Press for handloading shotgun slugs

T

Therion

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Calgary, AB
I would like to hand load shotgun slugs (have hand loaded rifle and pistol ammunition, but never shotgun)

I will either buy pre-cast slugs or a mold and make my own (have not yet decided). I have a rifled barrel for my 870 and would like to assemble some slugs for use at the range.

I have a chance to buy an old Pacific DL 105 press (no accessories) or an older Lee press (I think it has all the 'bushings').

Based on the volume that I plan to produce, I can readily weigh the powder on my Chargemaster, so the lack of accessories to measure powder in the Pacific is a non-issue.

What press would work best? I have never handloaded shotgun cartridges, so I am looking for comments.
Thanks!
Therion
 
slugs and buck shot is done almost all by hand. you have to load the shot or slug by hand, it cannot be fed like birdshot. The cheap $50 Lee press is the way to go. it will size the brass, deprime, reprime, charge, seat the wad, and crimp it for you
 
I use both the lee and the dl for slugs, they both work just fine, powder needs to be weighed charge by charge, other then that, they work great! its one way you can still save money reloading shotgun.

I do prefer the pacific for what its worth.
 
FYI Hornday bushings work in the 105? Ive got both presses as well as a MEC. I too prefer the 105. Lee works ok but is a little fragile and "plasticy" Ive had pretty good luck loading my cast 1 oz. Lee slugs. Cheap and work well. Use data included with mold. MEC press is the best but more money
 
I also use a Lee Load All-2 since it's cheap and easy. I have a MEC 600jr for .410 and it's great for birdshot/target load but doesn't have much of an advantage for buckshot or slugs.

If you're buying buckshot or slugs for reloading shotshells you are loosing most of the savings. Casting is the way to go for saving money.
The Lyman hour glass shaped slugs are what most people use for rifled barrels but I get decent results with Lee slugs even though they are undersized. You just need to use a wad that is tight to the bore.
 
The lee slugs open up when fired and don't flop down the barrel like some people suggest. I have had great results with the lee slug molds and the cheap Lee Load All shot press.
 
What you see are two three quarter inch 1 ounce 12g #6loads and 1ounce slug hand loads that are used on all 3 semi auto pictured below.

Shot and slug rounds have been chronyed @ only 1150fps using Red Dot powder CCI primers pink Winchester wads.

I can actually go even under 1100fps and the MP-A still cycles flawless.

Lee Loader 2 along with a Lee mold 1ounce ( Im going to get the 7/8 ounce to save on the lead) a lead smelter and you can easily make what you see in these pics.

TOTAL Cost per 1ounce 12g slug - $0.26 VS. $1.00+ for commercial loads.

Have fun save $$$$ and be SAFE making this stuff !








 
sendmorebrains said:
Shot and slug rounds have been chronyed @ only 1150fps using Red Dot powder CCI primers pink Winchester wads.

...

TOTAL Cost per 1ounce 12g slug - $0.26 VS. $1.00+ for commercial loads.
Click to expand...

With Lee 1oz slugs and Reddot I'm around 1050fps with an 18.5" barrel. With Bluedot I can get up to 1475fps.
It is important to note that factory Winchester 1oz slugs advertised as "1600fps" only chrony about 1450fps in the same shotgun.

If you shop around you can find Winchester rifled foster slugs (don't work that well in a rifled barrel) for ~$.75/each. Cheapest sabot slugs I've found are still ~$1.25 each though.
Factory sabot slugs and my Lee reloads both shoot about the same in my rifled barrel at about 3" @ 50yds with iron sights (edge to edge, not centre to centre).
Sabot slugs may be more accurate but I'd probably need to scope my shotgun to tell the difference.
Same Lee cast slugs in a smooth bore I get 4-5" @ 50yds.

My cost for each shell (1oz Lee slug, 40gr Bluedot, CCI 209M primer, and wads and nitro cards) is a tad higher than yours (probably due to the larger powder charge) at about $.30/shell with free lead and $.40/shell buying lead for $2/lbs.

I should probably pickup a 7/8oz Lee mould like you use. The velocity difference would make it a tad flatter shooting and also saves 12.5% on lead. The extra weight really isn't required considering I also cast 500gr .459" spire point bullets for my 45-70 for punching holes through multiple trees.
 
Hi john
i see that you want to reload slugs.
That is what i wanted to do.
I loaded up about 25 and i went in the bush to try them out.
I used my lead sled, i fired 5 shots, not bad grouping.
I then fired 4 shots from the shoulder,[just like being kicked by a mule] that was the end of my slug making.
I was using lyman slugs.
I still have the rest that i made an i don't think that i will ever shoot them.
I had a 338 win mag and the recoil did not bother me
good advice only use factory slugs.
Or buy a few slugs off of somebody on gn.
After you have been pounded ytou might not want to buy a press.
Mec junior is the best.
I had the lee 12 gauge press, [it is junk, leaks powder all over the place]. And not too much adjustment
your old freind old timer 74
 
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I have lee load all and mec 9000, its a pain with both compared to normal press, I usually take one day of the year and just load 200 slugs.

Get the lee, cheap as chips if your only loading slugs.

should check my eyesight, 2013
 
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