I am not a "shotgunner" but I sure enjoy reading the posts on this forum. I own all for editions of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbooks but like most, while I use all four editions at times, my "favorite" is the 3rd edition.
I basically would like to have a good basic manual to read that will give a good "education" on the process of shotshell and slug reloading - sort of give a good idea of they various types and styles and their uses of different wads, shot cups, etc. I know there are 5 editions of "The Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manuals" - is the 5th edition the best as far as what is available for styles of wads, cups, etc. or is there a certain edition that is better than the others?
I have shot muzzleloading shotguns at times since I was a kid but I am getting more and more interested in finding a decent used single shot and playing with loading up BP shot shells - making the pieces I can for loading by hand, etc. Gauge will depend on what I come up with for a single barrel. While my thoughts were originally to use 1 X plastic hulls trimmed to length (I realize I wouldn't get repeated firings out of the hulls) - I would imagine I rule just jump into it and get brass hulls and the wads/cards to fit the hulls.
Are there any publications out there that deal with the history of reloading the brass hulls, hints and tricks to use and those sorts of things? With the use of shotgun in Cowboy Action Shooting, I didn't know if there were any publications that deal with just the use of the brass hulls, BP, loading tips, etc.
Thanks for any guidance for "good reading material" - greatly appreciated.