Shotshell Rookie!

[ScreaminEagle]

I've been bitten by the trap shooting bug, so it's time to start reloading for a new hobby. :roll:
I have a Mec 600 loader, bag of wads, and a keg of IMR 700X. Any tips would be appreciated.
I have never loaded shotshells before. I'm thinking 8 or 8 1/2 shot would be good for trap.
Steve

 

[muleman]

This is just the beginning! You'll be graduating to skeet and sporting clays soon. I shot clays competively for years. You'll really enjoy it. I wish I could help you with reloading shells but I didn't reload in those days.
Enjoy!
Scott

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Yeah i had a blast! Got to use a friends single shot browning trap gun for one of the rounds. Very nice gun.

 

[JD338]

Steve,

Iused to shoot a lot of trap back in the day. :grin:
I have 3 MEC loaders, 2 600 JR's set up for 12 and 20 ga as well as a 650 for 12 ga.
I used to load Hi Score 700X, same as you have there with 1 1/8 oz loads of 7 1/2. AA and RPX cases were the norm.

It is a lot of fun! :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Steve,

Iused to shoot a lot of trap back in the day. :grin:
I have 3 MEC loaders, 2 600 JR's set up for 12 and 20 ga as well as a 650 for 12 ga.
I used to load Hi Score 700X, same as you have there with 1 1/8 oz loads of 7 1/2. AA and RPX cases were the norm.

It is a lot of fun! :mrgreen:

JD338

Awesome! I have hundreds of AA and federal cases saved up. Also have a bag of 7 1/2 shot. The problem is, I can't find any markings on the charge bar and it appears that there isn't a powder bushing either. I haven't touched it since my dad had it set up.

 

[Polaris]

You'll find shotshell loading much more of an art than metallic. It takes some finesse to get it right at the crimp stage. Also there are 2 kinds of shot, chilled and "magnum". Magnum is harder shot, it's what you'll want for trap, but whatever your current shot is it will work for now. You may need to order shot and powder bushings to start out with. I'm not familiar with MEC equpt, others here will be more helpful. I have an old Pacific machine that's still chugging after 50 or more years. I believe you can pick up a universal charge bar that adjusts like a powder measure (use with your scale).

Depending on the preferences of your local club, you should be able to pick up empties from someone. Win AAs aren't what they used to be, they changed the design 10 or so years ago. The Rem "gun club" shells and Rem Premier are the best tapered shells for loading today. Fiocchi and Fed Gold Medal the best straight walled (makes a diff on what family of wads you use). Fed wads work best in the straight walled, either the 12S3 ( 1 1/8) or the 12S0 (1 oz). Win wads are best in the tapered.

If your fed cases are "Gold Medal" you're fine. If they are from field/practice/promo/"game" loads, you can still load them but consider them disposable after 2 loadings. The rolled paper basewad will not stand up and can cause serious problems if it breaks loose and lodges in the choke. On your win cases, if the bottom of the case tapers smoothly into the sides, they are the good AAs. If it has a distinct cup in the bottom with a ridge around the side just above the base, they are the "new" kind. Same loading data, but they don't seem to hold up as well as the older style and are prone to some crimping problems as you'll no doubt learn.

700X will work. I've found Clays and Red Dot to be a bit more flexible due to their bulkiness.

 

[Woodycreek]

Anybody ever tried Longshot powder? That's what I use for the 40 S&W/10mm and would like to use it for my 12 ga.

 

[JD338]

Steve,

There should be a stamping on the end of the charge bar. Look for a number like 118 or 114.This is the shot charge weight and means 1 1/8 oz or 1 1/4 oz. Bushings will have a number on the side and you will have to go back to the MEC reference chart to figure out the powder charge weight. The bushing can be used for different powders but the charge throw will be different.

Unlike metallic cartridges, you can not mix components. Shot shell loads are specific and you have to use a specific case, wad, powder and primer.

JD338

 

[onesonek]

Anybody ever tried Longshot powder? That's what I use for the 40 S&W/10mm and would like to use it for my 12 ga.

Longshot is my favorite for med. to heavy field loads Brian,,,,however, it is a bit much for trap loads, even though it will drive 1 1/8 load at or near 1500 fps iirc., Maybe it was 1 oz. loads :roll: :lol:
Let one of those go at the trap range, and everybody will stop to see if you blew up your gun.


"I've been bitten by the trap shooting bug, so it's time to start reloading for a new hobby.
I have a Mec 600 loader, bag of wads, and a keg of IMR 700X. Any tips would be appreciated.
I have never loaded shotshells before. I'm thinking 8 or 8 1/2 shot would be good for trap.
Steve"

I used 700X untill switch to WST, not that there was anything wrong with the 700X however.
I used a Browning BT99, and had no problems from the 16 to 27 yds positions, running 1150-1200 fps 1 1/8 oz loads. One time I got into a I got into a shoot off from an Annie Oakley match, with that gun shooting against a fella with yrs more experience and his Perazzi. I lost, but not until after 6 rounds and 6 paces behind the 27 yd position. At that range, lead instead of covering wasn't the norm. But the light target loads will do it.
Didn't shoot much Skeet or Clay's, but tried it on one occassion...then I went with my over under, more open chokes and 8 1/2's instead of 8's.

