Jump to content

20 bore cartridge reloading


Recommended Posts

Hi,

 

For a while I have been tinkering with the idea of reloading some 20 bore carts. Having just read the other similar 12 bore thread I know that it can obviously be dangerous if done incorrectly or without minute attention to detail.

 

The reasons I am considering reloading a few cases is lack of lighter ammo for 20 bores using fibre wads on the market. I am interested in making some light rabbiting loads for the Summer as 28g of 6's can sometimes be a bit much at close range if you wish to eat the rabbit. I also think it's such a waste binning perfectly good cases and heads. :lol:

 

I appreciate I am not really going to save much money any time soon doing this but if I become reasonably proficient I would definitely load my own general quarry cartridges and maybe if I had lots of time on my hands the 50 or so clay carts I get through most weekends.

 

Now, the problem is I'm a bit overwelmed as there is lots of different things on the market from different burn speed powders for different weight loads and different primers. :P I would only be following reccomended reloading chart data. Can anybody reccomend any decent websites which explain the basics to the beginner? :lol: I found the BASC article interesting but it didn't really tell me anything new other than how the reloaders work and didn't go into much detail. :lol:

 

What would you reccomend for a complete beginner to get started? I know I will need to buy some very accurate scales and obviously a reloader although I'm not worried about the reloader being overly high tech.

 

Thanks for any replies and sorry for going on too long and boring you. :lol:

 

FM :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

handloading for shotgun carts is not financhially viable unless you already have the raw components (shot is the main cost) and shot is not cheap now. So its only handloaders of the past with large stores of lead shot who can make cheap handloads now. Otherwise your best off with factory.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The only thing that really puts me off reloading is the initial cost of the equipment; I think I'd need to make an awful lot of carts in order to get the equipment to pay for itself.

Regards shot prices, how much does lead shot cost?

 

Ta

Duster

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

Shotmaking (by the short drop method) has come a long way. If you only shoot a couple of hundred shells a week, a one-hole dropper, powered by a gaz blowlamp will make 40lb shot. The cost of the dropper is pennies, if you have 6" 22mm copper tube, a piece of 22mm steel bar 1" long, a metal plate to act as a base (4" x 6" x 1/4" thick) and a 5/16" piece of round bar 9" long AND the all-important jet with a 0.007" hole. The means to drill, tap and thread.

 

Another machine is the electric Lyttleton or Shotmaster - but that's for later! The shot is best dropped into hydraulic oil NOT water!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Loading 20gauge is EASY! Don't be put off - try it!

A LeeLoadall ll will cost you £37 NEW or a fiver secondhand. With it you can load your own at a fraction of the cost if you stamp out your own card and fibre wads.

 

Years ago, my father and I would bag up used Plaswads and Winchester AA wads from the skeet layout. We would boil them in a light detergent wash and spin them in a pillow case!

 

Primers (cheap primers) are ALWAYS available if you know where to look!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...