Shotshell reloading
1Anyone reload shotgun shells? I want to try my hand at reloading slugs that cycle reliably but don't beat up my shoulder. Any recommendations on gear/powder/reloading data would be greatly appreciated.
Re: Shotshell reloading
2Anytime you ask for specialty ammo for shotguns, the price goes into the stratosphere. Handloading brings the price down to something manageable, but it has its own concerns.
Recoil can be dealt with in a variety of ways. One way is choosing a smaller caliber. Twenty gauge slugs will beat you up less than 12s. Using a "sissy pad" will help:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1002531259?pid=699899
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018130090
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1006452941?pid=547301
For the slip-on pads, sizing is critical
In general, fitting of a shotgun to you is critical, a bunch of different ways. The typical commercial shotgun is made to fit a male, 5ft-8in tall, right handed and right eyed, about 180 pounds. The more you deviate from that, the worse you will shoot and the more the gun will beat you up. I was once almost 6'4". My father first took me to a shotgun fitter when I was age 35. The typical shotgun sold commercially in the USA has a distance from the trigger to the middle of the butt ["pull"] of about 14.25". The fitter told me I needed a 15 and 5/8 inch pull, which is the longest I had ever heard of. I had my butt adjusted to that. The next summer my father took me back to see him, and after watching me shoot he said 16".
I typically use a pull of about 16", some of that is "sissy pad". I also custom load my own ammo. Commercial ammo frequently has a ridiculous amount of "overkill" in it. I load my ammo up or down to what I need. My shotguns also are of the right length so they do not unnecessarily beat me up.
Recoil can be dealt with in a variety of ways. One way is choosing a smaller caliber. Twenty gauge slugs will beat you up less than 12s. Using a "sissy pad" will help:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1002531259?pid=699899
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018130090
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1006452941?pid=547301
For the slip-on pads, sizing is critical
In general, fitting of a shotgun to you is critical, a bunch of different ways. The typical commercial shotgun is made to fit a male, 5ft-8in tall, right handed and right eyed, about 180 pounds. The more you deviate from that, the worse you will shoot and the more the gun will beat you up. I was once almost 6'4". My father first took me to a shotgun fitter when I was age 35. The typical shotgun sold commercially in the USA has a distance from the trigger to the middle of the butt ["pull"] of about 14.25". The fitter told me I needed a 15 and 5/8 inch pull, which is the longest I had ever heard of. I had my butt adjusted to that. The next summer my father took me back to see him, and after watching me shoot he said 16".
I typically use a pull of about 16", some of that is "sissy pad". I also custom load my own ammo. Commercial ammo frequently has a ridiculous amount of "overkill" in it. I load my ammo up or down to what I need. My shotguns also are of the right length so they do not unnecessarily beat me up.
Re: Shotshell reloading
3Thank you for taking the time to not answer the question and opine on fitment.
Re: Shotshell reloading
4sorry, I got nothin' Spara. seems like it would be a common issue for fellow three gun competitors...there must be good pet loads out there....somewhere. maybe find some loads and work backwards for equipment? btw, you can usually find shotgun reloading equipment on the craigslist for good prices
"Person, woman, man, camera, TV."
Re: Shotshell reloading
5oh, and shotguns and 45 long colt use many of the same powders. I bought my 45 powders from a trap shooter. might be enough of a reason to by a sixgun, if you don't already have one. 
"Person, woman, man, camera, TV."
Re: Shotshell reloading
6Actually, your real problem probably is fit, not the ammo. I went through this about 30 years ago, I didn't shoot well and shotguns beat me up. My father took me to a fitter, my average score in Skeet went from 14 to 22, and my problem with getting beat up went away.spara wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2020 7:56 pm Thank you for taking the time to not answer the question and opine on fitment.
By all means, pursue your own course to enlightenment.
Re: Shotshell reloading
7Shotshell reloading always seemed interesting because of the seemingly endless possibilities. Following this thread.
Re: Shotshell reloading
8Shotshell reloading is much less amenable to the kind of experimentation that is the norm in metallic reloading. You basically follow recipes that have been pressure tested exactly, no substitutions. The place I know about for books and books of oddball recipes, tools and components is Ballistic Products. Have a look.
That said, my only shotshell loading has been BP, which is very different.
That said, my only shotshell loading has been BP, which is very different.
Re: Shotshell reloading
10I reload shot shells!
I recommend you pick up the Lyman 5th edition manual on shot shells reloading. It'll teach the basics and give some intro to load types.
Once you get into it and do it enough you start understanding what you can modify a bit and substitute and stay "safe".
Shot shells have so many different components and variations... it's kind of fun to figure it out. Not everything works great in every gun... ammo that patterns well in my Charles Daly -- doesn't pattern well in my Fabarm XLR5
Anyhow - it's a lot of fun, do it!
Personally - now that I found a few loads I really like to shoot -- I'm making them "look" unique in colors and style. These translucent blue hulls from Fiocchi really turn heads at the club
Fhey also use really spectacular components and break clays amazingly for trap
I recommend you pick up the Lyman 5th edition manual on shot shells reloading. It'll teach the basics and give some intro to load types.
Once you get into it and do it enough you start understanding what you can modify a bit and substitute and stay "safe".
Shot shells have so many different components and variations... it's kind of fun to figure it out. Not everything works great in every gun... ammo that patterns well in my Charles Daly -- doesn't pattern well in my Fabarm XLR5
Anyhow - it's a lot of fun, do it!
Personally - now that I found a few loads I really like to shoot -- I'm making them "look" unique in colors and style. These translucent blue hulls from Fiocchi really turn heads at the club
Fhey also use really spectacular components and break clays amazingly for trap- Attachments
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