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Shotshell Reloading Equipment

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Shotgun Reloading:

The purpose of this guide is for all those who would like to start reloading for their shotguns either for economy or better selection of shot and wad, that don’t know where to start when buying reloading equipment. This guide will show you everything that you need to start reloading your own top quality shotshells.

The first press is one that I recommend to all that aren’t sure if they really want to reload their own shotshells, but it is one that will last a lifetime for the average shotshell reloader wanting to save money in both finished quality reloaded shotshells and equipment expenditures.

Lee Load-All Reloader
The Lee Load-All (pictured above) loads shotgun shells that look and shoot like new – without a big investment. You can load just as fast as other reloaders and still get all the velocity and uniform patterns. Twenty-four of Lee’s famously accurate, molded shot and powder bushings are included.

Features include: built-in spent primer catcher with easy-empty door; recesses at every station for speedy shell positioning; easy and economical gauge conversion; and receptacle for primer feed.

Available for: 12, 16 and 20 gauge.

Recommended add on – The Lee Primer Feed will provide faster, more convenient reloading. Transfers primers directly from box to feeder. The advantage of this add on is quite simple if you handle primers with your fingers it is possible to contaminate the primer with the oil from your skin causing your loaded shotshell to possible hang-fire or not fire at all. The above press and add-on cost less than $80.00.

The shotshell presses below are very good at loading shotshells in volume, and are excellent upgrades from a starter press.

The MEC 600 Jr. Mark 5 can load eight to ten boxes per hour, and can be upgraded at a later date with the 285 CA primer feed. The press is adjustable for 3″ shells, and is available in 10, 12 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore.
Die sets are available in all gauges.

Note: MEC’s best selling press.

The MEC 650N works on six shells at once. With every stroke, a reloaded shell is completed. The MEC 650N does not resize except as a separate operation. This is the ideal press for the person who wishes to resize and inspect their shells as a separate operation.

The MEC SuperSizer is recommended for your resizing needs. The Automatic Primer feed is standard. Available in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge, and .410 bore.

Die sets are not available.

MEC 9000GN High-speed, high-volume reloading plus automatic indexing and finished-shell ejection for quicker and easier reloading. The Auto-Dex™ automatically moves the shells through each reloading stage by simply returning the handle to the top of its stroke. Accurately resized shells are achieved with each stroke. Finished shells are automatically ejected from the shell carrier after final crimping. Finished shells with every stroke. Available in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore.
Die sets are not available.

MEC 9000E Combines speedy 9000GN with innovative Auto-Mate. With push-button simplicity, shells are produced with unmatched consistency. New MEC Progressive Primer Feed included. Finished shells are ejected and slide into your container where they can be boxed simply by pushing a button.
Available: 12 gauge.

Here are some other shotgun resources:

Steel VS Lead

How to Pattern a Shotgun

Choke Tube Selection

Shotgun Recoil Calculator

 

Shotgun Choke Tube Selection

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Shotgun Comeback
Shotguns

With all the variables in shotshells today choke tube selection has become almost as an important issue as shotgun fit which is quite critical when trying to hit something with your shotgun. Having the right choke tube for the right situation is a critical part to shotgun shooting.

Whether you are hunting waterfowl with steel shot or turkeys with lead shot, choke tube selection is very critical.

When you look at all the different materials that shot is made from it only stands to reason or common sense says that not all shot is going to react to the same choke tube the exact same way. Angle of choke is somewhat different and the lead or parallel section of the choke tube may need to be longer or shorter to accomplish a good pattern for the shotshell and shot material you’re shooting.

For the average person who has purchased a new shotgun realizes that his or her new shotgun came with several choke tubes and they will work for almost all shotshell and shot combinations to a certain degree and they are happy with their purchase, however to someone who shoots their new shotgun a lot or starts to pattern test it, soon realizes that better performance from the choke tubes would be advantageous for their shooting skill.

Current Choke Tube Choices, Constrictions:

.000″ Constriction = Cylinder Bore.
.005″ Constriction = Skeet Choke.
.010″ Constriction = Improved Cylinder Choke.
.015″ Constriction = Light Modified Choke.
.020″ Constriction = Modified Choke.
.025″ Constriction = Improved Modified Choke.
.030″ Constriction = Light Full Choke.
.035″ Constriction = Full Choke.
.040″ Constriction = Extra Full Choke.

Current Choke Tube Choices, Various Performance:

1. Standard Performance.
2. Improved Performance.
3. Special Purpose.

Now lets look at the line up of choke tubes from one of the best known choke tube manufacturers here in the U.S.A.

1. Standard Performance: Carlsons Factory-Style choke tubes; These factory-style flush mount replacement choke tubes feature corrosion-resistant, 17-4 hardened stainless steel.

Lead shot, Steel Shot, Copperplated Shot, Nickel Shot, Hevi-Shotshells™, and Buck Shot can be used in these shotgun Choke Tubes.
For use with lead shot in all constrictions.

