Videos - Reloading shotshells without a press

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

I've put together a three part series of videos on reloading shotshells without a reloading press.

The first video is based on a seminar I do at the SASS convention and covers reloading using items you probably already have in your home or shop.

The second video covers loading shells with a Lee Loader kit

The final video covers loading shells with antique reloading tools

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

Words will not express how much I appreciate these video's ... Thanks Mike.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

It is nice to meet a kindred spirit Two Walks.

[Long Knife Rich]

 Thank you for putting these vidoes together. They motivated me to give shotshell reloading a try.

[Paladin UK]

Ho Mike,
Great videos, I notice that you do not use a lubed wad, how does your scattergun hold out with regard ta fouling? Do you swab the barrels after each stage or something

Enquiring minds gotsta know  

Paladin (What uses a lubed wad ) UK

[joec]

I'm in agreement with the others and really appreciate seeing this as I might give this a try first before getting into loading other things. I also watched on after the first on the video of doing the brass shot shells and see they are basically the same. Thanks again for posting this Mike.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Paladin,

I used to use lubed wads. But I've found that they really provide no benefit.

For cleaning, I soak a paper towel with Balistol and wad it into the chamber. Then I push it down the bore with a rod. Usually that's all it takes to clean the barrels...sometimes I repeat the procedure. After that I dry and oil the bores and I'm good to go.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Thanks, Mike.  If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, what is the appropriate multiple for a video?  "A bunch"?

For brass Magtech shells, the only change from your toolkit is a 4 inch piece of copper plumbing that I use to seat primers.  Being hollow it won't deform the primer pockets.  I did happen upon a wad guide that helps to start cushion wads in star crimp shells. LEE sells a neat adjustible shot measure for about $5.

82 grains is three drams. Mike, I know that load works for you, but as little as two drams (55 gr.) or a bit more also works for most CAS purposes.  The space can be taken up with a bit more cushion wadding.  Between the two of us I think we have the range of powder loading pretty well bracketed.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Charles,

You are absolutely right. 2 3/4 drams is 75 grains, not 82 as I said. In my defense I was an economist, not a mathemetician.

I need to pick up one of those Lee shot measures. The problem is it costs more to ship it than to buy it. Whenever I am thinking about it, I don't need anything else. Then, when I do place an order for something else, I forget to add in the dipper.

[Seamus]

BDM,

Very nice and very valuable info.  One question:  Which empty hulls are good candidates for this type of reloading process?  Does it matter, particularly with the dowel & nail no crimp method?  Do we need to be picky about selecting only certain brands/types of hulls?  I'll be using only BP of course.

Also, how long are the thick wads you are using? 

Thanks!

Seamus

[joec]

BDM,

Very nice and very valuable info.  One question:  Which empty hulls are good candidates for this type of reloading process?  Does it matter, particularly with the dowel & nail no crimp method?  Do we need to be picky about selecting only certain brands/types of hulls?  I'll be using only BP of course.

Also, how long are the thick wads you are using? 

Thanks!

Seamus

I read an article recently at http://www.tbullock.com/bpsg.html that told about the effects of BP on some plastic shells. At any rate I've read other articles similar that say the plastic are good for a few loading while the brass as I will be using much more. I'm going with brass in both 20 and 12 gauges for NCOWS using a BP substitute. Mag Tech makes them and sells them at a few places. These use large pistol primers and I think I've found a source for the wads also. I've actually made up all the equipment for his basic setup but have a bid in on a Lee Classic loader that he talks about in the second video. I'm also just getting started on this and haven't loaded any yet but will as soon as I get some the loading materials on hand. Oh and I made two dowels on for 12 ga and another for 20 gauge as the rest will work for both.

[The Swede]

This is "outstanding" Mike! My question to you with the old time tools did you trim the shell as you did in the first video? I likely missed that part.
I have a LEE Load All on order, but want to try the methods you used. You did a fantastic job of explaining it all!

Thank you!

Swede

[Pony Racer]

I found that a good square load for SASS purposes can be made with 4.3 cc of powder and 4.3 cc of shot

I use this in both my normal sized magtechs and my 2 inch magtechs (cut by local smith for my Martini/Henry 12 guage).

For the 2 inch shells i cut the cushion wad in half.

PR

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

I use any hulls I can scrounge for free. Due to the high heat of B-P loads, I only use hulls once. I usually go to the range after a trap match and raid the trash barrels for all the hulls I can stand.

The cushion wads I use are nominally 1/2-inch...actually just a tad shorter.

I do trim the roll crimped shells the way I trim the nail & dowel shells. I didn't show it in the video to save time, but here's my method. I capture a razor knife in a wood working vice. I then insert a 3/4-inch dowel into the shell and press the shell against the blade and rotate it...gives me a nice, even cut.

[joec]

My only question is the shot, who sells it? I've found a source for wads, powders and brass shells if not plastic.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Shot is one of the few things I don't buy on the net...I go to a local reloading shop.

But, Midway USA sells it for about $47/25 lbs

Just search the site for lead shot.

[Lefty Dude]

My Vintage Lee 16 ga. loader came with an Aluminum metal adjustable shot dipper, 7/8 to 1 3/4 oz. My 12 ga. loader, which is older than the 16 has a dipper which is 1 oz- 1 1/8oz, adjustable with a removable bottom plate.

I have a new, never used last production 16 ga. Lee Loader. It is equipped with a new full length wad starter, 6 and 8 segment crimp starters and 3 shot measures, 7/8- 1- and 1 1/8.

This was the "NEW Deluxe Model". The box is twice as long as the old storage box's. The price on the box is $ 11.99.

The new Lee shot mesure is all plastic and adjustable for 7/8 oz to 1 3/4 oz.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

My 12 Ga Lee Loader must be considerably older than yours. It came with a 7/8th oz shot dipper that is non-adjustable. I recently picked up one of the Lee adjustable plastic dippers...loaded 100 shells with it the other night.

[Lefty Dude]

The 12 ga. reloader is in a Red box. The instructions are in excellent condition and the charge table has receipes for BP. Smokless powders, Red Dot, Alcan #5, & Alcan #7.

I bought this complete set at a Garage Sale last year for $ .50. Price marked on the box, $9.95

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Lefty,

Both of my Lee Loaders (12 ga. & 20 ga.) are in boxes with black tops and red bottoms. No instructions with either of them.