not shotgun related but maybe digitalBlue has some thoughts on this???? I am looking at the Lee mould for these.

I was told the Lyman Laddle is the one to use for filling the mould. Holds a bit of lead so I was told. Because of that it aids in casting good bullets.
 
The other thing I am thinking is making bullets for my Muzzleloader. I know this is not shotgun related but maybe digitalBlue has some thoughts on this???? I am looking at the Lee mould for these.

I was told the Lyman Laddle is the one to use for filling the mould. Holds a bit of lead so I was told. Because of that it aids in casting good bullets.

I don't own a muzzleloader and have no experience casting for them. If it happens to be .69 cal musket, .690 roundballs can be used in shotguns too...

Also, if you can afford it, get yourself a bottom pour melter. It's well worth the money and greatly increases your production rate over ladle casting.
 
i have made and used the lyman 525gr slug as well as the lee 1 oz key drive . i only use pure plumbers lead . it is soft , like any reload use good manuals for referances . use load data that pertains to the weight of the slug ie 1 oz use 1 oz data . the case and wad are the trick , some require cardboard spacers as filler to make a nice crimp . i use and again work up your loads or compare them to a manual , fedaral hulls and wads i like 35 grs of hs6 this works well for me . always confirm load data . i have used these slugs they work , have fun reloading them and developing your personal load .
 
based on the testing ive done, with my stevens 311 SxS 12g and a maverick 88 (24" rifled slug barrel) i found there was little-no diference what hull/wad i used. but i prefer using......
Cheddite 209 (shotshell) primmers
Winchester AA low brass hulls, but i use whatever i get.
32.5gr Hodgdon HS-6 powder
claybuster WAA12 wads
LEE 1oz cast slug (i use ~70%wheel weight lead/~30% pure lead)
and mostly just the 8 fold crimp, but i do also have a roll crimper.
all done on a old LEE Load All press.

i also use the exact same data for .690 roundballs, 00 buckshot, and birdshot.
 
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