12 gauge BP shotshells

[Hogleg Hunter]

Looking for a good load for sass. I have switched from a 43a bushing to a 34 bushing (MEC). The problem is that I am not getting crimp.

What loads do you use? Wads, powder bushing etc.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

There are very few mysteries in reloading shotshells with Black Powder. Read the thread in The Dark Arts, a child board, of this topic. Most of your questions will be answered.

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,9733.0.html

When reloading star crimped shells when changing the shot or powder quantities, you need to load the same volume of components, as long as you started from a load with a good crimp. I load either 7/8 oz. or 1 oz of shot. For powder I have dropped down to under 60 grains of FFg Goex, but have recently changed to about 50 grains of FFFg. You can make successful loads by making up the volume by varying the wad column. Most reloaders have accumulated odd quantities of various plastic wads. try a few until it works. You can also use card & fibre wads, and it is really easy to "put or  take" cushion wadding to suit.

The scienterrific term for this is called "The empirical method".

I hope you have a powder scale to check weigh your components. Loading a greater volume of powder than shot is a waste of powder. Staying with a lesser volume of powder tightens patterns.

[Lefty Dude]

A Lima Bean in the shot cup wad will do wonders in taking up excess room in a large wad when a  lesser shot amount is needed. Put it in the bottom, not on top of the shot. On top may blow  hole in the shot sting pattern.

[wildman1]

And that's about the only good use that I can see for a Lima bean. wM1

[Lefty Dude]

And that's about the only good use that I can see for a Lima bean. wM1

[tyrel cody]

And that's about the only good use that I can see for a Lima bean. wM1

+1,000,000,000 

[Thumb Buster]

The last few postings bring up not-fond memories of those danged lima beans.  'Ham and M...'s.    

[wildman1]

I never liked em and when I was a kid they were to big to put up my nose.   wM1

[Hambone Dave]

Says it all

[Lefty Dude]

Well then, If no Lima beans how about three Pinto's in its place ?   

[wildman1]

At least they are food. wM1

[Dick Dastardly]

Mexican Jumping Beans could do your filling work with the added benefit of great pattern dispersion. 

DD-MDA

[Bibbyman]

How would broccoli and colaflour work? 

[Flatbush]

I just finished loading up a few boxes of black powder 12 ga. shotshells. I got a good crimp with this recipe:

-3.7 cc (Lee dipper) of black powder

-7/8 oz. of shot

-Winchester WAA12L wad (the Claybuster equivalent works good too)

[Good Troy]

-3.7 cc (Lee dipper) of black powder

2F, I assume?

[Lefty Dude]

If it is 3f, oh my what a nice belch of Fire !

[Flatbush]

Yes, 2F powder.

The powder is called LIDU Black Powder. Made in China by LIDU, and distributed by Corman Sporting Goods, Stanford, KY.

I bought several pounds cheap at a flea market. It comes in a plain silver can with plain black and white stick-on labels for labeling. It's probably crap black powder, but I expect it to be just fine for shotgun shells!

The shot is reclaimed shot from the local trap range, and of course the hulls are once-fired. (or twice-fired too)

Frugal all the way. If there was a way to reuse primers I would do that too!

[Good Troy]

Yes, 2F powder

Just making sure!!  I've done "another" F before in brass shells....It was a lot more than needed, and I wouldn't recommend it without adult supervision (which wasn't available for me)...

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The new chart omits blackpowder; http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/Dippers.pdf

This is from an older table I had saved;

Lee Dipper Capacity Chart

POWDER

                  0.3    0.5    0.7      1       1.3      1.6      1.9      2.2      2.5      2.8     3.1     3.4      3.7       4       4.3
BLACK FFFG 4.80  8.00  11.10  15.90  20.70  25.50  30.30  35.00   39.80  44.60  49.40  54.20  58.90  63.70  68.50
BLACK FFG   4.40  7.40  10.30  14.70 19.10   23.50  27.90  32.40   36.80  41.20  45.60  50.00  54.40  58.80  63.20
BLACK FG     4.20  7.00   9.70   13.90 18.10  22.30  26.40  30.60    34.80 39.00  43.10   47.30 51.50  55.70  59.80
BLACKFFFFG 4.50  7.40  10.40  14.90 19.40  23.80  28.30  32.80    37.20 41.70  46.20   50.60 55.10  59.60  64.00

HERE IT IS! I FOUND THE OLD CHART ONLINE:

http://www.castpics.net/subsite/Manuals/Dippers.pdf

[Good Troy]

Thanks, Sir Charles!