Warning – Steel shot larger than #BB should not be used in any choke tighter than modified, BB and smaller size steel shot may be used through full choke constriction.

2. Improved Performance: Carlsons Extended sporting clays choke tubes; These Sporting Clays Choke Tubes are made from 17-4 hardened stainless steel and precision machined to produce a choke tube that patterns better than standard choke tubes.

These choke tubes feature a 25% larger parallel section in the choke thus throwing more consistent patterns than conventional choke tubes.

Each choke tube is knurled on the end to allow for quick and easy removal. Each choke tube has the constriction laser marked on the end for easy reference.

Lead shot, Steel Shot, Copperplated Shot, Nickel Shot, Hevi-Shotshells™, and Buck Shot can be used in these Sporting Clay Choke Tubes.
Actual Performance Improvement: These Sporting Clays Choke Tubes will throw tighter/denser patterns than Flush Mount Choke Tubes due to a longer parallel section in the choke tube.

Warning – Steel shot larger than BB should not be used in any Sporting Clays Choke Tube tighter than Full Constriction.

3. Special Purpose; Steel Shot: Carlson’s Extended steel shot choke tubes; These choke tubes feature a longer parallel section allowing for less flyers, denser patterns and extend 3/4 ” outside the shotgun barrel eliminating damage to your barrel caused by prolonged steel shot use. The longer parallel section allows for use of larger steel shot in tighter choke constrictions. They are made of 17-4 stainless with a knurled extension and a blue finish.

All steel shot sizes may be used in the close and mid-range shotgun choke tube.

Close Range Extended Steel Shot Choke Tubes – for hunting over decoys, throws tightest pattern up to 35 yards.
Mid Range Extended Steel Shot Choke Tubes – for those situations where you are shooting 25 to 40 yards.
Extended Range Steel Shot Choke Tubes – for taking shots 40 yards and up.
Warning – Do not use steel faster than 1550 FPS or steel shot sizes larger than BBB through the Long Range choke tube.

3. Special Purpose; Lead Shot: Carlsons Ported turkey choke tubes; These super-full choke tubes have been specifically bored to deliver dense, full patterns at both short and long ranges.

Knurled for easy installation and removal.

These Extended Turkey Choke Tubes feature a long 1.050″ parallel section to produce the optimum pattern with your shotgun.
These choke tubes are ported to let gases vent quickly, greatly reducing recoil and muzzle jump. Crafted of blued aircraft stainless steel.

3. Special Purpose; Hevi-Shot: Carlsons Hevi-Shot dead coyote choke tubes; For use with Hevi-Shot, Bismuth or lead, this high performance choke tube has been specifically designed for the coyote hunter to deliver devastating downrange patterns upwards of 70 yards when shooting larger shot sizes.

Produces very dense patterns when ultilizing T and Buckshot loads.
Great for waterfowl and predator hunting.
Warning – Not for use with steel shot!

3. Special Purpose; Flite Control Wad: Carlsons Black Cloud shotgun choke tube; This Extended choke tube is constructed of a Titanium-coated steel, the titanium coating helps the uniquely designed FliteControl Wad in the Black CloudT ammunition perform downrange with less build-up in the choke and allows the Flitestopper shot to do its job.

While these choke tubes are specifically designed to get the most performance from Federal’s new Black CloudT ammunition, they perform extremely well with other steel shotshells.

The Mid Range model can be used with all steel shot sizes, and with ammunition that exceeds 1500 fps.
Note: Black CloudT ammunition has been designed to be used with choke tubes that do not use porting or wad stopping devices.

Warning – The Long Range model can be used with all steel shot sizes, except T & F, and with ammunition performing at velocities below 1550 fps.

Which shotgun choke tube is your go to, and for what purpose? Let us know in the comments below.

Steel Shot VS Lead Shot for Shotguns

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12 gauge shot shells
These are two lead shot shells.

There are two very important factors that you have to understand and consider when properly switching from lead shot to steel shot.

(1) Steel shot is harder than lead shot; (Advantage).

(2) Steel shot is lighter than lead shot; (Disadvantage).

(1) Steel shot is 3 times harder than lead shot:

Let’s first examine the steel shot advantage by firing a shell and observe all that takes place within the barrel of a shotgun. Upon ignition the shot pellets are compressed against each other deforming some lead pellets this does not happen with steel shot. Next, the shot enters the forcing cone, compression takes place, further deforming more lead pellets, again this does not happen with hard steel shot pellets. The next compression takes place in the choke or choke tube further deforming more lead pellets, again this does not happen with hard steel shot pellets.

Steel shot is very hard so it stays round and flies truer to the target. At 40 yards, a much higher percentage of steel pellets will be on target than lead shot loads. At 60 yards, steel shot will yield an even higher pattern percentage as well.

Lead shot, which is easily deformed upon firing, develops a relatively long, large-diameter shot string. Steel shot however because it is three times harder than lead, stays round, and develops a shot string that is 50-60% shorter and 60-70% narrower than lead.

