Reloading 12ga slugs

Gnome75

Gnome75

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I have been wanting to reload my own slugs because they are just too expensive to buy. There is also very limited info online.

Where can I buy slug projectiles?

Can I just use a ball bearing? Where would I find the right size?

Can I is use once fired target load shells?

The goal is to make it as cheap as possible. Does anyone have experience or knowledge in this field?
 
Buy yourself a Lee 1 oz or 7/8 oz slug mold.
Get some once fired AA shells off the EE.
Do a lot of reading on the net, there is tons of info out there. Even on this very site if you care to search.
Buy primers wads and powder.
Buy a cheap press off the EE while your there.

DO A LOT MORE READING!

And Bob's your uncle.
 
Thanks for the help but I really don't want to be melting lead.

How is it not as forgiving as rifle reloading? I have been using the lee loader classic with great results
 
Yonamas correct in that shotshells are less forgiving. There's just very little room for tolerance variations due to the specific dimensions that must be maintained. The type of powder for instance. Not only does one have to worry about the right burn rate but also the density and volume of the powder to make sure the wad is positioned on top of the charge correctly to allow a flat crimp with a little pressure.

Also, there are different wad designs to seal the burning powder pressures for diffeeent she'll designs. Once you get the correct wad style, now you have to ensure you have the correct depth to hold the shot weight you plan to use and the correct dimension to allow the crimp to form correctly with your given powder volume. For example, If you want more powder the crimp will blow open on its own. Or, the wads you found are too short so the crimp bends in. You can add spacers but that will increase your pressures with the added weight, so you may want to dial back the powder a bit but not so much to compound the crimp issue.

This is why most of us just stick to published recipes unless we have to create our own due to parts availability.
 
MuthaFunk said:
Yonamas correct in that shotshells are less forgiving. There's just very little room for tolerance variations due to the specific dimensions that must be maintained. The type of powder for instance. Not only does one have to worry about the right burn rate but also the density and volume of the powder to make sure the wad is positioned on top of the charge correctly to allow a flat crimp with a little pressure.

Also, there are different wad designs to seal the burning powder pressures for diffeeent she'll designs. Once you get the correct wad style, now you have to ensure you have the correct depth to hold the shot weight you plan to use and the correct dimension to allow the crimp to form correctly with your given powder volume. For example, If you want more powder the crimp will blow open on its own. Or, the wads you found are too short so the crimp bends in. You can add spacers but that will increase your pressures with the added weight, so you may want to dial back the powder a bit but not so much to compound the crimp issue.

This is why most of us just stick to published recipes unless we have to create our own due to parts availability.
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Thanks for explaining that. Do you know where to buy slugs from? Like I said earlier I have no intention of getting into melting lead
 
I have not seen slugs for sale. If people were to make them and sell them on the EE, CGN would consider this a commercial venture and shut them down unless they bought a commercial account.
 
yomomma said:
If he does that would be new to me, he didn't the last time I looked.
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yes, you are correct, guy i was thinking of wasn't jethunter and was a bit north, not south, of edmonton, have emailed op information he want.

regards
 
Budgetshooter sells a lot of shotgun reloading components and gear. Thought he sold slugs but don't see any. Its easy to cast though. Mold and melt pot and some lead is all you need. Think I was casting about 100 per hour. Free lead, free hulls. What's not to like!
 
Gnome75 said:
Thanks for explaining that. Do you know where to buy slugs from? Like I said earlier I have no intention of getting into melting lead
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Lol! Nope. Sorry. I'd make some for you if you were local. Perhaps make a wtb ad on the EE for a local caster to you. Offer to buy him a Slug mold for a batch or something else friendly like that.
 
Ballistic Products sells various slugs with the gas seal/power piston already added.Just load,crimp &shoot.Check out thier website.

You're going to need a BPI slug loading manual,the proper hulls and probably a roll crimper.
Will Bilozir is the Canadian dealer for Ballistic Products.

Not gonna lie,the set up cost for this stuff isn't cheap initiaĺly but it's nice to press stuff you won't be able to buy otherwise.
 
Gnome75 said:
I have been wanting to reload my own slugs because they are just too expensive to buy. There is also very limited info online.

Where can I buy slug projectiles?

Can I just use a ball bearing? Where would I find the right size?

Can I is use once fired target load shells?

The goal is to make it as cheap as possible. Does anyone have experience or knowledge in this field?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't use ball bearings. they are much harder than your shotgun barrel and there is some possibility of damaging your gun.
 
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One of the best books on slug reloading is the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook.

Lots of info on cases etc.

Lyman used to sell their slugs but not longer.
 
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