12 ga shells

I have been shooting for 40+ years now, and have never heard of a shotgun shell or any cartridge discharging from getting dropped. Has it happened? I’m sure it has, but I’ve never seen or heard of it.

If one did go off from getting dropped, it could do light superficial damage, but chances of it being life threatening is doubtful.

The force of the rapidly burning gun powder needs to be contained, as in the chamber of a firearm. Since an unsupported cartridge is not contained, the energy bleeds off rapidly in all directions. Contained in a chamber, all the energy goes in one direction, down the bore.

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Short shells (like aquila) diy?

I have done a lot of swapping Lee key slugs into Wally World birdshot and now am looking to branch out.

My Brother and I are setting up a loading bench and boolit casting area so we can start loading 12 gauge in bulk.

What i am wondering is how to load short shells like the 1 3/4 aquilas.

Mostly I want to load single round ball loads (.690?), though if I could work out a load for the Lee slug that would be alright too.

Our intended use is mostly for plinking, so maximum power and pinpoint accuracy are not crucial.

There is a load given here, http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-178253.html
How safe or what ever is a question for the poster and you.

http://www.ballisticproducts.com/ might be the go to folks for data.

Rather than deal with a mini shell casing, why not go with standard components and load data?

Update
The Hodgdon 2003 Annual Manual has some information about making and loading 2 1/2" and 2" shells.

I was figuring on cutting down existing shells.

To prep a Winchester Universal for a Lee Key Slug I trim off the crimp (I roll crimp in a drill press) so I have hundreds of shells that are already pretty short.

I can see value in the shorter shells over and above the possibility of stuffing more in the magazine.

For example, you could load slugs in a short shell and tell by sight/feel which shells are slugs. But this is entirely dependent on the ability of shorter shells to cycle reliably.

Load Type Gauge Shot Wt. Powder Primer Wad Powder Wt Pressure Vel. (ft/s)

Lead Shot 12 7/8 oz. Internat'l Win. 209 BP Compact Euro. 16 8,400 PSI 1180
Lead Shot 12 1 oz. Universal Win. 209 BP Ultra Short Euro. 18.5 9,200 PSI 1180

The above load data is from Hodgdon and is for 2" STS hulls

I do not see why it would not be possible to use the same data for loading slugs depending on wads needed.

Sure it can be done - just don't use loading data for standard length shells and then use shorter wads to compensate for lack of space. This is the equivalent of seating a boolit deeper, i.e. increasing pressure!

For light plinking loads I would use a fast burning powder, like Red Dot or even Bullseye, and then gradually work up a suitable load. Fifteen grains Red Dot should be a good starting point in a one ounce load.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading
Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"

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12ga federal shells reloading

Boolit Mold Join DateMar 2013Posts2

The general rule is "yes", but in my LIMITED shotshell experience, if it has a cardboard base wad (look down
inside) it will only survive a few loads, and the mouth will fail pretty soon, too. Also, you have to
find the right components, sometimes this can be tough if the shell is really not intended to be reloaded
because there may not be exact info on it. Finding correct wad for your shell and shot combo can
be a bit tricky.

The most info is out there for the target load specific shells which are designed to be reloaded, like the
Win AA.

Short version - probably will work, may only get 3-4 loads before it is worn out, may have to trial
and error.

Bill

If it was easy, anybody could do it.

http://www.ballisticproducts.com/default.aspYou can call these folks they have it all.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/index.php
This is where I started my shotgun reloading good folks here.

Yes you can but doesn't sound like you have a shotshell reloading manual or hit Hodgdens or other site or you would probably already know. PLEASE look it up for proper components and don't rely on any board comments for safe loads.

NRA Life Member
Kansas Hunter Ed Instructor
NSCA Master Class / NSCA Certified Instructor
Two-Time Kansas State Open Team

Bill is right, they're not much good for repeated reloading, but.....that's OK.....they're EVERYWHERE! Nobody else picks them up so I can get as many as I want, load them once and leave them lay. Pick up the once fired ones your buddy left laying.

Plenty of data and components available. Anything from 3/4 oz to 1 1/4 oz loads.

Just make sure your loader sizes all the way to the rim. The Aluminum base can swell and cause some problems if not properly sized. (I've had the same problem with recent mfg. Win AA and Rem Gun Club hulls)

Jerry

Buzzard's luck!! Can't kill nothin', nothin'll die!!

Boolit Mold Join DateFeb 2008LocationOhioPosts19

I do pretty much the same as KYCaster but I will load them 3 times then throw them away . I use a sharpie marker to put a stripe from the primer to the outside of the rim , when they are fired strike 3 they are out of there .

I also use them to load up shells for going pheasant hunting at the shooting preserve , that way I don't have to worry losing my good hulls .

I recommend getting Lymans Shotshell Handbook for loads of information on shotshells and loads from birdshot to buckshot to slugs.

if there Federal gold medal hulls ? yes they can be reloaded !

Looks like a Top Gun. Yes you can if so. Call Alliant powder and they will tell you what can be substituted in regard to hull brand. I load them, but the crimp is only so-so.

Boolit Master Join DateJun 2007Posts513

I think Claybuster or maybe another company is doing a wad for promo hulls. The Top Gun is a straight hull with a paper base wad. I use a dowel marked to ck base wad height.

Take care

r1kk1

Boolit Mold Join DateMar 2013Posts2

i have this but cant find this one in the manual.

