Help 20 gauge slug or buckshot reloading help

[Llama32]

Just wondering if any of you guys have any good info on reloading slugs or buckshots for 20 gauge

I did get with these guys to get some sabots

 

[Vern400]

If you get on eBay and buy one of the old Lyman shotshell reloading guides, they were very good. Some of the components on there are not available anymore, and of course some of the new stuff isn't there. But it is still useful in many cases. There won't be any data in there for loads with buffer. But you can use lead or copper plated or whatever kind of shot.

Loading buckshot and slugs is kind of a specialty thing. There is one company that specializes in that. Forgot the name but you can find it online. The only problem or challenge there is they're load data is not open source, and much of it is specific to their particular components.

Given that buck shot is $2 a piece, it's probably becoming worthwhile to look at loading that.

 

[Zack-s]

Powder manufacturers should have the load data listed on website

 

[49ereric]

YouTube has lots of videos

 

[nomadicbohunk]

You're going down a hell of a wormhole. There's a good facebook group dedicated to slug and buck reloaders. CCS is the best out there. I did a ton of load development and spent an asinine amount of money doing it. I did 5 shot groups and shot a ton of bullets with each load. I found some things with their loads and my gun, (220 slug): Blue dot, steel (in 50), and 4227 were the best powders. T-ez the best bullets. The 275 barnes in .50 were a close second, but a little inconsistant. Their hard cards worked better than anything else I tried. However. I did some playing around with powder charges by 3% or so on each side. Holy cow, huge, huge difference. I went in half grain increments. Way different from a rifle. 4moa differences. If I were to go back and start over now with what I know, being that alliant powders aren't available...I'd try 4227 and hs-6. Adjust the charges a tiny bit. Also, stack height made a difference. If you're using a 220, get a roll crimper (I can't remember if mine is BP or Precision), and drill out the middle some so you can load with the tips sticking out. Don't do that if you're not using a magazine. I have a gaep crimper, but that thing is hard and I need a lathe with a solid carbide bit to drill out a void. A drill press helps. I took a sheet of melamine board, drilled out holes, and attach it to my press table with big bolts and wing nuts. I have an ebayed shell vise screwed on.

Also, I wasn't too worried about changing charges that little as the savage is pretty stout. I would not have done that with any other shotgun. I do plan on sending some off for pressure testing. I will say that I could tell some of the "book" loads from css were hotter than my powder adjusted ones. That's just from primer piercing and how they ejected.

If you're curious, I got my best two loads to do a consistant 1.5-1.75 MOA at 100 in 5 shot groups. I have a few slug hunts coming up and wanted to get this all figured out. None of the factory ammo I tried (like all the kinds and sizes) shot well at all. I spent like $200 on slugs and failed. 4moa at 100 was the best. It was a good project last year. I could dial them in more, but no more blue dot for a while. Groups really open up at 200. I do have enough velocity for them to open at 200. One of my loads is OK out that far...about 5 inch groups, but the other gives me 8 inch groups. The wind will be the biggest issue out that far.

I also didn't try trimming hulls to between 2.75 and 3. Some guys have good luck with that. I just ran out of powder and was a little bit like...."how much am I spending on this?" Like I said, it was a good project. Oh yeah, I've read and the CSS guy claims that your shells are most consistant if they sit for a while. I gave myself a week. I never tried to test that. I switched from my load development scope and I'm going to shoot some I loaded a month or two ago, so I'll see if I get any better than 1.5. I often load up rifle rounds right before going out, so it's something to be aware of.

Funny you ask about buckshot. I have a buckshot and archery only area I hunt by. I just realized it's loaded with deer and I'm starting to figure out buckshot the past week. I want extended range, so I'm looking into only tss (18).

BP does have a slug book. It's supposed to kinda suck but be the best out there. I'm probably ordering it anyway just to have it.

