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Thread: Federal 12S3 - Discontinued.

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Federal 12S3 - Discontinued.

    The Federal 12S3 12ga 1-1/8oz wad, has been discontinued by the manufacturer.

    https://www.brownells.com/reloading/...prod54054.aspx

    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/75...lls-bag-of-250
    Last edited by RMc; 01-05-2018 at 02:49 AM.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    Hogtamer's Avatar
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    Would have thought that would be their best selling size.
    "My main ambition in life is to be on the devil's most wanted list."
    Leonard Ravenhill

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    The Gold Medal Grand, in plastic and newly redesigned paper hull variants, have switched to this newest incarnation of their late 1960's wad design:

    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/79...lls-bag-of-250

    This left the 12S3 1 1/8 ounce wad with no "home" in the loaded shell line-up.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master phaessler's Avatar
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  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
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    Interesting that they've brought back the old-style Champion wad; I found some of those at a second hand sale a while back and really liked them. Still, the 12S3 is a great wad, and I can't imagine why they wouldn't keep it going for reloaders (I know that's a very small slice of their business.) I assume Claybuster will continue making their clone, though I much prefer the original.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master




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    Check with BPI. They probably sell a clone of it.
    You can miss fast & you can miss a lot, but only hits count.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    I believe Claybusters makes a clone.

    ETA: Appears they do, as well as some other makers. See this .PDF from Hodgdon, it is a "substitution chart", 4th line down from top.
    https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/sit...adsubchart.pdf
    2nd Amend./U.S. Const. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

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  8. #8
    Boolit Master

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    Federal has a nasty habit of doing things like this from time to time. They discontinued the 12S3 back in my trapshooting days and instead of playing their "buy new or tough luck" game I switched to Winchester AA and never looked back. Claybuster and several of the aftermarket companies weren't in business at that time. Federal DOES make a good product, but their marketing likes alot to be desired

  9. #9
    Boolit Master


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    The Gold Medal Grand, in plastic and newly redesigned paper hull variants, have switched to this newest incarnation of their late 1960's wad design:

    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/79...lls-bag-of-250

    This left the 12S3 1 1/8 ounce wad with no "home" in the loaded shell line-up.
    If you're going to pay $68./1000 for wads you might as well buy the factory ammo. That makes 1 1/8 reloads north of $6/box!
    "Masculine republics give way to feminine democracies, and feminine democracies give way to tyrannies.” Aristotle

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy AllanD's Avatar
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    Yes, claybusters does offer a clone:

    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/73...-oz-bag-of-500

    I have 40Gallons opf gold medal hulls and though I no longer shoot Trap, this wad seems perfect for the Lyman Sabot Slug.

    I have the mold and My MEC is on my inside reloading bench and as soon as I put the new liner in my 20# lee pot I'll be casting as many As I can sit still for.

    Then to load them up and I have two 4# kegs of Unique on my Bench.


    I have no idea what I'll do with a thousand or so slug loads, but I'll certainly have enough practice ammo to run through my Hastings barrel on my Rem870
    and enough that I can finally give the rifled barrel on my Mossberg 500 (That I've had for 25years and NEVER fired) a workout
    Last edited by AllanD; 01-06-2018 at 06:27 PM.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    The Claybuster substitute is not identical to the OEM 12S3 due to internal ribs in the shotcup that preclude its use with Lee one ounce slugs.

    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/73...-oz-bag-of-500

    Correction: The illustration on the Midway site shows internal ribs. That is not correct for the Claybuster clone.
    Last edited by RMc; 01-12-2018 at 05:14 PM.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Those Claybusters might not work well for slugs, but give them a try. I actually like them better than the 12S3. They fit tighter in the hull, and the material is more elastic. I do love the 12S4. I hope those aren't discontinued as well, there is no replacement for those.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Then maybe look at these , which are in the chart I posted the link to in post #7

    DRF3, DR HF3, MEC118T8

    Maybe they would be what you are looking for, since your OP never mentioned having to fit a LEE 1oz slug.
    2nd Amend./U.S. Const. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    ~~ WWG1WGA ~~

    Restore the Republic!!!

    For the Fudds > "Those who appease a tiger, do so in the hope that the tiger will eat them last." -Winston Churchill.

    President Reagan tells it like it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6MwPgPK7WQ

    Phil Robertson explains the Wall: https://youtu.be/f9d1Wof7S4o

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check