I got 12 ga. hulls I would trade for .410 hulls,,,if you got them Steve :wink:

 

[Woodycreek]

Anybody ever tried Longshot powder? That's what I use for the 40 S&W/10mm and would like to use it for my 12 ga.

Longshot is my favorite for med. to heavy field loads Brian,,,,however, it is a bit much for trap loads, even though it will drive 1 1/8 load at or near 1500 fps iirc., Maybe it was 1 oz. loads :roll: :lol:
Let one of those go at the trap range, and everybody will stop to see if you blew up your gun.

Ha! No big deal. I have used 1 1/4 #8 loads in a local match and took that one. :lol: Guess Longshot would be a good one to try.

 

[onesonek]

"I have used 1 1/4 #8 loads in a local match,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,."
That's what you get from hangin with Scotty

 

[onesonek]

On a more serious note,,,wish I could do some shootin with you two sometime,,,be some good times and memories!

 

[SJB358]

We tend to scar folks when they come and shoot with us Dave! Some folks can't sleep right after the experience!! :lol:

Sorry, can't add much to a shotgun thread.. Not much of a shotgunner.. I will try like heck though...

 

[Polaris]

Anybody ever tried Longshot powder? That's what I use for the 40 S&W/10mm and would like to use it for my 12 ga.

A little hot for trap loads but makes some nice field loads. I've run it with 1 1/4 heavy pheasant loads and my favorite early season crusher pheasant load.

It does push 1 1/8 oz nickle plated #6 to 1500fps from Gold Medal hulls with a Win AA wad. Use once fired hulls and a tyvek overshot wad to stabilize velocity. With improved it tears them a new one in close, with mod it cleanly dumps them to 40 yards. A little hot for grouse, makes grouseburger. I like the old green dot 1250ish 1 1/8 oz of chilled 6's for them.

At higher velocity 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 it seemed to blow up patterns with tighter chokes so I didn't have much long range use for it. Went back to HS-6 for my heavy pheas. loads.

 

[Woodycreek]

"I have used 1 1/4 #8 loads in a local match,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,."
That's what you get from hangin with Scotty

That one was all me! It was some extra shells that I had from a dove hunt! We had high winds and the shots on the long side. I was crushing birds and everybody else was just making noise :lol:

We tend to scar folks when they come and shoot with us Dave! Some folks can't sleep right after the experience!! :lol:

Sorry, can't add much to a shotgun thread.. Not much of a shotgunner.. I will try like heck though...

I seem to remember you as the one getting all the scars???

Dave,
You are welcome to come down anytime buddy!

Anybody ever tried Longshot powder? That's what I use for the 40 S&W/10mm and would like to use it for my 12 ga.

A little hot for trap loads but makes some nice field loads. I've run it with 1 1/4 heavy pheasant loads and my favorite early season crusher pheasant load.

It does push 1 1/8 oz nickle plated #6 to 1500fps from Gold Medal hulls with a Win AA wad. Use once fired hulls and a tyvek overshot wad to stabilize velocity. With improved it tears them a new one in close, with mod it cleanly dumps them to 40 yards. A little hot for grouse, makes grouseburger. I like the old green dot 1250ish 1 1/8 oz of chilled 6's for them.

At higher velocity 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 it seemed to blow up patterns with tighter chokes so I didn't have much long range use for it. Went back to HS-6 for my heavy pheas. loads.

Good to know other guys have used it. I may try Longshot for loading some #2 and #6 Heavy-Shot for waterfowl loads

 

[onesonek]

I haven't tried it with Heavi-shot, but I run late season Pheasant loads at 1 3/8 oz. / 5's / 13-1350 /FC. It puts them down, after most quit shootin. But since hunting over a GS pointer, I switched to using the 12" .410 Encore pistol, with #6's.

 

[onesonek]

We tend to scar folks when they come and shoot with us Dave! Some folks can't sleep right after the experience!! :lol:

Not unusual here,,,,just sounds like any given day with the ol'lady :lol:
And it cause's BF's where I entered a post and walked away before completing,,,like this one Scotty :wink:

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Steve,

There should be a stamping on the end of the charge bar. Look for a number like 118 or 114.This is the shot charge weight and means 1 1/8 oz or 1 1/4 oz. Bushings will have a number on the side and you will have to go back to the MEC reference chart to figure out the powder charge weight. The bushing can be used for different powders but the charge throw will be different.

Unlike metallic cartridges, you can not mix components. Shot shell loads are specific and you have to use a specific case, wad, powder and primer.

JD338

Thanks but the bar just says 12ga on it. Nothing else. I'm gonna order a charge bar and bushing just to be on the safe side.

 

[onesonek]

Steve,

There should be a stamping on the end of the charge bar. Look for a number like 118 or 114.This is the shot charge weight and means 1 1/8 oz or 1 1/4 oz. Bushings will have a number on the side and you will have to go back to the MEC reference chart to figure out the powder charge weight. The bushing can be used for different powders but the charge throw will be different.

Unlike metallic cartridges, you can not mix components. Shot shell loads are specific and you have to use a specific case, wad, powder and primer.

JD338

Thanks but the bar just says 12ga on it. Nothing else. I'm gonna order a charge bar and bushing just to be on the safe side.

Let me do some looking here Steve,,,,I just may have an extra 1 1/8 ounce charge bar here, and likely a bushing or 2 for the 700X.

 

[onesonek]

Well ,.... no such luck Steve. I knew I had one, but I must have traded it and forgot.