Need 12ga reloading advice

[rbstern]

I picked up a used Pacific 12ga single stage press to try loading shotshells. I've looked at the load data and I am confused about what wads to use. I realize that the application and load data dictate some of the choice, but are there incompatabilities I need to worry about? I have once fired 2 3/4 inch Remington Target/Sport and Heavy Dove hulls. Do I need to choose Remington wads? If I want to turn these into turkey, duck or buckshot rounds, is it ok as long as I stay within the shot weight requirements for a particular load?

Some basic guidance needed, from those of you who have been down this road.

Thanks!

[wills]

There is a lot of stuff available online
Shotshell reloading data

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/shotshel/index.php
http://www.expertreloader.com/reloading_resources.html
http://www.alliantpowder.com/
http://claybuster100.tripod.com/
http://www.fortliberty.org/military-library/reloading-data.shtml
http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_shell_reloading_target.htm
http://www.imrpowder.com/data/index.php

[Bad Flynch]

If you will use listed combinations, the incompatibilities are normally already worked out. Follow the load recipes exactly, as substitutions are not normally allowed.

Listed load recipes are normally independent of shot size within the middle of the shot size range. However, when using shot sizes at the extremes of the size range, use loads listed for those sizes of shot. There can be a small variation in thrown shot weights, with very small sizes loading more densely, and very large sizes simply not fitting enough shot to meet load expectations. Most of the time, careful loaders weigh shot charge examples to make certain that they are withing tolerance (e.g., with #9 shot). Some loades intended with, say, 000 Buck will specify the number of balls to use.

I use an adjustable charge bar and weigh charges of shot until I get the right weight thrown. I do not simply load by volume. Hope that helps.

[pdgraham]

You should be good to go with the Remington Target/Sport hulls.... But I'm not familiar with the Remington "Heavy Dove hulls" ..??.. are those black? If so they should work too..

Pay attention to how deep you seat the wad.

I suggest you start at the 3 Dram Equiv. loads with 1 1/8 oz of shot.. as per what the powder Mfg. suggests on their website.

Currently I'm loading about 150 rounds of 12ga per week on a Mec Grabber for Skeet.

The current 12ga wads I'm using for 1 1/8 oz shot are "Claybuster WAA12 Replacement Wads" because they are cheap.

http://www.claybusterwads.com/

Just look at what the powder mfg suggests in their load data and get the claybuster equ... makes it easy..

I'm loading them in Remington Gun Club Hulls and Reminston STS hulls.

Eventually you are going to want to reduce both the powder and the shot charges because you can miss just as good with 7/8 oz or 1 oz as you can with 1 1/8 oz... but for a beginner I suggest sticking with1 1/8 oz, 3 Dram Equiv. loads.

[DLCTEX]

I would recomend Lyman's Shotshell Handbook as there are articles explaining reloading procedures for shot loads, buckshot, and slugs, plus load data for a wide variety of hulls and components.

[rbstern]

OK, thanks for the info. Follow up question:

The press I acquired is an old Pacific DL-110. After clean-up, it works very smoothly. It came equipped with bushings marked 1 1/8 oz shot, and 23 grain Red Dot. Looking at the product manual on Hornady's site, this was a standard combination for a 12ga load:

http://www.hornady.com/media/pacific_dl_110_shotshell_reloader.pdf

But, when I go to Alliant's site, the amount of Red Dot shown for 1 1/8 shot is typically about 17 to 19 grains.

Any ideas on the difference?

[rbstern]

Partly answered my own question: The "23 Red Dot" bushing consistently drops 20 grains of the (relatively new) Red Dot I have. That's a lot closer to current, published load data.

[floodgate]

rbstern

It sticks in my mind that 23 grs. of Red Dot was the standard load back in the days of paper cases and cardboard and felt wads with no plastic sleeves - this was back when I loaded for shoots-bird gun (a l - o - n - g time back!). When the Alcan PGS (plastic gas seal) wads came out, they told us to cut back the powder charge becouse of tighter sealing, and this certainly would apply to current plastic cases and wads. It'd be pure luck if the 20 grains of modern RD your measure throws turned out to be a safe load - check it out THOROUGHLY before using it.

floodgate

[rbstern]

Floodgate, that makes perfect sense. Thanks for the wisdom, and I will be cautious. Looks like I can get other (smaller) bushings if needed.

[Dale53]

Allowable shotgun pressures are quite low. It is really easy to get into serious trouble with high pressures in shotshells by merely using a different wad or shell. It is IMPERATIVE to follow the recipes precisely - that means changing NOTHING in the recipe.

Use NEW data - the above example of 23.0 grs of Red Dot is a perfect example - it WAS for paper shells and paper wads. I was next to a fellow that ruined one of the strongest shotguns around by ignoring advice such as this. It was a fine Model 12 Winchester Pigeon Grade. The sides of the action spread apart just like an upside down broken "taco".

Be safe - it is easy to be safe. Just read and FOLLOW (exactly) the directions.

Dale53

[Calamity Jake]

I agree with Dale, follow load recipes to the letter, with the execption of the Claybuster wad and only if Claybuster says it is a replacment wad.
That old Pacific DL-110 may be set up for paper hulls, if so then the precrimp and crimp dies are wrong for plastic hulls of any make.
My father-in-law has one for 20ga paper only, I tried to find dies so he could load plastic and didn't have any luck.

[Newtire]

That's exactly right floodgate. 23 gr. RedDot using today's components is an overload I think. That was it though before plastic cup sealing wads. Then came the 10% reduction required with the new Alcan Plastic gas seal. Along came the power piston & there went the neighborhood. I use 18 gr. RedDot with 1-1-1/8 oz. and whatever wad I can get that makes the column come out right. "Back in the day" we used various combinations of "Feltan Bluestreak" to get the right combination.