Slug Reload Testing?

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Cactus

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Since I am new to this, these may be dumb questions but here goes...

I recently loaded some Lee 1oz slugs, the data for the powder I am using says 36 grains. Since I am using the Winchester Bulk pack hulls and looking for a mild recoil plinking round I started at 30.4gn.

Those shot fine and The recoil was very mild. I loaded the next batch to 31gns and tested them. All good, seemed to have a similar recoil and I need to setup the chrony at the range for velocity data.

Now I am considering the next step up, 1 grain at a time to max or two? I am thinking one since it is just for plinking and the more times I use my press the better I will get with finding the right pressure for good crimps. The more I reload the more experience I gain along the way.

When you guys are working to find a good slug load what process do you use? or do you just load based on the data sheet?

When loading a batch of 50 shells, how often do you verify the powder charge that the loader is dumping with a scale? every 10 or half way through? and what is an acceptable difference?

Thanks
Cactus
 
If the maximum load listed for your slugs is 36 grs and you started at 30, then 1 gr increments are correct.

How often you verify the charges thrown by a powder measure depends on the repeatability of your powder measure. Repeatability relates not only to the powder measure but also to the type of powder being thrown. Flake powder is so light it can hang up in a thrower, and for that reason I would weigh every charge. Ball powder by contrast meters very well, and once it starts to run consistently, I would only check every 5th throw. I no longer run extruded powder through a powder measure.
 
Thanks Boomer,

I have picked up some AA hulls as well so I can dump the Universals after 1 reload. There is a noticable difference in the strength and the way the AAs keep thier shape and crimp.

Good to hear that 1gr increments are the way to go. For the time being I will continue to measure the charges by hand it makes more sence to have a consistant load and when it's raining outside who cares if it takes longer... I asked because I read that the Lee Load All II is not the most consistant.

I am loading HS-6, not sure if it is light flake or not.

Cactus
 
I cast 1 1/8 slugs using a lyman mold and put 25 grains of herco behind it and it hit like a mule. You might want to try some different powders. If you were to use 22-23 grains of herco you could have a reduced recoil load that would save you a bunch of powder.
 
A piece of advise that I can offer (they talk about it in some of the books) is that when you're reloading shotgun don't treat it like a rifle load. You aren't necessarilly looking for the same signs of max pressure. The guns and the shells themselves are constructed entirely differently. If you hit the hard extraction or flattened primers stage you've gone too far and need to turn back, regardless of the load.
 
Good advice sahara, thanks. I am taking a good look at the spent primers and hulls after each test. Unfortunately the data with my Lee mould is very limited and slug load data is limited as well.

Coreyd, at the moment I am just using the powder that I have recipes for. I will look in my books and online for other 1oz slug recipes.

My Lee data says Max Load for Win AAs using Herco is 36 grains which I thought was a little high. Isn't Herco a faster burning powder than HS6? I will look into it more and go from there.

I will say that with all this testing things make a lot more sence than just reading the info from a book.

Cactus
 
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