Self Made Shotgun Cartridges

[Ashley Cawley]

Just watched this video on reloading your own shotgun cartridges and found it interesting. Seeing as I like self-sufficiency/DIY I might look into it a little further...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH9uRB42lys

Just to give my research a head-start though:

1. Are there any of you out there that make your own?
2. Are they any cheaper than shop-bought?

I like the recycling aspect of the cartridge.

[happybonzo]

About the only people who would find reloading shotgun cartridges worth while would be Clay shooters. The cost of shells is stinking cheap really and the cost of scales, crimping, resizing equipment etc probably doesn't make it worth doing
Rifle cartridges are a different matter

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/info/shooting/Shotgun_Cartridges

[schooner]

About 20 years ago a mate bought a cheap Lee loader and we'd spend a few hours loading shells before a trip away. The savings were pretty good at the time, especially on a young bloke's wages. Another bonus is you can make up a variety of cartridges, a good one for wild pigs (I'm an Aussie) was no' 4 shot with melted wax poured into it. Sounds weird I know, but it was a real one-shot killer.

[KarlUpNorth]

Funnily, I am just reading "Valdez Is Coming", and I just passed a part where, he loads shotgun shells with pellets and tallow, presumably it would act the same as wax, and hold all the shot together to act like a solid shot?

[happybonzo]

About 20 years ago a mate bought a cheap Lee loader and we'd spend a few hours loading shells before a trip away. The savings were pretty good at the time, especially on a young bloke's wages. Another bonus is you can make up a variety of cartridges, a good one for wild pigs (I'm an Aussie) was no' 4 shot with melted wax poured into it. Sounds weird I know, but it was a real one-shot killer.

I posted this elsewhere - have fun :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3M46XVfVOU

[schooner]

Funnily, I am just reading "Valdez Is Coming", and I just passed a part where, he loads shotgun shells with pellets and tallow, presumably it would act the same as wax, and hold all the shot together to act like a solid shot?

Not sure of the exact physics behind it, but I'm guessing a big hit followed by fragmentation and subsequent tissue damage. Sort of the best of both worlds.

[schooner]

I posted this elsewhere - have fun :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3M46XVfVOU

The bloke who thought that up is to be admired for his resourcefulness.

[bigstan]

Back in the 80s i used to reload my own shotgun and 44/45 pistol ammo. It worked out much cheaper than buying the ammo and gave me the option of custom loads. I even made a jig for making my own shot, i had access to a tool room in those days, the distance from the die to the bucket of constantly cooled water was critical to create perfectly round shot. I have also used the melted wax in the top of a 12 bore cartridge to kill dear. It was purely for pest control over crops, where a centre fire weapon would have been too dangerous.

[Iamnoone]

It's not really worth loading 12g clay or birdshot loads unless you like doing it. They're already cheap to buy preloaded because they're so common. Where handloading really makes savings is if you need lead free or unusual calibre's which are much more expensive preloaded.

[ratcatcher]

you would have to make many thousands in 12 gauge to see any difference money wise, however in something like 410, then well worth reloading, when you think a box of 12g carts can be as little as £4, yet a 410 load which is less powder and shot at £6 min per box

[Silverback]

is it because its close to Halloween that the dead threads are rising ?....Thread necromancy ;)

[ratcatcher]

is it because its close to Halloween that the dead threads are rising ?....Thread necromancy ;)

was only telling my wife about this type of thing on another forum today, and then I go a reply to one too :ashamed: