12 GA reloading

Agonnazar · 07-12-2015, 04:21 PM

Hi everybody! Long time no see. School seems to have taken over my life the last few months, but I have decided that not shooting clays and paper targets is damaging my calm. So, I'm making extra efforts to go shooting.

All that being said, I have a box full (close to 300)of old Federal plastic shells that my dad gave me. They are a dark red/maroon color and they say "3 1/4 - 1" Some of the shells have a number 8, some of the others have a number 6 also printed on the shell. Under the numbers "Game Load" in printed inside a square. I'm going to try and upload a picture or two, but maybe that's enough info to get someone to point me in the direction of what I can put in these shells.

Dennis H · 07-12-2015, 04:28 PM

They were originally loaded with 1oz of 6 and 8 shot. 3 1/4 is the dram equivalent powder. They're just empty shotgun shells, u should be able to load whatever you like provided it's loaded at a recommended level.

Agonnazar · 07-12-2015, 04:32 PM

Agonnazar · 07-12-2015, 04:34 PM

You, sir, are my personal hero. I like to keep things simple for right now. It's been 30+ years since I've reloaded.

tx gun runner · 07-12-2015, 04:34 PM

Toss them and get Winc AA hulls .

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=493722729

north country gal · 07-12-2015, 04:46 PM

Been a long time since I reloaded shot shells, but you do need to tailor the load, wad and so on on to the hulls you are using. Big difference between using a AA hull and a cheap hull like a Federal Game load. A good shotgun reloading manual will get you the right info to proceed in a safe fashion. Get a manual, first thing and an up to date manual, too, since hulls have changed specs over the years.

AG, those 1 ounce game loads are a poor choice for reloading. They're sometimes called promotional loads and are considered disposable hulls. Most folks don't bother to use them for reloading. If you're lucky you might get a couple of reloads out of them before they fall apart and they are notoriously difficult to crimp. As TGR says, get some AA hulls. They'll last MUCH longer and are going to be MUCH easier to reload and that's very important when starting out. Back in the day, we used AA hulls for all our hunting loads.

Terry_P · 07-12-2015, 05:49 PM

I bought used MEC Sizemaster on e-bay 10 years ago that came with charge bars and powder bushings, bottles you name it for $75. You can get recipes for the shotshell loading on line from the powder companies. The suggestions about reloading manuals are good ones as they give you the process involved and safety procedures.

moakes58 · 07-12-2015, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis H

They were originally loaded with 1oz of 6 and 8 shot. 3 1/4 is the dram equivalent powder. They're just empty shotgun shells, u should be able to load whatever you like provided it's loaded at a recommended level.

+1!

tx gun runner · 07-13-2015, 01:05 AM

I got this loader in about 1980 . It was one of the 1st MEC Size Master made with a sizer built on the loader . I used it for my hunting loads and about 10 yrs for trap shooting and the last 18 yrs in Cowboy action shooting . It make PERFECT ammo every time ...

Agonnazar · 07-13-2015, 01:42 PM

I have a Lee reloader. I have the Lyman shotshell reloading manual and a generic manual that has all the specs from the powder companies in one handy book. If I only get one use out of the shells that's fine. They've only been shot once.

That being said, I have a good size stack of AA Hulls left over from the last years worth of shooting, so they'll get in on the action, too.

tx gun runner · 07-14-2015, 01:48 AM

Most powder company's have loading data on line .

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

Terry_P · 07-14-2015, 05:22 AM

I have about 1100 rounds left that I loaded 7 1/2 @ 1 1/8 oz and Clay Dot powder. They were left over from when I shot skeet in the RV Park we used to go to in TX. We switched parks so now I have more Partridge loads than I will ever use as I'm not skeet shooting anymore. It was a good load, easy on the shoulder and patterned well in my Red label.

tx gun runner · 07-14-2015, 06:32 AM

My cowboy stuff is 12ga with only a 1/2 oz of #6 shot with a superlite charge of Unique gun powder . Kicks like a 410 but It has knocked down all the steel plates down I shot it at in the last 18 yrs .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGSHqDDlCL0

moakes58 · 08-12-2015, 06:52 AM

I have never reloaded shot shells, as I don't have the equipment. I just don't shoot that much of it.

I am more into centerfire & reload for .380 & 45 ACP, as well as 9mm & .223 Remington.

Terry_P · 08-12-2015, 02:29 PM

If you reload centerfire then shotshell is easy and monotonous especially with a single stage press. You can save a bundle of money if you shoot clay birds. I used to bring my loader with me to the RV Park as I would only load up 1,000 to 1,100 rounds to bring and would shoot 2 to 3 times that amount in a season. I bolted the loader to our picnic table in the RV Park site and would sit there reloading shells. Someone would come by and we would shoot the bull while I was making shotshells.

The biggest problem is flipping the bottles back or forward with the charge bar in the wrong position. Shot all over gods creation.

07-12-2015, 04:21 PM	#1
Agonnazar Senior Member Joined: Mar 2014 From: Deltona, FL Posts: 140	12 GA reloading Hi everybody! Long time no see. School seems to have taken over my life the last few months, but I have decided that not shooting clays and paper targets is damaging my calm. So, I'm making extra efforts to go shooting. All that being said, I have a box full (close to 300)of old Federal plastic shells that my dad gave me. They are a dark red/maroon color and they say "3 1/4 - 1" Some of the shells have a number 8, some of the others have a number 6 also printed on the shell. Under the numbers "Game Load" in printed inside a square. I'm going to try and upload a picture or two, but maybe that's enough info to get someone to point me in the direction of what I can put in these shells.

