What brand is your favorite 12ga slug mould and why

[GreenRiverBoy]

Starting to do a little research on 12ga slug casting and wondering what you guys/gals are using and what you like or dislike about your specific moulds.
thanks for any input/advice.

[SuperBlazingSabots]

If you really want the answer Lee 7/8 oz Drive Key slug in wad that use to be $19 at Mid South shooters. Very accurate to 50 to 60 yards.
My favorite is Lyman 525 slug in wad but sadly its way over priced for $100 with handle.
Very accurate to 75 yards and not bad even at 100 yards as some of us can get 4 to 5 inch 2 to 3 shot groups.
Get the Mihec double cavity brass mold by contacting JMort and ask for additional base cavity pins to vary the slug wt. A Group buy !
https://i.imgur.com/Xe5oie3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CtlOdHK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FtE2e0x.jpg


Safety first, here are some high pressure signs avoid it:
https://i.imgur.com/hxkVS2R.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/M559kBH.jpg

Having this hull powder gauge surely help, the " O " ring set from a $1
https://i.imgur.com/xvf8KPn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/l6JRnKc.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8rfw5i6.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/Dantebeowulf/Handloading%20Shotgun%20Slugs/1copy.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/Dantebeowulf/media/Handloading%20Shotgun%20Slugs/1copy.jpg.html)
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/Dantebeowulf/Handloading%20Shotgun%20Slugs/2.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/Dantebeowulf/media/Handloading%20Shotgun%20Slugs/2.jpg.html)


Please read my post 780 and 783 here: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?150140-VdoMemorie-Blazing-Sabot!/page40
I'll be back and will help you more.
Don't forget the fact most deer are harvested within 15 to 30 yards and 40 to 50 yard being a long shot ! !

Best regards.
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

[SuperBlazingSabots]

Continued from the previous post
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/Dantebeowulf/Handloading%20Shotgun%20Slugs/3copy.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/Dantebeowulf/media/Handloading%20Shotgun%20Slugs/3copy.jpg.html)
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/Dantebeowulf/Handloading%20Shotgun%20Slugs/4copy.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/Dantebeowulf/media/Handloading%20Shotgun%20Slugs/4copy.jpg.html)

Best regards.
Ajay K. Madan
Super Blazing Sabots

[W.R.Buchanan]

Smoothbore: Lee 7/8 and 1 oz. Drive Key Slugs, and Lyman 525 from the Mihec Mould. And don't forget Round Balls the original smoothbore round. In fact the term "Round" , came from Round Balls..

Rifled Barrel: STI Hammerhead, or some of the Russian Full Bore Slugs.

Randy

[GreenRiverBoy]

Guys, much thanks for the wealth of info. I failed to mention in the thread that I had purchased a used lyman 525gr w/ handles for a very fair $40 in excellent condition some time back so I have that to start with. I will check on the others mentioned as well. Again, thanks you for your time!

[6pt-sika]

I’m partial to the Lyman 525 sabot style . And have that style for the 10 , 12 , 16 , 20 and 28 . My 12 is a 4 cavity NOE , my 20 is a single cavity Lyman and the 10 16 an 28 are all single cavity Russian made molds . I use these in smoothbores I might add .

[Hogtamer]

The lyman 525 is a dead-on killer for me out of rifled 870, 3" groups at 100 yds. 12 or so hogs and 2 deer. the last 2 yrs.

[pashiner]

Round balls will probably give you the least trouble finding an acceptably accurate load, especially if you're going to use 1 load for a few different guns. With just a little more work, the lee and lyman wad slugs can be made to shoot well out to at least 50 yds. They tend to be a bit more picky about which barrels they do and don't like. I haven't tried the Russian slugs, but they are showing promise for others.

[EMC45]

Lee Key drive 1oz mold because its all I got.:)

[megasupermagnum]

A .735" ball mold form JT molds has become my gold standard. For comparison, my other molds include Accurate molds 73-943CN wiith hollow base, Accurate molds 73-770S, Lee 7/8 oz slug, Dixie molds .715" ball, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a couple.

The Accurate 73-770S is a contender in a rifled barrel, although not very fun to cast. The 73-943CN is a dud, an idea I had that didn't pan out. The Lee 7/8 oz casts too large. It can shoot acceptably, but nothing spectacular. I haven't tried the .715" ball much, it would need a patch of some kind to shoot well. I've also tried a Lyman sabot slug, although I don't own the mold, and that slug has a lot of potential.

The .735" ball casts like a dream. All round balls do, you can't go wrong. Typical accuracy is around 4" for a smooth barrel, and just over 2" for a rifled barrel at 50 yards. I've even got one load that was shooting 4" at 100 yards in my rifled ultra slug hunter.

Federal gold medal 2 3/4"
Federal 209A
18 gr Unique powder
X12X gas seal + (2?) 1/8" nitro cards
2.8 cc scoop PSB buffer
.735" ball lubed with Lee alox
1/8" cork wad over ball
fold crimp

1000 fps
likely low pressure but works fine in the cold

It could have been 3 nitro cards, just adjust to fit. This is a low recoil load, sighted 3" high at 50 yards hits about 4" low at 100. I originally intended this load for a 5.25 pound TrackerII that kicks like a mule, but it turned out to shoot very well.