Looking for help on reloading 1 3/4 shot shells.

[tayous1]

I have never reloaded for shotgun but with the prices of the 1 3/4 inch shells near a $1 per round and not being able to find any 4 shot or 00. I have been looking into reloading my own.

Yet I don't know where to start I know I want to do a roll crimp as told it's hard to get the star with the 1 3/4 also going to be doing slugs also since I'm going down the rabbit hole might as well cast for it also.

So looking for any advice on doing this thanks!

[toallmy]

I wish I could help you with load information , but it's not a lot of it out there for short shells . But roll crimping is a fun project in itself .

[William Yanda]

Check with Ballistic Products. Also, be aware that short shells are specifically warned against in some Winchester pump
shotguns.

[tayous1]

Check with Ballistic Products. Also, be aware that short shells are specifically warned against in some Winchester pump
shotguns.

That's why I buy Mossberg!��

Thanks for the info I did not know that some shotguns had warning about that. Makes you think why would one but not the others?

Edited: The Ballistic Products was the company I was told about and have looked at the only problem is the $220 press then another $45+ to get the small shells is a lot of money to start off.

[rancher1913]

starting cheep and reloading shot shells are not synonymous.

[longbow]

Yes, BPI has some short hull load data available. I don't recall if it is as short as 1 3/4" or not. 2" yes but not sure about shorter.

There are also threads on mini shells and reloading so that may yield some info if you search.

There's some info here too in a link:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?378113-Short-shell-load-data

And some more info here:

https://www.guns.com/news/review/how-to-handload-reduced-length-12-gauge-shotshells-and-why

and even more!

https://www.msgo.com/threads/short-mini-shotgun-shells-cooking-with-gas-now.81341/

I may try this myself now that I've looked it up.

Longbow

[tayous1]

starting cheep and reloading shot shells are not synonymous.

I know but $265 is a lot of money. You can get a Lee load all for $72 though reloading shotgun was much cheaper then brass?

I'm only looking for a single stage well really it seems I'm only looking for something that will do a roll crimp for 1 3/4 there tools on Amazon for under $40 that does the roll crimp bad part smallest it does is 2 inch.

[tayous1]

Yes, BPI has some short hull load data available. I don't recall if it is as short as 1 3/4" or not. 2" yes but not sure about shorter.

There are also threads on mini shells and reloading so that may yield some info if you search.

There's some info here too in a link:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?378113-Short-shell-load-data

And some more info here:

https://www.guns.com/news/review/how-to-handload-reduced-length-12-gauge-shotshells-and-why

and even more!

https://www.msgo.com/threads/short-mini-shotgun-shells-cooking-with-gas-now.81341/

I may try this myself now that I've looked it up.

Longbow

Thanks! A lot of good info wish the gun news guy would post where he found the crimp and the vice to hold the shell for the drill press.

[longbow]

BPI and likely Precision Reloading have have hull vises:

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/mobile/Hull-Vise-select-size-in-Options/productinfo/VISE/

or you can make a simple tong type squeeze vice out of plywood like this:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?394827-Hull-
vise/page2

Longbow

[toallmy]

Why do you want a press to roll crimp ? You can order primed hulls .

[tayous1]

Found that this can be done cheap! Gear and all less then $100!

[Hogtamer]

With little data and the pressure concerns I would think short shells is a poor starting place for the novice.

[dverna]

With little data and the pressure concerns I would think short shells is a poor starting place for the novice.

Wise words. I used to load over 20k hulls a year so not a novice at it. I looked at shorty shells a few years ago to increase round count for SHTF. Decided not to risk it. With my luck, I would gel a jam when things got “hot”. Not worth it. My main defensive shotgun has an 8 round magazine and a side saddle with six more rounds. That is a lot of fire power. Even my unmodified M500 has 5 in the Mag and 6 in the side saddle.

I have never had a FTF. There is a lot of reliable and safe data for 2 3/4 hulls....seems silly to get cute.

My advise if you go down that path is invest in the BPI data. They test their loads.

[tayous1]

With little data and the pressure concerns I would think short shells is a poor starting place for the novice.

Is it any harder then measuring the amount of powder that comes from a 2 3/4 round then using 1/4 of that as a starting load?

Yet I do hear you I have read that there is reloading data out there for these rounds.

[longbow]

A concern is that when loading short hulls there is a tendency to use load data for a wad with cushion leg but substitute a gas seal and card wad column to shorten everything up. I cannot prove it because I don't have pressure testing gear but when I compared BPI short hull data to full length hull data it seemed to me that same basic powder and payload ran at higher pressure in the shorter hull... or same pressure with less powder

I have also gotten sticky extraction after subbing a solid wad column for a recipe calling for cushion leg wad. That implies higher pressure. As the saying goes... "Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement!" I can speak to that!

