Reloading Brass Shotgun Shells.....My Way

[rbertalotto]

So I was looking through Buffalo Arms catalog (An absolute must have BTW!) and saw Brass 12ga shotgun shells. I ordered up a couple boxes and the associated wads needed to load them with black powder.

The shells arrived and I realized that I didn't have any dies or a case holder to seat primers and load them. So I had to make a few devices if I was going to shoot black powder shotgun at tomorrows meet.

First was the issue of primers. I didn't have a 12g shell holder, but I realized that the brass 12g shell will fit perfectly unto the threaded insert of the RCBS rockchucker press.



So now I just needed a way to seat the primer. I found a spring loaded primer seater from some old priming tool and I went out into the garage an made a holder on the lathe.





It snaps into the Rock-Chucker just like a case holder



So Priming was accomplished!



Next I needed some way to compress the charge and seat the wads.

Back to the lathe and I turned an aluminum insert that fits into an old 6mmRemington die I had laying around.



I made it a tight fit and used the press to force it together



Now I had a way to compress the components



No shell plate/holder is needed for this operation



Once everything is compressed, a bit of nail polish...........Shhhh...Don't tell the wife!



And we're done!



More pictures here:
http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/gunsmithing-reloading/brass-shotgun-shell/

[rbertalotto]

Fired up the lathe and made a decapper and a new compression die.

Tried em out and they work great!

[joec]

I've used calking, Bordon's and Elmer's glues as well as a glue but never thought about fingernail polish. I was wondering how well it holds and how long it does.

[rbertalotto]

Actually, by using 10 gauge Over Shot wads as recommended by Buffalo Arms, I don't think you need anything to glue them in. I tried to take one out and it was extremely difficult. They certainly won't fall out during a match.

I just put a small dab of fingernail polish in two placed to give me confidence.

One real nice thing about the brass cases, is they really fall right out of the double barrel shotguns. Just a little tip up and a snap back and they are gone! This is enough reason to use brass shells in my book!

[joec]

Actually, by using 10 gauge Over Shot wads as recommended by Buffalo Arms, I don't think you need anything to glue them in. I tried to take one out and it was extremely difficult. They certainly won't fall out during a match.

I just put a small dab of fingernail polish in two placed to give me confidence.

One real nice thing about the brass cases, is they really fall right out of the double barrel shotguns. Just a little tip up and a snap back and they are gone! This is enough reason to use brass shells in my book!

Thanks Roy I will raid the old lady's finger nail polish supplies next time I load some. I actually got all my wads from Buffalo Arms following their suggest sizes for 12 ga.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

You have come up with a really nice outfit

My "kit" consists of;
Lee depriming punch
plastic faced hammer
a steel plate secured on a piece of 2 x 4
a 4 inch piece of copper pipe

[joec]

You have come up with a really nice outfit

My "kit" consists of;
Lee depriming punch
plastic faced hammer
a steel plate secured on a piece of 2 x 4
a 4 inch piece of copper pipe

I've gone to the RCBS Cowboy die for the brass shells. I had a piece made to fit through the top for compressing the wads and powder. I started doing it with a Lee Loader system until I discovered the decapping punch was too big to fit the MagTech cases (large pistol primers) then put the priming system on a Lee Reloader press and now converted to a Lee Classic Cast press that will take the 1 1/4" die required for this as well as 7/8 standard dies. It has made the only thing off the press the actual loading of the powder.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I have an RCBS Cowboy 12ga. die, but I don't use it anymore, except the shellholder for repriming.  My "kit" is easier & quicker otherwise.

[joec]

I have an RCBS Cowboy 12ga. die, but I don't use it anymore, except the shellholder for repriming.  My "kit" is easier & quicker otherwise.

I like mine for every stage and once the piece (screws into the top of the die when setup for the crimp) it compresses well. Oh and the top hole is 7/8x14 tread the same as a standard die. The powder compressor isn't shown installed but it simply goes straight into the top.