Shotgun reloading HELP

[stubblejumper]

Well this is a very small operation stubblejumper, probably no more than 10-20 at a time, maybe less. Paper 10 gauge hulls are the very best for black powder reloads but they’re hard to come by. Because they only last a few reloadings I’m always looking for replacements even though they don’t get used in volume. My go to source for paper 10’s has been vintage Canucks and Maxums at gun shows but they’re getting very scarce now. This high quality Scottish ammo landed in my lap, I’ve only fired a dozen or so at this point but I don’t want to waste the hulls without a serious effort reuse them. My time is not an issue, the luxury of retirement.

The other thing to be aware of, is that those 57 primers seemed to have issues in the cold with certain powders.

 

[BigBraz15]

I’m not sure what tools you have at your disposal, but might you have a way to machine in part of a base of a normal 12 gauge that could replace the 10 gauge primer portion? Perhaps just mill out a portion that you need, and even if you had to put an insert across the whole inside it might give you enough support to make it work?

Or mill out some spacers that would hold the primer and then fit into the oversized whole. I know there’s not much space, so perhaps mill current primer hole larger to have a reasonably sized spacer?

 

[Ashcroft]

I’m not sure what tools you have at your disposal, but might you have a way to machine in part of a base of a normal 12 gauge that could replace the 10 gauge primer portion? Perhaps just mill out a portion that you need, and even if you had to put an insert across the whole inside it might give you enough support to make it work?
I no longer have my handy little Unimat but with the composite constriction of thin brass outer base and rim, stiff paper body tube, thin brass Gastight insert and the pressed paper base wad I don’t think this would be practical.

Or mill out some spacers that would hold the primer and then fit into the oversized whole. I know there’s not much space, so perhaps mill current primer hole larger to have a reasonably sized spacer?

The brass head isn’t solid, it’s shaped thin sheet brass and you can’t mill it. Milling an adapter to accept a 209 primer and fit the primer pocket would need to be a labour of love or a challenge, very few would attempt this delicate job.

 

[Ashcroft]

I did get mixed up reading your original note.

Here's another idea. What about a short piece of a plastic drinking straw fitted over the primer & then inserted. Would it be enough? This idea comes from shotshell reloaders trying to reload Rio hulls with American sized 209 primers. Rio primers / primer pockets are known to be oversize vs. Win or Fed.

Cheers, Bob.

BINGO! Found a plastic drinking straw that I was just able to squeeze into the primer pocket, then I cut it off flush with a utility knife. Looked great. Next I seated a Win 209 in the sleeved pocket, nice and snug, fits flush and looks great. I see no reason that this won’t be successful, time to load a few up and try them? And the added benefit of course is the elimination of countless discarded plastic drinking straws from our environment [sarcasm}.

 

[bertn]

BINGO! Found a plastic drinking straw that I was just able to squeeze into the primer pocket, then I cut it off flush with a utility knife. Looked great. Next I seated a Win 209 in the sleeved pocket, nice and snug, fits flush and looks great. I see no reason that this won’t be successful, time to load a few up and try them? And the added benefit of course is the elimination of countless discarded plastic drinking straws from our environment [sarcasm}.

Good to hear.

We all better stock up on straws now we can still buy them lol.

 

[bc308]

Hey Jim, if the straw plan works without melting, or otherwise sh!tting out, good. If you need a plan B, have a look at SAAMI drawings for .25 Auto pistol brass and see if that gives some hope. Good luck.

 

[Ganderite]

If you knock the primer out of the cup, you could see if any other primers would fit.

I used to reload 12 hulls by knocking out the primer, leaving the cup in place, then seating a new primer.

I have some of those CIL primers I can donate, it they will work.