12 Guage round ball

They are quite accurate actually, the .715" work good in a shotcup and the .735" are for use without a plastic shotcup, they hit very hard and weigh around 1 3/8 oz.
 
I haven't loaded shotgun shells with a ball but I've shot my 12 ga. double-barreled muzzleloader with a .690 dia. patched round ball. With 110 grs. FFg black powder it really bucks and roars! It has deer hunting accuracy under 50 yds or so and will shoot through both sides of a Volkswagen and make a huge hole doing it.
 
Over on the castboolits, there is some people that have some good success with rb in a shotgun hull. I haven't done this as I don't have the correct mold yet but it does sounds cool.
I have cast rb for the musket and it is easier than them lee slugs, but that of course is because of geometry.
 
I posted here about a month ago about retesting some of my data to do with RB loading. They hit like a truck and are very easy to cast. The loads I have tested are 31 and 32.4 ( Lee Load all Bushing 141 =32.4) of HS6 under a .690 RB in a Win AA hull with cheap target wads and 2 undershot cards to raise the ball in the cup for a good fold crimp. The load data I gathered from books and the web agreed that the range to load .690 RBs with HS6 is 31 to 33 grains. I like the 32.4 because I can just let the load all drop the powder rather than measuring each load. Just be sure to verify the drop a few times before you start loading.

The weight is around 1 1/4 oz and they are easy to cast and a ton of fun to shoot. There is more recoil than a Lee 1oz slug but they hit harder than a slug being solid. My rounds were fired from two 18" smooth bore shotguns.

Cactus
 
I know my lyman slugs will flip a bear over. If the round ball can get the same velocity and ballistics, they are easier to mold. It might be a fun experiment. Let you know after the weekend.
 
Just checked my notes... I didn't write anything down about group sizes. I mainly shoot tide jugs filled with water but will put up a target at 25 yards tomorrow if there is not too much snow at the range and post the group size.

If I remember correctly, they shoot a little high at 25 yards from an 18" smooth bore.

Cactus
 
got to go said:
I reload rifle ammo but haven't reloaded shotgun ammo yet. What all do I need to get started.
Click to expand...

The easiest and cheapest way to get started for low to medium volume shooting is with a Lee Load All. I got mine for 65.00 from the EE a couple years ago. I use it to load slugs, buckshot and round balls. Regular shot loads are cheap enough to buy at the moment so I don't bother with them and finding lead shot for a good price is not as easy as it once was.

After that you need the usual stuff Load Data, Hulls, Primers, Wads, Powder and then you need to cast or buy your projectiles. If you cast, the savings are huge for slugs and buckshot.

Cactus
 
cast ur own and get a load all 2. lee slug are not too bad and they do have a buckshot mold, but there is a guy called skiesunlimited on eBay and he makes a mold that does the same but with a couple of sizes to choose from.
 
Thanks for the replies guy's. I'll need to go see my reloading suppler and find some goodies. I don't think I want to get into casting my own at this time. Just to many thing on the go right now :cheers: GTO
 
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