Loading hunting shotshells...

[Andy Griffith]

It seems to me that most shotshell reloaders do it for clay shooting.

I just don't see many shotshells being loaded for hunting purposes.

I'm getting ready to order some bags of lead #BB, #2 and #4 shot.
Still have half a bag of #BB, but down to about a pound of #2, as I've had several freinds want a pound here and there, and what I've loaded.

I'm going to get off my lazy rear end and get a turkey this year with my old 12ga Husquvara double hammer gun.
I figure 1 1/8 oz of #2's (my father loved #2's in 16ga for most purposes, except squirrel).

Just asking if anyone else loads any of these "antiquated" shot sizes. Even finding any bags of shot for sale locally larger than #6 is impossible, and I'm told that #4 is the largest they can order.

Maybe I should throw on the #1buck and #4buck, even though I have a couple of boxes of each. Shipping is the devil though.

 

[venomballistics]

You betcha ...
While the trap loads have greatly outnumbered the field loads, I've always kept some serious focus on them.

 

[AveragEd]

Most of us fire so few shots while hunting that it hardly makes sense invest in the shot, powder and wads to handload those shotshells. Now for dove hunting, where lots of shells can be used up, your good old trap loads work great and that's what I use. When my Remington STS and Nitro 27 hulls have reached the end of their useable life, I load them one last time, box them up and mark them accordingly. They become my hunting shells.

Ed

 

[venomballistics]

Most of us fire so few shots while hunting that it hardly makes sense invest in the shot, powder and wads to handload those shotshells. Now for dove hunting, where lots of shells can be used up, your good old trap loads work great and that's what I use. When my Remington STS and Nitro 27 hulls have reached the end of their useable life, I load them one last time, box them up and mark them accordingly. They become my hunting shells.

Ed

still makes perfect sense to load the special collection.
You gain control of your spread at the loading bench.
Tight patterns enhanced spread heavy shot charges and all else present a system of field loads that can duplicate a tube change just by racking the slide.

 

[arjay]

I still have partial bags of 2s,4s and 6s and several boxes of hunting loads I put together 20 years ago.

 

[Wee Hooker]

95 % of my shotshell loading is for clays but I always keep a supply of 1 1/4 oz wads and #2 and 4# shot around. Most recently been using #2's to make "waxer slugs" for back yard defense"

 

[Nevada Ed]

There is lots of load data that you can look up here for loads........

but if no luck you might try this site, lots of info also.......

duckhuntingchat.com

Don't be afraid to hit the "Search" button..........

best of luck, "Sagebrush".

 

[yeti]

Do you have a hunting partner/friend with a press that would let you load up some turkey loads? You could load up a few different test loads to try.
Later you could load everything you might need for a year in a few hours on a progressive set up.
Try some #4 shot first. The #2 shot tends to load erratically and pattern the same...especially out of tighter chokes.
Those Husky's are great old guns! Fixed full/mod?
Pattern and see what loads your Husky likes....go easy on the PSI.

It just seems natural to load up my own hunting shells since I already need to keep up with weekly skeet & trap shooting demands all year round anyway. It is just a little more satisfying to take game cleanly, with your own loads.

Enjoy the quest! Post up some pix of your successful hunt.

 

[Andy Griffith]

The old Husky is a 30" F/F, and it will get the job done, but it throws patterns with modern shotcups.

I 've got several mec single stage presses, and considering I load paper hulls on them and don't use plastic wads, a progressive would do me little good. A progressive roll crimper would be nice though.

 

[max]

I have been loading shells for SD pheasant for years. A pound of WSF and a bag of shot gets me about 250 rounds and that lasts for several years. I am feeding 3 hunter's guns so they can go quickly. I need to load a new batch if I can ever find a can of WSF.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I load mostly for Sporting Clays, but I keep several dozen boxes of 4's around for "pests", they aren't worth premium ammo. When waterfowl or public land hunting the Non-toxic requirement is a pain for reloading to cover. When we could use copper plated, it was fine, but the cost of a 10 pound bag of bismuth shot then loading 2 to 4 sizes of shot, it just becomes necessary to buy factory (I try to get ammo on close out, at the end of season.) My older guns can't use Steel or tungsten, so I'm stuck! Ivan

 

[David R]

Many years ago I loaded a whole bunch of 20 gauge. Did the pattern thing and found a good load which was one ounce of #6. Good for small game. I loaded a bunch and still have them. Magnum shot with a load tailored for my gun. I will probably never do that again, but have enough to last a life time. These hand loads shoot far better than store bought stuff. Now like Ivan, the refuge behind my house is ALL non toxic shot no matter what I am hunting, so I settled for steel. Its only a few bucks a box. Patterns too tight, but what the heck.