I've learned a few things from researching and reading. Super-18 has the best load data. Guys are claiming 100 yard groups that are decent and kills. I haven't seen actual proof of that. 60 yards, yes. I'm also going to get a dedicated scoped shotgun for it just because of barrel scoring from the tss. I'll get an extra barrel for it and just plan on trashing one when I dump the gun or give it to a relative when I move. If you go down that route, around Ts seem to be the magic size. I plan on getting t's and 4buck. I am not playing around with these loads. I don't trust a "normal" shotgun for the pressure differences and it's going to be like $7-8 a shot. I am going to get a variety of choke tubes to try.

I hope that helps.

 

[Llama32]

You're going down a hell of a wormhole. There's a good facebook group dedicated to slug and buck reloaders. CCS is the best out there. I did a ton of load development and spent an asinine amount of money doing it. I did 5 shot groups and shot a ton of bullets with each load. I found some things with their loads and my gun, (220 slug): Blue dot, steel (in 50), and 4227 were the best powders. T-ez the best bullets. The 275 barnes in .50 were a close second, but a little inconsistant. Their hard cards worked better than anything else I tried. However. I did some playing around with powder charges by 3% or so on each side. Holy cow, huge, huge difference. I went in half grain increments. Way different from a rifle. 4moa differences. If I were to go back and start over now with what I know, being that alliant powders aren't available...I'd try 4227 and hs-6. Adjust the charges a tiny bit. Also, stack height made a difference. If you're using a 220, get a roll crimper (I can't remember if mine is BP or Precision), and drill out the middle some so you can load with the tips sticking out. Don't do that if you're not using a magazine. I have a gaep crimper, but that thing is hard and I need a lathe with a solid carbide bit to drill out a void. A drill press helps. I took a sheet of melamine board, drilled out holes, and attach it to my press table with big bolts and wing nuts. I have an ebayed shell vise screwed on.

Also, I wasn't too worried about changing charges that little as the savage is pretty stout. I would not have done that with any other shotgun. I do plan on sending some off for pressure testing. I will say that I could tell some of the "book" loads from css were hotter than my powder adjusted ones. That's just from primer piercing and how they ejected.

If you're curious, I got my best two loads to do a consistant 1.5-1.75 MOA at 100 in 5 shot groups. I have a few slug hunts coming up and wanted to get this all figured out. None of the factory ammo I tried (like all the kinds and sizes) shot well at all. I spent like $200 on slugs and failed. 4moa at 100 was the best. It was a good project last year. I could dial them in more, but no more blue dot for a while. Groups really open up at 200. I do have enough velocity for them to open at 200. One of my loads is OK out that far...about 5 inch groups, but the other gives me 8 inch groups. The wind will be the biggest issue out that far.

I also didn't try trimming hulls to between 2.75 and 3. Some guys have good luck with that. I just ran out of powder and was a little bit like...."how much am I spending on this?" Like I said, it was a good project. Oh yeah, I've read and the CSS guy claims that your shells are most consistant if they sit for a while. I gave myself a week. I never tried to test that. I switched from my load development scope and I'm going to shoot some I loaded a month or two ago, so I'll see if I get any better than 1.5. I often load up rifle rounds right before going out, so it's something to be aware of.

Funny you ask about buckshot. I have a buckshot and archery only area I hunt by. I just realized it's loaded with deer and I'm starting to figure out buckshot the past week. I want extended range, so I'm looking into only tss (18).

BP does have a slug book. It's supposed to kinda suck but be the best out there. I'm probably ordering it anyway just to have it.

I've learned a few things from researching and reading. Super-18 has the best load data. Guys are claiming 100 yard groups that are decent and kills. I haven't seen actual proof of that. 60 yards, yes. I'm also going to get a dedicated scoped shotgun for it just because of barrel scoring from the tss. I'll get an extra barrel for it and just plan on trashing one when I dump the gun or give it to a relative when I move. If you go down that route, around Ts seem to be the magic size. I plan on getting t's and 4buck. I am not playing around with these loads. I don't trust a "normal" shotgun for the pressure differences and it's going to be like $7-8 a shot. I am going to get a variety of choke tubes to try.

I hope that helps.

Thank you so much for all the help