My take on this is that if the cushion leg is spec'd but solid wad column used there is a pressure spike due to less volume at ignition with the solid wad column. A cushion leg compresses as pressure builds so larger volume initially.

I think the effect is greater with faster powders but again, that is speculation on my part. Just be careful! If you get sticky extraction you are well over standard pressure! Stop and don't shoot any more of those rounds.

And yes, there can be issues starting at 1/4 of the recommended powder charge. If there isn't enough pressure you will get poor burn and possibly bloopers. You could wind up with a slug stuck in the barrel so a problem if you run another round in the chamber then pull the trigger.

Better to use published and pressure tested recipes. 2nd best is to use a low pressure recipe of say 6000 or maybe 7000 PSI for full length hull. Then if there is a pressure increase due to shorter hull there is a healthy cushion of safety.

Longbow

[Outpost75]

I find it amusing that everyone pontificate advice but nowhere does the OP indicate what gauge shotshell he is loading for....

[longbow]

True enough!

He does mention 00 buckbthough so I have to think that implies 12 ga. or larger.

Also, I don't believe mini shells are offered in any gauge but 12 ga.

So... I assumed 12 ga. but you know what they say about assuming!

Longbow

[Polymath]

Disclaimer. I have not tried these!

LOAD OF THE WEEK

12ga Cheddite “Mini-Shells” 1-7/8”

These loads are some of the first handloads that were done with MEC’s new Mini-Shell Conversion Kit. Make sure that the crimp is good and tight. Use an OS12 if you have room.

Load#N10815
HULL: Cheddite Mini-Shell 12ga 1-7/8”
PRIMER: CH209
PROPELLANT: Hodgdon Titewad 14.0 Grains
WAD: FS12 + 18CW20
SHOT: 7/8 oz #8 NP lead
FOLD CRIMP: 6-point
Results: 7100 PSI 980 FPS

Load#N10816
HULL: Cheddite Mini-Shell 12ga 1-7/8”
PRIMER: CH209
PROPELLANT: Alliant Bullseye 14.0 Grains
WAD: FS12 + 18CW20
SHOT: 7/8 oz #8 NP lead
FOLD CRIMP: 6-point
Results: 5500 PSI 920 FPS

Tested loads
Federal once fired hull 1-3/4”
W209 primer
18 gr Green Dot
1 of ¼” felt wad over powder (dollar store chair bottom)
1 of 7/8 shot cup (cut off cushion, used the cup and petals of regular 7/8 oz wad)
1 of 20 ga nitro card in bottom of cup
5/8 oz of #5 bird shot
1 of clear over-card #OSC12
Roll crimp
Winchester pump 1200 with full choke 28” barrel
14 diameter patterns at 25 yards (repeatable)
Low recoil

At just 1 3/4 inches long, the 12-gauge shells offer similar patterns, energy and accuracy as full-size loads. The Shorty Shotshells come in 8 shot, 4 buck and rifled slugs.

I found the BPI "Roll Crimping Your Shotshells "data sheet.

Load #1
2" 12 gauge Fiocchi Hull
FIO616 primer
19gr Green Dot
X12X + 14CW(12GA)
7/8oz lead shot
COS12 overshot card
Roll Crimp
8800 psi, 1270fps

Load #2
2" 12 gauge Fiocchi Hull
FIO616 primer
21gr PB
X12X + 18FW(12GA)
1oz lead shot
COS12 overshot card
Roll Crimp
9500psi, 1275 fps


note: the X12X is an excellent overpowder gas seal sold by BPI
14CW is BPI's 12ga 1/4" cork wad
18FW is BPI's 12ga 1/8" felt wad

[Hogtamer]

Buckshot not mentioned and the space taken up by buckshot yields less weight.

[farmbif]

when I need info on anything shotshell I'm not sure of I get out email to the curmudgeon at ballistic products

[Jbiker]

just for the sake of information , I found a couple of partial bags of heavy shot last nite 1, 5pound un- opened bag of western #2 chilled, 1 opened bag of #2 guessing about 1 1/2 ponds left , and an open 25 pound bag of Remington #4 with 5 or 6 pounds of shot left. I also have 3 MEC single stage 1 - 12ga , 2- 20 ga and 1 lee single stage.
I was going to melt the shot down but am open to suggestions. I reload rifle and pistol , but not shotgun..don't think I'm going to start any time soon either lol.
will trade ,sell, or swap for projectiles or molds for the .44, 9mm, .224.

[Moonie]

The BPI buckshot manual has some 2" and 2 1/2" buckshot loads in it.