Need some pointers for 12 Ga reloading

I’m looking to get into 12 GA, reloading, I was kind of “pushed” in this direction. A friend gave me a LEE load-all and a BUNCH of hulls and wads. I picked up a couple boxes ofW209 now I need to figure my next step.
I cast Lee 1oz slugs, Lee .311, .678, These are the wads, cards and some of hulls he gave me.
I will be shooting these out of a WINCHESTER RANGER MODEL 120 12 GA 2 ¾ & 3 L 207#### 28” Barrel
If you could give me suggestions for the proper combinations for the supplies I have. some of your favorite loads would help speed up the learning curve and show me if I want to pursue shotgun reloading.
I'm looking at target shooting, which of these wads/cards do I use with Lee 1oz slugs, Lee .311, .678,

https://i.imgur.com/otiuWAZ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/JE9e2Wt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/j072iBm.jpg https://i.imgur.com/9RoFhRk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Vwp3OU5.jpg https://i.imgur.com/nDk3OaY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NshtwMb.jpg https://i.imgur.com/LOVFuRj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1jkx2XY.jpg https://i.imgur.com/0p0e0Z5.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LXZHmNf.jpg https://i.imgur.com/l4jxes0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/jUIa724.jpg https://i.imgur.com/pWtV8hU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/h2IBl2v.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/H6zlRhi.jpg https://i.imgur.com/NtVin61.jpg

Get a Reloading Manual that has shotgun recipes in it. You have too much random stuff to steer you to a specific load. All the stuff you have is usable but it won't all work for the same load. That's why you need the book.

Ballistic Products has all the data you need to load any kind of shotshell you could ever want.

https://www.ballisticproducts.com

Randy

You can always check on line with the powder manufactures for their load data as well.

here's a couple
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/shotgun
http://alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

Scott

Totally agree with the above.

Obtain a reloading manual and then pick the loads you want to make.

Shotgun reloading involves a lot of variables and you can get into trouble if you start substituting components, particularly if you are operating at the upper limits of acceptable pressures.

Shotshell reloading isn't the great bargain it once was. Lead shot has become very expensive.
I still load shotshells but I have greatly reduced the types of loads that I make. I mostly confine my shotshell reloading to target loads and buy the occasional box of special loads when I need something I don't load for.

You've got a good start on components but first decide what you want to load. I don't sense a lot of enthusiasm in your post. First determine the choke of that barrel. Modified or full most likely means buck or birdshot and the .311 is great buckshot. The .678 RB is easy to cast, easy to load and is a good 50 yd performer out of most guns. Again, first decide what YOU want to shoot and work it up one projct at at time to avoid a lot of expense and frustration. Hope this helps.

watch out for foreign brand hulls, they use a metric 209 primer and a normal 209 will fall out with vibration over time. I stock a lot of the rio primers because I find a lot of foreign hulls at the trap range I collect from.

Greetings Grmps, let's take the first step, build your self a depth gauge:
https://i.imgur.com/xvf8KPn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/l6JRnKc.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8rfw5i6.jpg
The wooden dowel should be fiction fit in straight wall hull, second go to dollar store to pick up " O " ring set for $1
After you choose a load then drop the powder in the hull and push the depth gauge all the way in now mark the gauge as shown in the picture for fold crimp like this picture:https://i.imgur.com/xvf8KPn.jpg
Now you see how much wad column needs to be.

You will need to learn to read pressure signs like this:
Very bad and high pressure:
https://i.imgur.com/hxkVS2R.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/M559kBH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/btcqbR9.jpg
I usually would ask you to buy brand new Fiocchi hull to start to learn the basics to play it safely.

Powder seeping through the wad is a No No like this, mismatch of components:
https://i.imgur.com/9yvwgC3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/sCW0uoc.jpg
Hit the dead end can't post more pictures, please increase it to 12 instead of 10 picture limit ! !

Best of luck.

Ajay Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

Powder gases blow-by:
https://i.imgur.com/Ma1bqZp.jpg
Remedy:
https://i.imgur.com/8SVSz3X.jpg
The Lee 1 oz slug mold comes with loading data that is way too Hot:
https://i.imgur.com/qhrOkRZ.jpg
If you are using a smooth bore shot gun the you will need to do a backward push through test like this with the slug in wad:
https://i.imgur.com/2nkY5pd.jpg
This you are doing for safety.