Looks like a Federal Gun Club hull. It'll have a paper basewad so if it's been wet I'd chuck em'. If not (wet) then for sure you can reload them. Like has been said, you won't get the reloads from them like a AA or Remington, but they make a good hunting load. More room inside as it's straight walled and not tapered. I reload them with 1 1/4oz with a federal 12s4 wad and get beautiful crimps. Actually better than the STS hulls...I'd take all I could get my hands on if they were cheap enough...I like em'..

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Abbreviations used in Reloading
Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"

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Is there such a thing as a "Lee Loader" for shotgun shells?

I usually roll crimp, but i would like to experiment with star crimping.
As i load for slugs i dont want/need a full Lee Load All or other big press just to make star crimps.
So the question is: Is there such a thing as a handtool that will do star crimps?

Life's like a bowl of chili. What you do today might burn your a** tomorrow.

Boolit Mold Join DateJun 2011Posts11

They did make the lee loader for 12 Gauge and others - you can find them on eBay for 35-50 dollars.
I found a lee load-all sitting in the back of the lgs for $10.

I bought a Lee Load-all many years ago because a buddy needed some shells loaded and dads equipment is still at the farm. I was surprised at how well it worked so I've been using it for 25 years. It would be neat to find a 12 gauge Lee Loader or better yet 20 gauge just to have them.

"A person cannot exercise their right to speak freely if they have been stripped of their ability to defend themselves and repel those forces who would seek to quell their speech." Me

I have a Lee Loader for 12 ga. and bought it new about 35 years ago. Not sure if they are still available but as mentioned, the Lee Loadalls work pretty well and are not expensive. Not as portable as a Lee Loader though.

Also, rereading, yes, Lee at least used to make plastic star crimp starters in 6 and 8 fold. I have both and again, they are about 35 years old. You just put them over the case mouth and whack with a mallet.

I have not seen any in years and haven't checked the site but I doubt they still make them. You could probable buy MEC or other press mount crimp starters and mount them in a tube to whack with a hammer. That should do what you want. In fact, if memory serves the Lee Loadall crimp starter is double sided so that could be mounted in a tube and give you both crimps.

Having said that I picked up a MEC Sizemaster press pretty cheap them a MEC 600 Junior for $25.00 (and with lots of accessories!) and I love them them. I use both for shotshell and slug reloading.

Different strokes!

Longbow

Boolit Master Join DateJun 2010LocationNew MexicoPosts357

Yes! rockymountaincartridge.com makes just such a critter (lee loader type that is)...for both brass and plastic shells of any gauge. Not sure about the star crimper. You could just glue in an overshot card like you would for brass shells...

Thanks for the link to Rocky Mountain Cartridge. I'm liking Lanes products
http://zoned.fortunecity.ws/about.html

"Had his shooting been as good as his running, he might have given a better account of himself."
James. C. Henderson

Well, there you go! Two outfits I hadn't heard of before and looks like both make nice products. Good to see someone is thinking and filling a need.

Longbow

I discovered one more for .410 and 28 gauge made by Paco Kelly of Lever Gun web site fame
http://www.pacotools.com/tool_discriptions
Looks really nice
And the Slug R Us products
http://slugsrus.com/store/handload.html

"Had his shooting been as good as his running, he might have given a better account of himself."
James. C. Henderson

Well, there you go! Two outfits I hadn't heard of before and looks like both make nice products. Good to see someone is thinking and filling a need.

Longbow

Yeah and the rocky thing is for brass and the other dont state whether it is star or roll.

Life's like a bowl of chili. What you do today might burn your a** tomorrow.

Paco's dont do star and SlugsRUs is rollcrimp.

So we are further nowhere now.
I did do some searching before asking you know

I'll have to do my own, thanks guys.

Life's like a bowl of chili. What you do today might burn your a** tomorrow.

I have a "Lane Loader" kit for the 410. The double duty kit with tubes for both the 2-1/2" and 3" length shells. It works as well or better then the original Lee shot-shell loaders but unfortunately has the same two problems that the original Lee Loader had. Namely it doesn't size down the brass base of the shell so reloads can only be sure to work in the same gun they were fired in originally (original Lee Loader for shot-shells had same problem) and the crimping cone for making star crimps is a simple tapered cone and you have to use your finger nail to push the inside corners of the fold crimp in to get a decent looking crimp (early Lee shotshell loaders had the same problem but some of the very last ones made included a star crimp setter unit that usually is the first thing lost out of the old sets).

My Lane loader set is for plastic shells with fold crimps and 209 primers. He also sells sets for mag-tech brass shells that use large pistol primers. There is a way he could also sell a simple extra add on for his sets consisting of two pieces that would allow the user to size the brass bases of the hulls and I've been meaning to e-mail him with that info (worked it out myself as a custom made add on to his kit) since I think others would probably be interested in it as well but haven't got around to it yet.

Also, at least as of a year or more ago the instructions that came with the Lanes Loader kits were just old photocopies of the old Lee Loader shotshell instructions of which the Lanes Loader is a modern improvement on and aren't that informative and you kind of got to figure it out yourself (not hard to figure out how it works yourself at least not for me).

There are a couple of 12G Lee Loaders on ebay. Typically, post to US only!

The first reloading tool I bought was a Lee Loadall Junior, which I still have. Instructions are here: http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/LOADALLJR.pdf

The crimping is done in 2 stations; first a reversible (for 6 or 8 star) nylon tool starts the crimp, then it goes into a simple stopped tube which finishes the crimp. I can take some pics if you like.

Parts for this tool are no longer available.

The Loadall instructions are here: http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/LA1088.pdf

I reckon you could get the bits and pieces you need to make a hand crimper by cannabalising the Carrier http://leeprecision.com/carrier-12-ga.html

Good luck!

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Abbreviations used in Reloading
Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"

View the original article here