The reason that most lead shot hunting game loads average around 1,350 feet per second on the high velocity side down to 1,150 feet per second on the low velocity side is the fact that lead shot will deform easily and blow patterns.

Steel shot has a very distinct advantage here, it is very hard and the pellets or shot will not deform at all, so the velocity can increase without shot deformation and blowing patterns. Steel shot hunting loads average 1,500 feet per second on the high velocity side and down to 1,265 feet per second on the low velocity side.

Overview:

Steel shot does not deform from the time ignition starts in a shotshell until all the shot has come to rest in a piece of game, therefore steel shot (as a whole in percentage) penetrates deeper than lead shot. Penetration factor is based on the remaining round pellets that are left which will penetrate deeper than dented or deformed lead pellets.

(2) Steel shot is lighter than lead shot:

Because all shot sizes are determined by the pellet diameter and not by weight, steel shot is disadvantaged in down range performance when compared to lead shot of the same size designation and diameter.

To convert to steel shot you must make the conversion in pellet weight and not in size. If you take two pellets of the same weight and fire them downrange there is no difference in their energy levels until they reach 60 – 75 yards, then the larger diameter will start to give way to its smaller diameter counterpart and this is clearly maximum effective hunting distance.

Shot size in diameter measure in steel and lead are the same and steel weighs less than lead, so, it takes more steel pellets to make up a charge weight equal to lead pellets of the same shot size.

Relevant Lead Shot to Steel Shot Shotgun Ammunition Ballistic Equivalency Conversion Chart For Small Game Hunting Applications:
Steel
Size
# 6
# 4
# 3
# 2		 Shot Count
1 1/8 oz.
335
212
175
141		 Energy 40 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
1.3 ft.lbs.
2.4 ft.lbs.
3.4 ft.lbs.
4.0 ft.lbs.		 Lead
Size
# 7 1/2
# 6
# 5
# 4		 Shot Count
1 oz.
350
225
170
135		 Energy 40 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
1.3 ft.lbs.
2.3 ft.lbs.
3.5 ft.lbs.
4.0 ft.lbs.
Steel
Size
BB		 Shot Count
1 1/8 oz.
80		 Energy 60 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
5.6 ft.lbs.		 Lead
Size
# 2		 Shot Count
1 oz.
87		 Energy 60 yds.
1350 f.p.s.
4.9 ft.lbs.
#4 Steel Shot, Pellet Weight 2.278 Grains, Velocity 1,375 FPS.
Pellet Down Range
20 yds.
30 yds.
40 yds.
50 yds.
60 yds.
Velocity / FPS.:
935
785
675
590
515
Energy / FT. LBS.:
4.71
3.32
2.46
1.88
1.43
Time Of Flight / SEC.:
.0517
.0869
.1283
.1761
.2307
#6 Lead Shot, Pellet Weight 1.947 Grains, Velocity 1,330 FPS.
Pellet Down Range
20 yds.
30 yds.
40 yds.
50 yds.
60 yds.
Velocity / FPS.:
940
800
700
620
550
Energy / FT. LBS.:
3.81
2.76
2.11
1.66
1.30
Time Of Flight / SEC.:
.0529
.0876
.1278
.1736
.2252
#2 Steel Shot, Pellet Weight 3.509 Grains, Velocity 1,375 FPS.
Pellet Down Range
20 yds.
30 yds.
40 yds.
50 yds.
60 yds.
Velocity / FPS.:
965
815
710
625
555
Energy / FT. LBS.:
7.64
5.45
4.14
3.21
2.53
Time Of Flight / SEC.:
.0510
.0849
.1244
.1695
.2205
#4 Lead Shot, Pellet Weight 3.248 Grains, Velocity 1,330 FPS.
Pellet Down Range
20 yds.
30 yds.
40 yds.
50 yds.
60 yds.
Velocity / FPS.:
970
840
740
660
590
Energy / FT. LBS.:
6.72
5.04
3.91
3.11
2.49
Time Of Flight / SEC.:
.0519
.0852
.1235
.1666
.2147

Choke tubes and ounces of shot have to be adjusted as well, if a steel shot pattern is 60% to 70% narrower, then this automatically tells you the pattern is too tight so the logical choice is lower ounces of shot and a more open choke are needed. The most effective combinations of choke and ounces of shot in all our tests revealed that 1 and 1/8 ounces of smaller shot (BB and down) fired at 1,350 feet per second velocity through a stainless steel improved cylinder choke gave well above standard hunting pattern percentages.

Overview:

Steel shot has proven to us that when the conversion is made right, that it is more than acceptable for field hunting use out to and beyond 40 yards. Tom Roster, working in conjunction with the Cooperative Nontoxic Shot Education Program (CONSEP) has put together a database on the performance of lead shot vs. steel shot. In this study is an X-ray analysis of over 16,000 ducks and geese.

A fact revealed by this study was that a steel pellet with an energy level equivalent to that of a lead pellet, provides 5% to 10% deeper penetration, thus increasing shotshell lethality on wild game.

Both steel and lead shot shells can be found at these fine retailers: