Shotgun cartridge reloading

Jsmith2211 · Jan 7, 2024

Not quite sure where to put this so move it if it’s in the wrong place…

I do a reasonable amount of shooting, clays and pigeons/crows (unfortunately not pheasants as nobody has invited me on a shoot and I’m far too cheap to pay). For a little while now I’ve been trying to save the spent casings as I’d like to reload them, if nothing else it’s a bit of fun extra to just blasting away and missing. Ought to be slightly cheaper as well but I’m not too fussed if it doesn’t save a massive amount over buying a slab. My question is where can I buy the relevant kit for doing it, would a normal gun shop stock the powder, shot etc? Does anybody out there reload 12b already and fancy giving any tips?

smcapstick · Jan 7, 2024

Jsmith2211 said:
Not quite sure where to put this so move it if it’s in the wrong place…

I do a reasonable amount of shooting, clays and pigeons/crows (unfortunately not pheasants as nobody has invited me on a shoot and I’m far too cheap to pay). For a little while now I’ve been trying to save the spent casings as I’d like to reload them, if nothing else it’s a bit of fun extra to just blasting away and missing. Ought to be slightly cheaper as well but I’m not too fussed if it doesn’t save a massive amount over buying a slab. My question is where can I buy the relevant kit for doing it, would a normal gun shop stock the powder, shot etc? Does anybody out there reload 12b already and fancy giving any tips?

I used to reload my more ‘interesting’ loads (3 1/2 inch super mag ba-boom cartridges!). You can get powder, shot and primers from your local RFD. Wads, cards and crimpers are readily available online.

I never used a press, but if you’re doing volume I’d go for a good multi case job. I just used cards and a roller crimper for the drill to seal cases up. It takes ages but it’s well worth it for meaty loads. Not worth it at all for clay loads, mind!

Hesstondriver · Jan 8, 2024

If anyone asks to have a go with some of your roll your own cartridge’s

make sure you give them a couple of tracer cartridges

Dry Rot · Jan 8, 2024

The OP will need a licence to buy powder these days, I'd imagine. We certainly did in the 1960s. But that was easily got around by dismantling fire works and saluting blanks which didn't needa licnce (probably do now). They've taken a lot of the fun out of life with all their rules and regulations! Thomas Blands of King Street, London, were suppliers of all things nefarious!

som farmer · Jan 8, 2024

used to have a black powder mussle loading gun.

had to apply for an 'explosion' licence to buy the powder.

made me smile, to be legally permitted to blow up buildings/tree trunks etc.

had a lot of fun with it, not sure how safe it was, and got rid of. Shot a rabbit, with solid shot, head, front legs, joined to the back legs, with a bit of skin, everything between was blasted out ! A .45 ball was very lethal !

years ago, pal found some ww2 shot gun cartridges, loaded with about 8 balls, joined together with wire, take a 4/5in branch right off a tree ! Probably cut a man in two, definitely suitable for home guard use !

killie_cowboy · Jan 8, 2024

A box of cartridges is like a tenner, why bother? Almost certainly not be worth the time effort and money as well as possibly safety aspect to reload.

MrNoo · Jan 8, 2024

Dry Rot said:
The OP will need a licence to buy powder these days, I'd imagine. We certainly did in the 1960s. But that was easily got around by dismantling fire works and saluting blanks which didn't needa licnce (probably do now). They've taken a lot of the fun out of life with all their rules and regulations! Thomas Blands of King Street, London, were suppliers of all things nefarious!

No, when reloading rifle bullets, you only show your license when buying the primers, cases, powder and bullet heads, no need. Although a while since I bought some as only need 12gn of powder per round so tends to last a fair while!!!

Kiwi Pete · Jan 8, 2024

Jsmith2211 said:
Not quite sure where to put this so move it if it’s in the wrong place…

I do a reasonable amount of shooting, clays and pigeons/crows (unfortunately not pheasants as nobody has invited me on a shoot and I’m far too cheap to pay). For a little while now I’ve been trying to save the spent casings as I’d like to reload them, if nothing else it’s a bit of fun extra to just blasting away and missing. Ought to be slightly cheaper as well but I’m not too fussed if it doesn’t save a massive amount over buying a slab. My question is where can I buy the relevant kit for doing it, would a normal gun shop stock the powder, shot etc? Does anybody out there reload 12b already and fancy giving any tips?

Only tip I can give is to use field cases for reloading, those with a longer brass as they handle more work. Warm them up with a heatlamp or similar so the plastic's softer.

I use a MEC sizemaster which resizes the cup as it goes, and oversize primers as they seat up nice and tight, standard can fall out of shells that have been reloaded.

Winchester AA hulls are by far the best as the base wads and longer cups just seem to produce cleaner-burning rounds with the type of loads I use, I wouldn't bother for ounce loads as they're cheap to buy, but for field you can work up great shooting loads that don't smack you around but kill well.

Not all shops sell reloading components but a phone sorts that out before going in, used to get Vectan powder but now can only get Winchester ball powder which isn't quite as hot, went up a size in powder bushing.

Main tip is to repeat every step as consistently as possible, work with no distractions and stamp them out!

Dry Rot · Jan 8, 2024

MrNoo said:
No, when reloading rifle bullets, you only show your license when buying the primers, cases, powder and bullet heads, no need. Although a while since I bought some as only need 12gn of powder per round so tends to last a fair while!!!

Maybe it's just black powder then?

Pieces_of_Eight · Jan 8, 2024

Jsmith2211 said:
My question is where can I buy the relevant kit for doing it, would a normal gun shop stock the powder, shot etc?

Have a look here, I think they sell everything except the powder.

Reloading Products

Shop online from the official BushWear store. Swarovski Optics & Binoculars, Hunting & Stalking Clothing and Accessories.

www.bushwear.co.uk

I know a couple of people who home-load. I think I'd enjoy the technical faff of it, but I just don't have any spare time for any more hobbies.

Re-loading would always be helpful in an apocalypse/Mad-Max scenario.

jellybean · Jan 8, 2024

Back in the days when you had to have a license for an "explosives store" if you were reloading rifle cartridges I had a visit from the police wanting to inspect my explosives store. After a cup of coffee and a few biscuits he came to the conclusion that the now empty biscuit tin stored in the cupboard under the stairs would happily pass as an explosives store. Everybody happy! Do you remember the days when police were allowed to use common sense?

MrNoo · Jan 8, 2024

Pieces_of_Eight said:
Have a look here, I think they sell everything except the powder.

Reloading Products

Shop online from the official BushWear store. Swarovski Optics & Binoculars, Hunting & Stalking Clothing and Accessories.

www.bushwear.co.uk

I know a couple of people who home-load. I think I'd enjoy the technical faff of it, but I just don't have any spare time for any more hobbies.

Re-loading would always be helpful in an apocalypse/Mad-Max scenario.

I love it, very therapeutic and rewarding, added bonus makes it a lot cheaper (certainly with my 0.17 Hornet @ £28/25) and you can tailor your loads for different situations. A winters evening and you'd soon have a load knocked out.

Fendt516profi · Jan 8, 2024

Be better moved to cropping you get more arable input

Ramrod · Jan 8, 2024

Friend was a reloader, gave me a few to try, pulled trigger ‘phut’ pellets rolled out of barrel. That was the end of that

Kingcj · Jan 8, 2024

Like others have said not really worth it financially for normal 12 bore loads but is quite enjoyable. Reloading more obscure loads like buckshot or slugs is worth it financially as is .410 (altho trickier). I reload 12,20,.410 shotgun and .223 and 308 rifle. Enjoyable hobby in its own right.

davidroberts30 · Jan 8, 2024

Ramrod said:
Friend was a reloader, gave me a few to try, pulled trigger ‘phut’ pellets rolled out of barrel. That was the end of that

normally there 3 or 4 foot of flames and a shoulder either dislocation or severe bruising

farmer cen · Jan 8, 2024

Have one of you shot a blunderbus ?

Jsmith2211 · Jan 8, 2024

farmer cen said:
Have one of you shot a blunderbus ?

If I knew where I could get my hands on one i'd buy one just for the fun of it... so long as it wasnt expensive

tw15 · Jan 8, 2024

Sportsman gun centre do loading stuff only use home loads for heavy loads and 10 bore carts normal stuff still cheaper to buy .

som farmer · Jan 8, 2024

farmer cen said:
Have one of you shot a blunderbus ?

not a blunderbus, but my old black powder gun, used to seriously hurt you, if you accidently put a bit to much powder in.
had a mark on the ramrod, if that didn't equal the end of the barrel, one had to decide, did l put to much wadding in, bog roll, or to much powder.

if you decided to much powder, and you are only talking of small amounts, had a suitable apple tree, you could 'tie' the gun to, and a bit of string to pull the trigger !! And yes, it hurt that much. It was a .45 barrel, and used to cast balls to fit, it was a pretty evil thing, those balls would go about 2ins into a good gate post, at 100 yds.

been clay pigeon shooting with it, 7 out of 10, was my 'best', the biggest drawback with it, couldn't see if hit, or miss, till the smoke cleared !

had a lot of fun with it, in some ways, wished l still had it.

there is quite a difference between b/powder and normal propellant, not sure, but the proofing is different. B/powder gives you a mighty push backwards, normal, f-all. Won some cash at an event, chap was there with brown bess muskets, as used by the army years ago, the challenge, to stay upright, everybody was pushed over backwards, except me

but l wouldn't have liked to fire it all day !

Shotgun cartridge reloading

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