Black Powder Shotgun Shells

[Virginia Drifter]

Where can you purchase BP 12 ga. shotgun shells?

[Camille Eonich]

Here's the first place that I found when Googling Black Powder Shotgun Shells

http://www.powderinc.com/catalog/order_ammo.htm

[Fairshake]

Drifter, You can pretty much load BP hulls by hand with a few simple tools. They cost less than $5.00 a box to load. THe places that sell them are making a killing. You don't have any one in your club to help you with loading a few?

[Tater Pickens]

Fairshake, What are some of these basic tools?. I have a RCBS single stage press for loading my 44-40 and 45 Colts with BP. but I don't want to invest in a lot of additional stuff  for a few shotgun shells.(ain't got no job and money is tight) I would like to load some up however, I just don't shoot as much as you guys that do the CAS thing on a regular basis.
I am guessing I would need a shell holder for the decapping  and repriming operations. Do you know if RCBS has the dies needed to reload shotgun shells or do I have to buy a MEC outfit and some other manufacturer's dies? I know I can buy shot and fiber wads-don't want to use plastic(didn't have plastic back in the day).

How do you measure out the number of ounces of shot to load? I don't have a scale. Is there something like the Lee dipper outfit that is used? LOts of stupid questions I know but am very new at this shotgun stuff(just got my TTN mule eared 12 guage this past week and shot a few BP shells I got from PoewderInc . and enjoyed it.


Tater Pickens

[Goatlips]

Tater,

If you get a box of Magtech brass hulls from Midway for about 18 bucks, you can find all the tools you need right in your garage drawer. 
Circle Fly can help:

http://www.circlefly.com/html/bp_cartridges.html

and Bullock has more than you need to know:

http://www.tbullock.com/bpsg.html

A long punch or nail to deprime, a socket and extention to prime, a Lee 4.3 dipper for both powder and shot, and wads from circle fly will get you started.  You'll want 11 ga wads for some, circle fly will walk you through it. Google Loading Brass Shotgun Shells will give you lots of info.  It's easy, safe and fun!

Goatlips

[Tater Pickens]

Thanks Goatlips. I'll check out those links.

Tater

[Driftwood Johnson]

Tater Pickens: If you decide to go the MEC route, you don't buy dies. Shotshell loading is a bit different than metallic reloading. The press comes with everything you need, you don't need a separate shell holder or dies. You just buy the press for the gauge you are shooting, and it comes complete. I've been loading shotgun on a MEC Jr for years, it is a great beginners press. If you don't want to spend that much, I understand that money is tight, lots of guys use the Lee Load All, it costs about $60, and it comes complete with everything you need to start loading shotshells.

[Tater Pickens]

Thanks Driftwood, where can those MEC jr's or Lee Load aAs be had?

Tater

[LoneRider]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lee-Load-All-II-12-Gauge-Shot-Shell-Reloader-LEE-90011_W0QQitemZ300326227424QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45ecd68de0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[Tater Pickens]

Lonerider,

Thanks, They have those right here in Jasper, Ga at the Bargain Barn.

Tater

[Mako]

Tater,
When you're ready to load, PM me and I'll walk you through some easy BP loads using plastic wads to begin with.  I can tell you fiber wad loads as well, but the plastic are easy and shoot very well.  There are basically 3 wads you will consider when using plastic.

It's a hoot and not as hard as it sounds.

If others want to know, say so and I'll post here.

Regards,
Mako

[Dirty Brass]

I've loaded up a few boxes of plastic hulls and a box of brass hulls, using fiber wads in all of them. The only issue I have is they are not very accurate for busting birds. I think I'll be trying some cups instead soon, but I'm not sure which ones would work the best.