Here are the OD with different wads and slugsin wad or RB of .678 or .690"
https://i.imgur.com/CtlOdHK.jpg
Start with only one project at a time ! !
Best of luck.

Ajay Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

you have great information above and a very good friend to let you have all the goodies you got from him

Thanks, guys, SuperBlazingSabots, you gave me a lot of good information that I was looking for.

I found load data at ballistic products
I got the capacity of the shells in the load data so I can compare it to the ones I have (of course none of them are mentioned in the load data:()
I assume I use the depth gauge to trim the higher capacity wads I have to work with 1 oz slug and .311 (OOBuck) shot?
does the slug/ wad test in the end of the barrel work if you have a choke?
some videos show putting the cards in my last picture over all the wads (with both shot and slug) before crimping, is this needed?

Ok couple of points.

A Ballistics Products aka BPI.
https://www.ballisticproducts.com/

Bookmark it. Good prices, great selection, awesome service, help if you get in a bind.

B Agree, buy a manual. BPI Advantages works. Loads of recipes.

C Normally they have great prices on new hulls from Rio, Fiochhi, etc. I loaded up on new primed hulls from Rio at 9 cents ea, 9$ for 100 hull bag. For learning the basics, hard to beat new hulls.

Be aware, there are straight hulls, and there are tapered hulls. There are wads for straight hulls, and wads for tapered. Don't mix.

I do think more wads should have an "ideal for XXX and YYY hulls, not for ZZZ or WWW" tag on them. Would make life for new guys much easier.

In my case I started with simple Lee 7/8ths oz slug loads, and a lighter #1 buckshot (9 pellets, 3 stacks of 3, self stacking mostly) over a fairly light charge of Red Dot. I really need to pattern those this summer.

Accept that there is a learning curve. If you don't get a good crimp with a good recipe and a new hull, stop. Think. Is the load short or tall? Crimp caving in? (add a overshot card maybe) Or if not staying closed may be a smidge tall. There are several options to try. The good news is, if you go about it systematically within 5 more rounds you should have something that works.

Take your time, if you stick to the recipe it should be close. Should only need minor adjustments.

Please don't put no card above the Slug in wad or RB and the backwards push through you check with whatever choke you plan to use, remember 6 to 10 lbs pressure ( Fiction fit )
https://i.imgur.com/hKJazZw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CigHhnF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6CnnxhF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/c8SmkgP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/K25UgSL.jpg

Please keep it simple and above all have fun cooking your own load.
Please feel free to check my Gold mine right here but don't forget to have a pot full of coffee:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-Blazing-Sabot!
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...Buckshot-loads!
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...Buck-amp-Slugs
We worked 24/7 just to help our fellow shooters put meat on the table for pennies a Pop and thus created fun loads for the family yet deadly ! !
Ajay Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

Hogdon and Alliant both have load data free. I like the Hogdon sit because it is searchable. If you have a Loaddata.com account, the have everything but BPI's data. The Alliant data is kind of sortable. The Loaddata.com site isn't very well layed out for shotgun, but its a massive data base.

Shotgun reloading is frustrating due to exact recipes. Its the nature of the beast. There is a good article at BPI about how simple primer substitution can cause 1-2k pressure spikes. I would take all those components and organize them. Then make a catalogue of what you have on hand. Then you can search the recipes for what you can make. Jump over to hodgon then plug in those Remington gun club hulls and primers and see what pops up. Then you can see the wad and powder you need.

If you get 5/8 punch and 3/4 punch you can make your own filler wads and shot cards and over powder cards.

Pro Tips for the Lee Load All:
1) Use a Paint Pen to mark an index line on the crimp starter. That way you have visual mark to line up on the crease on the shell with and don't mess up crimps on starting them.
2) Over shot cards make factory looking crimps. I punch mine out of thin construction paper. Like the thin file folders. I put them in everything but slugs. Doesn't effect the pattern.
3) When reloading slugs, get the slug started enough to make sure you can see if you damaged the wad petals. Then start the crimp and use the crimp finisher to finish seating the slug for you.