Reloading slugs
- Thread starter THERAVEN
- Start date
jrinne0430
New member
You can use either. I use Winchester AA or Federal Gold Metal hulls when loading Lee 1oz slugs.
oldandslow
New member
tr, 1/18/13
I've spent the past two years experimenting with different 12 gauge slug loads and finally found what works for my pig hunting at ranges of less than 100 yards in heavy brush.
First step is to take a look at the www.castboolits.gunloads.com shotgun loading subforum and also over at www.shotgunworld.com in the slugshooters subforum. Both are very helpful. Next, for supplies look at www.ballisticproducts.com they have almost everything you'll need to load slugs.
I've tried the Lyman 525 grain slug, the BPI shuttlecock slug, the Foster's slug and the Gualandi fullbore slug with attached wad. All were in a smoothbore barrel. I've tried multiple hulls, wad and shot card combinations and even filling the rear cavity of some of the slugs with epoxy resin but only got good results (sub-3" 50 yard groups) with the Gualandi slug. Since these come from Italy I didn't want to depend on a supplier half a world away from my location.
The final best answer was to order a slug mold from Tom at www.accuratemolds.com. I got the 770 grain slug mold and figured out a magic load with Blue Dot (thanks to the CB and SGW forum members) that groups well and goes in one side of a wild pig and out the other leaving a 0.730" hole. I changed out the barrel to a rifled one after getting frustrated with the smoothbore.
Take a look at the above sites (which also have info on the Lee slug), and see if it helps you. Good luck.
best wishes- oldandslow
I've spent the past two years experimenting with different 12 gauge slug loads and finally found what works for my pig hunting at ranges of less than 100 yards in heavy brush.
First step is to take a look at the www.castboolits.gunloads.com shotgun loading subforum and also over at www.shotgunworld.com in the slugshooters subforum. Both are very helpful. Next, for supplies look at www.ballisticproducts.com they have almost everything you'll need to load slugs.
I've tried the Lyman 525 grain slug, the BPI shuttlecock slug, the Foster's slug and the Gualandi fullbore slug with attached wad. All were in a smoothbore barrel. I've tried multiple hulls, wad and shot card combinations and even filling the rear cavity of some of the slugs with epoxy resin but only got good results (sub-3" 50 yard groups) with the Gualandi slug. Since these come from Italy I didn't want to depend on a supplier half a world away from my location.
The final best answer was to order a slug mold from Tom at www.accuratemolds.com. I got the 770 grain slug mold and figured out a magic load with Blue Dot (thanks to the CB and SGW forum members) that groups well and goes in one side of a wild pig and out the other leaving a 0.730" hole. I changed out the barrel to a rifled one after getting frustrated with the smoothbore.
Take a look at the above sites (which also have info on the Lee slug), and see if it helps you. Good luck.
best wishes- oldandslow
Sure Shot Mc Gee
New member
Might want to visit Ballistic Products web site for a looks see. Afterwards. You just may want to try roll crimping your slugs.
I believe in keeping it simple. About the only thing I use shotguns for now days is 3 gun. I use an old Remington 870 Police Riot gun with an 18 inch smooth barrel.
In three gun, you don't shoot that far, you are required to shoot bird shot, slugs and buck shoot.
Like I said, I keep it simple, I use WW AA Hulls, AA wads, and a Mec 1 oz charge bar.
I load 1 oz of 8 shot, and Lee's 1 oz slug, and I use a Lee round ball mold that makes .319 balls at 48 grns, which I stick 9 into the same AA hulls and wads.
Recoil is the same across the board, the buck shot and bird shot pattern plenty good enough for the distance we shoot, and I have no problem hitting an 8 inch circle with my slug loads at 50 yards (again, within the distances we shoot).
The only modification I do to the above loads is I use a magic marker to mark which shell is buck shot or slugs.
I have other charge bars for my Mec 600 If I decide to go bird hunting, but there aren't many birds around here. Or I have the set up for trap and skeet loading if I decide to get back into those games.
You really don't have to get all fancy with slug loading.
Some people deer hunt with shot guns, If I was to do that I have faith in my slugs, but I'd probably put a bit more powder behind my buck shot loads.
In three gun, you don't shoot that far, you are required to shoot bird shot, slugs and buck shoot.
Like I said, I keep it simple, I use WW AA Hulls, AA wads, and a Mec 1 oz charge bar.
I load 1 oz of 8 shot, and Lee's 1 oz slug, and I use a Lee round ball mold that makes .319 balls at 48 grns, which I stick 9 into the same AA hulls and wads.
Recoil is the same across the board, the buck shot and bird shot pattern plenty good enough for the distance we shoot, and I have no problem hitting an 8 inch circle with my slug loads at 50 yards (again, within the distances we shoot).
The only modification I do to the above loads is I use a magic marker to mark which shell is buck shot or slugs.
I have other charge bars for my Mec 600 If I decide to go bird hunting, but there aren't many birds around here. Or I have the set up for trap and skeet loading if I decide to get back into those games.
You really don't have to get all fancy with slug loading.
Some people deer hunt with shot guns, If I was to do that I have faith in my slugs, but I'd probably put a bit more powder behind my buck shot loads.
Well, I posted a string of a serious series of experimental slug loads -- including
a text intro that the string was 5 years old. When I hit 'submit', it dumped me
to a warning page, and told me to return to the previous page and hit the
warning/acknowledgement "checkbox"of an old string...
..... and erased the post.
So..... a bottom-line/single pic is what's left of my after-midnite energy:
a text intro that the string was 5 years old. When I hit 'submit', it dumped me
to a warning page, and told me to return to the previous page and hit the
warning/acknowledgement "checkbox"of an old string...
..... and erased the post.
So..... a bottom-line/single pic is what's left of my after-midnite energy:
globemaster3
New member
You've definitely got my attention! Although since leaving OK where I was slug hunting on Ft Sill and IL where it was slug-only for deer, I have not used my shotguns for deer. It got old paying $12-15 for a box of 5 sabot slugs!
Ive thought of returning to Ft Sill for their special hog season in Mar-Apr timeframe and would love to turn my Mec Sizemaster and some of my AA bulls into cheaper, accurate sabot rounds!
Ive thought of returning to Ft Sill for their special hog season in Mar-Apr timeframe and would love to turn my Mec Sizemaster and some of my AA bulls into cheaper, accurate sabot rounds!
This is the other combo of various hulls/powders/wadcups that worked (dramatically) well.
Four Notes:
- Blue Dot again
- Cheap Rio Hulls (any Cabelas) starcrimped, Claybuster/Fed 12S3 equivalent cup that seals straightwall shells
- Much easier on shoulder at 1,225 (vice the AA 1,480 load)
- (Surprisingly) Same POI at 50 yds
Four Notes:
- Blue Dot again
- Cheap Rio Hulls (any Cabelas) starcrimped, Claybuster/Fed 12S3 equivalent cup that seals straightwall shells
- Much easier on shoulder at 1,225 (vice the AA 1,480 load)
- (Surprisingly) Same POI at 50 yds
2wheelwander
New member
Timely post! I agree with Globemaster3, slugs ain't cheap and reloading them is. Indiana was slug only/deer as a kid, then they allowed some pistol around 15-20 years ago, now many high powered rifles are allowed (finally get to use my .444).
Casting and reloading my own slugs seems like a very interesting and fun prospect. I appreciate all the input here. I personally use an 1100 smoothbore slug barrel. Just never dropped the $ for a rifled barrel after I made a lung shot on a 9 pointer that dressed to 213 lbs - off hand at 120 yds, open sights. Maybe dumb luck but I'm still proud of that one!
Casting and reloading my own slugs seems like a very interesting and fun prospect. I appreciate all the input here. I personally use an 1100 smoothbore slug barrel. Just never dropped the $ for a rifled barrel after I made a lung shot on a 9 pointer that dressed to 213 lbs - off hand at 120 yds, open sights. Maybe dumb luck but I'm still proud of that one!
JeepHammer
Moderator
The thread might be 4 years old, but I learned something I'm just getting around to...
Are you guys shooting these in rifled barrels?
I used the Lyman slug + AA 3” hulls....need to check my notes on the wad and powder.
The key is finding a load....when I was doing it, I had a hard time finding waa12 wads.
Also, a powder measure or dispenser was a must as Lee didn’t have a bushing for the high charge weight!
I used the Lyman slug + AA 3” hulls....need to check my notes on the wad and powder.
The key is finding a load....when I was doing it, I had a hard time finding waa12 wads.
Also, a powder measure or dispenser was a must as Lee didn’t have a bushing for the high charge weight!