Reloading Lee 1 oz 12 gauge slugs

[jabilli]

Hey guys,
I just set up my Mec 600 jr and it seems to be a great machine!

I cast a bunch of Slugs (Lee 1 oz) and made my first shell.

I'm reasonably certain I did everything correctly, I just don't really know what the final product is supposed to look like...

Here are a few pictures:

158571 158572158573

If you asked me, I'd say the slug seems to be pretty danged far down there... Is it supposed to look like this?

Thanks!

John

[Screwbolts]

If you followed one of the recommended loads listed for the LEE slug, by using the components listed not substituting components. Then I would say yes.

Ken

[tsubaki]

Yes that looks about normal. And like Ken says, using the suggested components by Lee and not substituting.
Here is the same using AA hulls done with Lee's LoadAll.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/leedrivekeyslug_zpsehdqfkld.jpg

[Garyshome]

You might need to use a different wad, or a filler card of some unknown thickness [set on top of the wad under the slug, 20g card works well]. I picked up a roll crimper from ballistic products [for info only...not a plug] and cut down the hull to the proper length for the roll crimp. I also headed down to the local hardware and picked up a overshot card cutter for cutting circles of the correct diameter for a 12g, Good for adjusting the height of the shot column.

[243winxb]

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/th_IMG_2928.jpg (http://s338.photobucket.com/user/joe1944usa/media/IMG_2928.jpg.html)
set on top of the wad under the slug This would defeat the purpose of the key. IMO. http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/Firearms%20%20and%20%20Reloading/Lee12KeyDriveSlug002.jpg

[243winxb]

158588 Using 36 gr HS-6 in my photo above. Adjustment can be made using a different wad or using powder that has more bulk to it. Check Mec bushings for one size and see how much it holds. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?50799-Lee-Keyed-Slug-Loadhttp://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/FirearmsReloading102/Win12gawads1999.jpg

[Muddydogs]

Your crimp should look like a crimp on any factory shotgun shell and not pushed all the way down like it is. You either need to change your wad or use a felt or fiber wad between the slug and plastic wad to bring your stack height up for a good crimp.

[tsubaki]

Lee states that either method is acceptable.
From their instructions:
"If the slug is pushed too far in the shell, the crimp will be concave with a hole in the middle. The fix is a longer wad, bulkierpowder or a paper filler wad. A small amount of hole is acceptable provided the slug is tight in the shell and the crimp staysclosed."

[Retumbo]

I have been developing my 1 oz slug setup this past month. Never have done any shotgun reloading.

Wad height/slug height very important, use nitro cards to get it right. I punch out cork as spacer.

My crimp roller load

158623

My first crimped load. I have further tweeked my setup to give me a better looking round.

158624

[jabilli]

Hm. Thanks for all the replies- I think I'll tinker with some cardstock/cardboard to bring it up a bit, maybe get it to crimp properly without the "hole".

Thanks all

[dondiego]

Hm. Thanks for all the replies- I think I'll tinker with some cardstock/cardboard to bring it up a bit, maybe get it to crimp properly without the "hole".

Thanks all

jabili - There is a "Casting for Shotguns" page here with a ton of info and load data. You should check it out too.
Don

[243winxb]

The key in the slug base will imprint into the plastic wad on firing, locking them together. This is needed because the wad is what grips the lands and adds spin to the slug. Puting the wrong filler between slug base and plastic wad cup may keep the slug from rotating propertly. Poor accuracy at 100 yds, is the results.

[gwpercle]

Jabilli ,
Before you change anything, try them out, they might work just fine.
I don't see anything wrong with the way the look, they actually look pretty good to me.

[tsubaki]

I would have concern if the wad or slug had room to move but in my case the tip of the wad is at the fold of the crimped case and the slug is held firmly in place by the folds.
I have gotten good results (actually better than any of the factory ones I have tried) with my scoped fully rifled 870 and Beretta 391 with a rifled choke tube. My average velocity is 1475fps, Lee's load data states it to be at 1495fps.

I must admit, 243's worst one looks better than my best one.

[Moonie]

I've used several of the loads listed by Lee, they provide a proper wad column height so the crimps are correct, not fallen in or proud. Personally I've gone to roll crimping and the top of the slug is just below the top lip of the slug, when done properly.

[jabilli]

So I took a bag full of these out to the old shooting spot- They shot perfectly! Even had that little "ThOOp" sound while ejecting a hull.

I shot them with my new 24" smoothbore mossberg barrel with sights- I'm certain my setup wont win any tournaments but heck, these things are super easy to reload and are just plain fun to shoot.

For posterity I was running:
Fiocci Hulls
WAA12SL Wads (The pink ones.)
Lee 1 OZ Slug
Alliant Unique- 23 grains. (Their web page says 27 but I wanted to air on the side of safe/lighter recoil)

[rsrocket1]

I use the Claybuster Lightning CB-4100-12 wad. The 8-petals are very thin and allow the slug to fit into the hull without bulging and you don't need to cut off the petals to make the slug fit. The blue CB-4118-12 is a Claybuster Windjammer clone which works for larger charges of bulky powder, but the shot cup is deeper and I needed a tuft of Dacron pillow stuffing to get the slug to sit higher.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj96/rsrocket1/Shoot/5e4ae2fe-7fc6-45ea-a324-21e7e6900ded_zpsyj5nt1or.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj96/rsrocket1/Shoot/9672AAC0-8EB4-4EE4-A72C-11EC4815ACB3_zpsqd7zxjix.jpg

You can see that the top of the petals line up with the top of the slug and the crimp line on the hull.
That means if you put a factory sized crimp in the hull, everything should line up properly.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj96/rsrocket1/Shoot/FCFC17B5-5A0D-4072-828B-AA5595788740_zpsxqohggwg.jpg

[gds45]

The nose of the slug should be just under the fold line of the shell. If it's too low you need to adjust your stack height by using a different wad or adding filler wads in plastic cup of regular wad. I like to use the 20 gauge nitro cards for 2 reasons. First, hard cards easily separate from the slug instead of getting jammed up inside the slug. It separates from the slug as the wad drops away. Secondly the 20 gauge size drops right in to the 12 gauge wad. I then drop in a paper overshot card on top of the slug which which gives the final crimp a good flat surface to fold over on. You can punch out your own using those thick cardstock political mailers that are cluttering up all our mail boxes lately. Get a 5/8 heavy duty paper punch and get busy.
When I see a shell like your picture I always worry you might get a pressure increase on ignition and if your load is up at the top end of the range already it might go over. Messy!
About a hundred years ago when I was young I worked on a professional ambulance and got to see what over pressure can do to a persons hand. Pardon the pun but I have been a little gun-shy since.:castmine: