New to 12ga loading need some advice

Riven

Riven

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Burks Falls Ontario
Over the last year I have ended up owning a Mec 600 Jr press withe 200 Lyman sabot slugs, primers and some WST & 540 powder. I have power pistol and unique available.

With the current shortage of everything these days I was just curious as to the possibility of being able to use the items I have collected to load some slugs since nothing I have matches any load data I can find.

I'm obviously not experienced or comfortable enough to try any kind of load experiments.

I also found some WAA12 wads at a local shop today.

Hopefully someone can give me some solid advice even if is to keep shopping for all the proper components.
TIA
 
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tps://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?174745-Official-Lyman-12ga-Sabot-Slug-Mould-525-grain-Load-Data-Thread
 
Winchester 540 is the same powder as HS-6, so data for that is available. Unique is also suitable for heavier 12 ga loads, just a matter of finding data for the slugs/components you can find/have.

WST is a target load powder, suited more for trap loads or reduced slug loads.

To my knowledge, Power Pistol isn’t listed for shotshell use, so data may be limited and may not be published by reliable sources if you do find shotshell data.

Biggest challenge these days is finding suitable components, data for what you can get, and high prices for whatever you do find.
 
Riven: TimberPig offers some solid advice. This advice may also be useful:

A good source of shot shell load data can be found in the online: Hodgdon Reloading Data Centre. You may also wish to purchase a copy of the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual. Has load data for Lyman 1.25 oz slugs

Unique has been an excellent powder for slug loads, in my experience. As well as its Hodgdon version: Universal. Both powders are essentially identical in burn rate and performance.
Load data for 1 oz slugs(if you wish to load these, too) can be found on the Hodgdon site.

Al
 
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I load 12 gauge for buckshot and slugs, I cast my own projectiles. Various buck sizes, 0 buck (.310) is my favorite and you can get incredibly tight patterns with the right choke and components. If you are interested in buckshot, YouTube has great info. For Lyman slugs, I’ve used Unique and HS-6 although I tend to use Longshot more. The Lyman shotshell book is indispensable imho. For a pretty good wad, the Claybuster WA250-12 slug wad has worked well for me and Budget Shooter Supply has them. The good part about those wads is they use the same load data as the WAA12F114 (yellow) wad for which there are many loads. There are also many loads with WAA12 and are decent if they are the original Winchester and NOT Claybuster copies.
 
Powder burn rate charts are something of the past that are becoming more useful again as supplies of powder become an on and off market availability. Look to the charts to find similar powders as options if you cannot find the exact powder you are looking for. Generally with slugs you want a powder that burns a bit more progressive/slower.
 
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