loading buckshot and slugs

hoochie

hoochie

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I reload for pistols and rifles, but have got this new interest in knowing about 12g reloading.
is it simple? is it cheap? is it worth the hassle?

I would want to load buckshot and slugs and probably steel for bird hunting.

is it worth it or should I just continue to buy from walmart?
 
It's cheap, but slow, if you use non-progressive reloaders. You should have a large supply of free once fired, all the same, hulls with no corrosion and that have not been stepped on. Make slugs and buckshot from wheelweights. Use bulk surplus powder from Higginsons. You will need heavy loads, 1 1/8 oz or more, to get a clean burn, and even then you might still have some unburned powder in the barrel. The alternative to this is to use Clays powder. Don't buy large amounts of wads until you find what gives the right columne height and therefore a good crimp, with your components. The only way I know of to get home made buckshot in quantity is with a Do It mold for fishing tackle.

It's a lot of fun to knock down steel with buck shot or bust rocks with slugs. Makes handguns look pretty puny.
 
you can load slugs and lead shot relatively cheap, not so for steel shot, the price of the special wads, special hulls, and steel shot makes it almost a break even proposition. I don't load steel any more, just buy what I need. Exotic shot is out of the question due to cost and avalibility.
 
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You can make your own buckshot with a round ball mould from any of the major manufacturers. They come in different diameters and you can choose the size that bes duplicates the size ought buck yo want to shoot. I've got the 1oz Lyman slug mould. Works fine! It is the Forster type. I'm tempted to pick up the sabot model to see how much of a difference I can realize, if any, in terms of accuracy.

In terms of general shotgun loads, I don't usually bother loading for 12ga anymore as you can often buy shotshells cheaper than you can load for them. I only break out the press when I want something specific. I don't bother Steel at all.

Reloading yields big savings, however, when you're talking .410 and 16ga. Those I do load for as I shoot a crap load of .410 grouse & bunny hunting.
 
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