Reloading 20 gauge slugs
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| Finished goods |
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| Equipment, I used the pipe-wrench as my "hull vise" while spinning the roll crimps. Who said you would never use that Algebra book again? |
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| Selected data from Ballistic Products. |
Notes: Longshot powder and the DGS slugs do not compress. There is no need to smash them down with a press. Seat the DGS and then roll-crimp. The tool will stop when it encounters the slug. Let it run about one more second and then call it a wrap.
The powder measure was set to drop 23.5 grains of Longshot which BPI's Slug Loading and Field Applications handbook considers safe for DGS slugs in both Cheddite and Federal (paper base) hulls and a roll-crimp.
The extended variable cost for five rounds (which is the quantity that slugs are usually sold in) is about $4.75 (Fifty cents for the primers, $3.60 for the projectiles and sixty-seven cents for the powder. I assumed once-fired Federal hulls). The going freight, if you can find them, for Foster rifled slugs is between $8 and $10.
The biggest factor is "...if you can find them...". Availability for 20 gauge slugs has been spotty in Michigan the last few years.
Excellent light duty project choice!
ReplyDeleteEaton County now has an extended antlerless season until January 12, 2025. Having one of these in the chamber while hunting squirrels makes sense from the standpoint of being able to put some venison into the freezer if you jump a deer or if you are sitting beneath a tree waiting for the squirrels to start moving and a doe comes wandering through.
DeleteIt helps if your barrel has a cylinder choke and rifle sights.
Why are 28 ga slug loads almost non-existent?
ReplyDeleteI want to see a range report, Joe! 👍
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing is fascinating to me ERJ - I guess I never thought about reloading shotgun shells. Thanks, as always, for the education.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - I hope to get into reloading someday.
ReplyDeleteSome rounds are easier to reload than others.
DeleteA Lee Load-All 2 is the cat's meow for shotshells. Sadly, it is only available in 12, 16 and 20 gauge. If you keep your eyes open you can find them for half-price on the used market.
In general, pistol rounds are USUALLY fairly easy to reload. The exceptions are the very old cartridges like 38-40 which have tissue-thin brass which buckles and collapses if the stars don't align.
Rifle rounds can be a mixed bag. Most people will tell you that .223 Rem, .308 Win, .30-06 Springfield and 6.5 Creedmoor are "relatively" easy to reload.
Well done! And yes, they are scarce on the ground AND in stores...sigh
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to hunting deer with a shotgun, the people who know choose 20 gauge over 12 gauge. So good on ya.
ReplyDelete- lifelong deer hunter in Minnesota's shotgun zone.
I don’t load shotgun rounds but I have found Midway USA to be a great source for rifle and pistol components. 444 Marlin is probably the easiest of the rifle rounds I have loaded since it’s basically a lengthened 44 mag. Don’t sell the 44 mag in a carbine short. I once killed two caribou with one shot with thee 44 mag loaded with 265 gr Hornadys. Fortunately I had two tags!
ReplyDeleteHere in central VA we have a good selection of 20 Gauge slugs. Buck shot on the other hand is nonexistent or priced like it's gold plated.
ReplyDelete