07-14-2015, 06:32 AM	#13
tx gun runner Senior Member Joined: Jun 2008 From: Ft Hood , Tx area Posts: 11,626	My cowboy stuff is 12ga with only a 1/2 oz of #6 shot with a superlite charge of Unique gun powder . Kicks like a 410 but It has knocked down all the steel plates down I shot it at in the last 18 yrs . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGSHqDDlCL0 Last edited by tx gun runner; 07-14-2015 at 10:53 AM.

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07-12-2015, 04:28 PM	#2
Dennis H Senior Member Joined: Apr 2014 From: colorado Posts: 5,641	They were originally loaded with 1oz of 6 and 8 shot. 3 1/4 is the dram equivalent powder. They're just empty shotgun shells, u should be able to load whatever you like provided it's loaded at a recommended level.

07-12-2015, 04:32 PM	#3
Agonnazar Senior Member Joined: Mar 2014 From: Deltona, FL Posts: 140

07-12-2015, 04:34 PM	#4
Agonnazar Senior Member Joined: Mar 2014 From: Deltona, FL Posts: 140	You, sir, are my personal hero. I like to keep things simple for right now. It's been 30+ years since I've reloaded.

07-12-2015, 04:46 PM	#6
north country gal Senior Member Joined: Jan 2013 From: northern wisconsin Posts: 5,997	Been a long time since I reloaded shot shells, but you do need to tailor the load, wad and so on on to the hulls you are using. Big difference between using a AA hull and a cheap hull like a Federal Game load. A good shotgun reloading manual will get you the right info to proceed in a safe fashion. Get a manual, first thing and an up to date manual, too, since hulls have changed specs over the years. AG, those 1 ounce game loads are a poor choice for reloading. They're sometimes called promotional loads and are considered disposable hulls. Most folks don't bother to use them for reloading. If you're lucky you might get a couple of reloads out of them before they fall apart and they are notoriously difficult to crimp. As TGR says, get some AA hulls. They'll last MUCH longer and are going to be MUCH easier to reload and that's very important when starting out. Back in the day, we used AA hulls for all our hunting loads. Last edited by north country gal; 07-12-2015 at 05:04 PM.

07-12-2015, 05:49 PM	#7
Terry_P Super Moderator Joined: Apr 2008 From: Where it's warm Posts: 10,362	I bought used MEC Sizemaster on e-bay 10 years ago that came with charge bars and powder bushings, bottles you name it for $75. You can get recipes for the shotshell loading on line from the powder companies. The suggestions about reloading manuals are good ones as they give you the process involved and safety procedures.

07-13-2015, 01:05 AM	#9
tx gun runner Senior Member Joined: Jun 2008 From: Ft Hood , Tx area Posts: 11,626	I got this loader in about 1980 . It was one of the 1st MEC Size Master made with a sizer built on the loader . I used it for my hunting loads and about 10 yrs for trap shooting and the last 18 yrs in Cowboy action shooting . It make PERFECT ammo every time ...

07-13-2015, 01:42 PM	#10
Agonnazar Senior Member Joined: Mar 2014 From: Deltona, FL Posts: 140	I have a Lee reloader. I have the Lyman shotshell reloading manual and a generic manual that has all the specs from the powder companies in one handy book. If I only get one use out of the shells that's fine. They've only been shot once. That being said, I have a good size stack of AA Hulls left over from the last years worth of shooting, so they'll get in on the action, too.

07-14-2015, 01:48 AM	#11
tx gun runner Senior Member Joined: Jun 2008 From: Ft Hood , Tx area Posts: 11,626	Most powder company's have loading data on line . http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

07-14-2015, 05:22 AM	#12
Terry_P Super Moderator Joined: Apr 2008 From: Where it's warm Posts: 10,362	I have about 1100 rounds left that I loaded 7 1/2 @ 1 1/8 oz and Clay Dot powder. They were left over from when I shot skeet in the RV Park we used to go to in TX. We switched parks so now I have more Partridge loads than I will ever use as I'm not skeet shooting anymore. It was a good load, easy on the shoulder and patterned well in my Red label.

08-12-2015, 06:52 AM	#14
moakes58 Senior Member Joined: Jan 2014 From: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 4,728	I have never reloaded shot shells, as I don't have the equipment. I just don't shoot that much of it. I am more into centerfire & reload for .380 & 45 ACP, as well as 9mm & .223 Remington.

08-12-2015, 02:29 PM	#15
Terry_P Super Moderator Joined: Apr 2008 From: Where it's warm Posts: 10,362	If you reload centerfire then shotshell is easy and monotonous especially with a single stage press. You can save a bundle of money if you shoot clay birds. I used to bring my loader with me to the RV Park as I would only load up 1,000 to 1,100 rounds to bring and would shoot 2 to 3 times that amount in a season. I bolted the loader to our picnic table in the RV Park site and would sit there reloading shells. Someone would come by and we would shoot the bull while I was making shotshells. The biggest problem is flipping the bottles back or forward with the charge bar in the wrong position. Shot all over gods creation.

12 GA reloading

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