David

 

[OldAFVet]

All my shotgun rounds were handloads except slugs and buckshot.

 

[venomballistics]

All my shotgun rounds were handloads except slugs and buckshot.

over time .. those started passing through my press too.

 

[loc n load]

Shotshells

I have "rolled my own" since the 70's, whether it was for clays, trap, birds, small game, etc.....I shoot a lot of 16 ga., so I pretty well tailor what I shoot for what I am going to shoot. I also shoot a bit of 28 ga. as well. Still hunt squirrels here in the hardwoods...and we have some big oak trees and pole straight tall hickory's that take a good load of 4's or 5's from a 12, 16 or 20 to roll them out of those tree tops. I usually get my hunting shot from ballistic products, and load reclaimed shot for clays. Use factory slugs for deer.

 

[chief38]

Unless you have a certain Gauge of Shotgun with a hard to get selection of shells, I never quite saw the advantage of re-loading shot shells - unless of course you just enjoy it. From what I understand it actually costs more to reload than it does to buy general purpose shells for skeet and trap on sale. I recently purchased cases of Federal and Remington #8 shot for $4.99 and $5.49 per box respectively. While they are the promo variety they work great in all my shotguns and shoot very accurately and consistently. I usually go through 100 shells per day (minimum) at the Range while popping the clays so I like to have some on hand.

For Hunting I usually buy Winchester Brand #6 High Brass (for Pheasant) and a box will last me two years. After all, how many shots do you fire when actually hunting? They are much more than the promo stuff but like I said a box lasts me a few years so I'll spend the $11.99 / box.

I am also under the impression (and correct me if I am wrong) that todays plastic shot shell hulls can only be re-loaded a couple of times before they loose integrity.

I suppose if some are looking for a custom load, or simply like the hobby then reloading Shot Shells is a cool thing, but while I consider myself an avid reloader for pistol and rifle, I love just opening up a new case of Factory Shells for a days fun at the Range or in the Field.

YMMV

Chief38

 

[crsides]

most turkey hunting is with 4, 5,& 6 shot. I use an old fox sterlingworth that throws 100% patterns with specialty handloads. look up Tom Roster on the net. He published extensive data on low pressure loads for the old double bbls.

Charlie

 

[FishingPilot]

The largest shot I've been able to purchase locally is #7. To buy bags of larger shot online is just not economical unless buying large amounts. However, as few hunting shells as I go through, buying in bulk doesn't make much sense. For me, I just purchase a flat of #4,5,6 every 5 years or so. Now for sporting clays, I go through about 350-450 shells a weekend during the spring and summer.

 

[yeti]

I am also under the impression (and correct me if I am wrong) that todays plastic shot shell hulls can only be re-loaded a couple of times before they loose integrity.

Going to chime in on that...
I shoot weekly all year long. I average 10-12 reloads on 12ga. Remington STS hulls and nearly that many with Winchester AAHS hulls for skeet loads. I can make these for roughly $4.20/box. Granted the savings from the cheap new factory (promo) loads is not that great, but the performance of my loads is similar to the $8.00+/box new premium factory loads. Not to mention that they perform like I want them to. That is....if I do my part.
My handicap trap loads cost me $4.29/box and hull life is about 5-7 reloads before they get crispy and develop splits or holes in the crimp area.
Chief is correct, in that nowadays, if you shoot only 12ga. and/or 20ga. you will not save much money over inexpensive promo loads (Estate, Rio, Federal 100 paks, Remington Gun Clubs, etc.) by taking up reloading.
What you can do is shoot better shells for less than premium cost, but you will just end up shooting away all your saving by shooting more.

Hunting reloads cost more to make than the clay killing loads, but I am really particular about the quality.

 

[jepp2]

I just don't see many shotshells being loaded for hunting purposes.

Since the early 80's I have loaded all my lead shot hunting loads. While they are cheaper, I do it because I can't buy the loads I make. For 2 3/4" 12 ga. I have a load from the Winchester 1981 load manual. 1 3/8 oz. of shot going out at 1330 fps. I use #5 hard lead shot. I just find the 5's break bones better than 6's and you don't lose the shot count like you do with 4's.