12ga Slug Data

digitalblue

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I've compiled a few loads over the last few years and thought I'd list them here as slug data is fairly scarce. All velocities(wherever listed) are ballpark figures; only 1 shot was chronographed; all velocity data is from a 28" barrel cylinder choke. I make no guarantees for the safety of this data but I have personally fired over 100 of each through a wide variety of shotguns. Feel free to add your load data to this thread.

0.690" Roundball:

Hull: Winchester AA HS
22gr 800-X
Wad: WAA12 or equivalent (WT12, etc)
Primer: WIN209
Velocity: ??
Notes: Excellent penetrator, accuracy is questionable beyond 20 yds



Lee 1oz Slug:

Hull: Winchester AA HS
24gr 800-X
Wad: WAA12 or equivalent (WT12, etc)
Primer: WIN209
Velocity: ~1280 Ft/s
Notes: Good mid power load

Hull: Winchester AA HS
30gr HS-6
Wad: WAA12 or equivalent (WT12, etc)
Primer: WIN209
Velocity: ~1320 Ft/s
Notes: Good mid power load

Hull: Winchester AA HS
18gr Alliant Red Dot/Promo
Wad: WAA12 or equivalent (WT12, etc)
Primer: WIN209
Velocity: ~1220 Ft/s
Notes: Good low recoil load

Hull: Federal Paper hull
82gr 2F Goex blackpowder (3 Dram Eq)
Wad: ~1/8" Nitro card -> 1/4" Fibre wad -> Plastic shotcup
Primer: WIN209
Velocity: ??
Notes: Plastic shotcup can be made from any 1oz plastic wad by cutting off support legs and gas seal section, fold crimp.



Lee 7/8oz Slug:

Hull: Winchester AA HS
17gr Alliant Red dot/Promo
Wad: WAA12SL or equivalent
Primer: WIN209
Velocity: ~1150 Ft/s
Notes: Ultra low recoil, great for kids and other recoil sensitive people
 
Have you had any problems with the Lee 7/8 oz. slugs and waa12 wads?
I'm trying to load Win AA hulls with HS-6 powder, waa12 wads and 7/8oz lee slug.....I tried pushing a wad with a slug in it down my barrel by hand (rem 870 18.5 inch barrel cyl. bore), and its really tight. I mean so tight I'm worried about blowing up the gun.
The data for the load came with the Lee slug mold, so it should be ok, but it just seems way too tight a fit.
Should I be worried?
I sure would appreciate some advice from someone more experienced in loading slugs
Thanks in advance.
 
Have you had any problems with the Lee 7/8 oz. slugs and waa12 wads?
I'm trying to load Win AA hulls with HS-6 powder, waa12 wads and 7/8oz lee slug.....I tried pushing a wad with a slug in it down my barrel by hand (rem 870 18.5 inch barrel cyl. bore), and its really tight. I mean so tight I'm worried about blowing up the gun.
The data for the load came with the Lee slug mold, so it should be ok, but it just seems way too tight a fit.
Should I be worried?
I sure would appreciate some advice from someone more experienced in loading slugs
Thanks in advance.

Are they real WAA12 wads? The substitutes often have ridges which make the wad/slug combo bulge and it's harder to push through the barrel. I use a dowel to push my slug/wad combos through my barrel and if they are too tight, I don't use that combo.
 
Yes they are real Winchester WAA12 wads, but the slugs are not pure lead....I never planned on shooting them out of a choked barrel so I thought they'd be ok. Guess not. Don't think I want to chance it.
 
Yes they are real Winchester WAA12 wads, but the slugs are not pure lead....I never planned on shooting them out of a choked barrel so I thought they'd be ok. Guess not. Don't think I want to chance it.

I've been making a variety of slug loads, .690 round ball, 7/8 Lee, 1 ounce Lee, and my most favorite, the 525gr Lyman slug. I ALWAYS push the slug/wad combo through my barrels first. Some combos work, others don't, better safe than sorry especially since my lead is often a mix and hard to determine hardness. Btw, I have found cork spacers work well to get the best wad column for crimping, and I use hot glue in my Lyman slugs. Unique gives me my best accuracy fwiw. I've tried many powders but Unique is the most consistent for me.
 
