Shotgun Slug Reloading

Fox

Fox

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I am curious as to loading number for slugs vs shot.

Have anyone loaded slugs?
I am interested in loading slugs but I want to get an idea of where to start, if I have a 1oz with a base wad how much different powder weight from a 1oz shot load set into a wad?

Thanks
 
Data for shot and slugs are often totally different. For example a popular powder for full power 1oz slug loads is Bluedot but it is an unsuitable powder for 1oz shot loads (except buckshot).
I'd look into the little load charts that come with the Lee Load-All's. They have quite a bit of variety in terms of velocity and recoil. Some really light loads and some real ball busters.
 
I am looking into odd gauges, 410 and 16ga in particular.

So there is no way to build up a load? I was thinking of putting a slug into a wad and shooting through a cylinder bore.
 
i would personally just substitute the same weight or less slug for the same weight of shot and reduce the powder charge a bit. there are several video's on youtube of people buying target loads, melting down all the shot then making slugs from it. then putting in back into the factory shell/wad/powder/primer.

i have done it with buckshot loads too, but not alot.

perform at your own risk.
 
I have the Lyman 525gr slug mold. I load these into AA hulls with the W12F114 wads and 25.0gr of Herco powder. Once the weather gets nice I shoot on average 100 per week. They cost me 15 cents for the primer, powder & wad. The lead I get for free. I get 6-8 reloads per hull but I have lots of those for now.
 
Fox said:
I am looking into odd gauges, 410 and 16ga in particular.

So there is no way to build up a load? I was thinking of putting a slug into a wad and shooting through a cylinder bore.
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.410 data wont be from Lee since they haven't made .410 reloaders for a couple decades I believe. I got my data for .410 from the Lyman shotgun book and they work fine. It would also have 16ga data.
Are you talking about .410 and 16ga slugs? Data for .410 slugs will be difficult if at all possible to find since no one makes a mould for .410 slugs. I have seen some round ball loads though. 16ga loads will also be difficult to find for slugs since the only easy to find moulds are in 20ga and 12ga.

Most people say if you are using a smooth bore the best accuracy with slugs is achieved with an improved cylinder choke.

Shotshell loads can respond strangely and give odd pressure spikes. It isn't as straightforward as reloading metallic cartridges. For the 12ga loads using a wad is recommended for some slugs. Lee slugs (both 1oz and 7/8oz) for example are only .690" while 12ga bores are ~.720" so a wad is required for it to not bounce around. The Lyman foster slug is a full bore slug but their hour-glass shaped one is meant to sit inside a wad. Wads that have ribs inside the cup often don't work well with them. The Lee slugs are also known to cut pedals off which gives an uneven separation when it leaves the barrel and reduces accuracy. Over on the cast boolits forum there was a discussion about that exact topic and most people where putting a .125" 20ga over powder card wad under the slug inside the shot cup. I tried it and it cut my groups at 50yds in half. It also seats the slug higher in the wad so the tops of the pedals aren't folding over the top of the slug when it's crimped.

The general rule is to never deviate at all from published load data. Exact components or factory listed replacements only.
I have done some experimenting with shotshells doing essentially what Spawn-Inc described. Take some data, cut powder charge by 10-25%, switch some components, and work up looking for pushed out primers or badly torn crimps. One of the major issues is taking up all the space in the hull. Too much room and the crimp collapses into the hull (not that bad). To much stuff in there and the crimp will push out after a day or two even if it crimps evenly when pressed. Then again I've had several published loads that I followed exactly and they still ended up with too much inside the hull and the crimp pushed out before I could get to the range. I find recovering fired wads also tells a lot about the load. I got some that had mangled and torn up plastic wads and decided that was a sign to not use that load anymore even though the hulls where fine and there was no noticeable difference when fired. The wads should be blackened a little, compressed, a little worn, but not torn up.
 
I have the contact for Ballistics products, I was trying to figure out if a 1oz slug and 1oz shot loads are close in powder or not.
I honestly was thinking of getting a mold for something like a .375in rifle bullet at 500 grain and building a removable base to it to make a hollow heavily skirted 1/2oz slug that sits inside a 410 wad.

This is not for hunting, this is one of those, I wonder if it can be done, sort of situations.

I have access to wheel weight lead and a guy I met locally is going to make his own buckshot and slugs, so I thought, hey why not try some new things.

I did see attached wad slugs in 16ga, that would be nice, actually able to hit something with the old double.
 
I use the LEE dies to make my own slugs, and IMR reload data. A buddy just lent his 20yrs old shotshell reloading manual that classifies the powder charge by shot weight as well.
 
MLine052 said:
I use the LEE dies to make my own slugs, and IMR reload data. A buddy just lent his 20yrs old shotshell reloading manual that classifies the powder charge by shot weight as well.
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Ha ha, that was me.

Don't forget, I have heavy duty 12ga hulls for you.

I still have not found any 410 loading data for slugs.
 
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