I've been making a variety of slug loads, .690 round ball, 7/8 Lee, 1 ounce Lee, and my most favorite, the 525gr Lyman slug. I ALWAYS push the slug/wad combo through my barrels first. Some combos work, others don't, better safe than sorry especially since my lead is often a mix and hard to determine hardness. Btw, I have found cork spacers work well to get the best wad column for crimping, and I use hot glue in my Lyman slugs. Unique gives me my best accuracy fwiw. I've tried many powders but Unique is the most consistent for me.

I saw a guy on youtube checking his slug and wad combination by pushing it down the barrel with a piece of wooden dowel to make sure it would pass through. Looked like a good idea, glad I tried it before heading to the range.
Can you recommend a different wad to try?
Is any wad ok to use as long as it fits down the barrel with the slug in it?
 
I saw a guy on youtube checking his slug and wad combination by pushing it down the barrel with a piece of wooden dowel to make sure it would pass through. Looked like a good idea, glad I tried it before heading to the range.
Can you recommend a different wad to try?
Is any wad ok to use as long as it fits down the barrel with the slug in it?

Couple things, no, not every wad will work because they give very different wad column heights. I have had great success with Downrange yellow wads. Since you are looking on YouTube, the absolute best, and perhaps most entertaining guy is fortunecookie45lc, check him out as he talks about best wads for slugs, has great casting help, does various tests, and so on. If you are interested in making slugs, he's worth your time.
 
Couple things, no, not every wad will work because they give very different wad column heights. I have had great success with Downrange yellow wads. Since you are looking on YouTube, the absolute best, and perhaps most entertaining guy is fortunecookie45lc, check him out as he talks about best wads for slugs, has great casting help, does various tests, and so on. If you are interested in making slugs, he's worth your time.

Thanks, I'll check him out.
 
Don't think I've ever pushed one down the barrel. The Lee when done with pure is the same as a Foster slug. Capable of going through any choke.

This is what worries me. These slugs are not pure lead, not sure what they are alloyed with, but there not pure lead.
I had a closer look at the slugs today, trying to figure out why they are so tight in the barrel and I measured a few of them. The Lee website says the slugs should measure 0.681" diameter for the 7/8oz slug.
Mine seem to be a little oval, some of them measure 0.681" to 0.686". This has been my first attempt at casting, am I doing something wrong, or is the mold defective maybe?
Anyone else have this problem?
 
This is what worries me. These slugs are not pure lead, not sure what they are alloyed with, but there not pure lead.
I had a closer look at the slugs today, trying to figure out why they are so tight in the barrel and I measured a few of them. The Lee website says the slugs should measure 0.681" diameter for the 7/8oz slug.
Mine seem to be a little oval, some of them measure 0.681" to 0.686". This has been my first attempt at casting, am I doing something wrong, or is the mold defective maybe?
Anyone else have this problem?

Where abouts are you in ON?
 
Little to far. The out òf round could be from not closing the mold properly. It's not the best mold for first timers. Make sure you smoke and lube the key properly.

If you were closer I'd say drop by.
 
Have you had any problems with the Lee 7/8 oz. slugs and waa12 wads?
I'm trying to load Win AA hulls with HS-6 powder, waa12 wads and 7/8oz lee slug.....I tried pushing a wad with a slug in it down my barrel by hand (rem 870 18.5 inch barrel cyl. bore), and its really tight. I mean so tight I'm worried about blowing up the gun.
The data for the load came with the Lee slug mold, so it should be ok, but it just seems way too tight a fit.
Should I be worried?
I sure would appreciate some advice from someone more experienced in loading slugs
Thanks in advance.

Sorry for the late reply, don't check my threads often enough.
The lee 7/8oz slug is slightly shorter than the 1oz, If you want to use the WAA12 wad, you may want to place a nitro card underneath the slug to boost the height up.

The plastic wad petals will compress and extrude, unless the slug itself won't freely drop though the barrel, I don't see an issue.
 
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