Anyone here load BP shotshells?

[noelf2]

Diogenes415 said:

When I load 7/8 oz slugs I'll just stuff a card in there on top of the powder and then run the slug down in a pillow ticking patch, like I do with my smooth bore flintlock.

Last night I loaded a brass 20 gauge hull with a .60 lead ball. The column went like this: 70gr Pyrodex RS, over-powder nitro card, lubed felt wad, 4 each 1/8th inch cork disks, and a patched ball (trimmed excess patch). The cork was added as a buffer, and to bring the ball closer to the mouth of the hull. With all properly compressed, there was still about a half inch from the hull mouth. I tapped the loaded shell a bit, and the ball wanted to shift. So I got the ball out, and added another patch around it to tighten it up a bit. Still it would shift if I wasn't careful. I wonder if there's a way to add a slight crimp without destroying the brass? Still, Not sure how it will perform anyway, in a mod choke shotgun. Will have to test it.

 

[Pete D.]

Crimp

areful. I wonder if there's a way to add a slight crimp without destroying the brass?

Not that I know of. I put a slight crimp on a Magtech brass hull some years ago....thinking that the passage of the shot load would remove it.
Nope. It is still there.
That being said, I have an antique factory loaded brass shotshell....it is roll crimped over the edge of the shot card. I am sometimes tempted to fire it just to see what happens to the crimp.

 

[noelf2]

My roll crimper finally came in....

from Russia. It took almost 2 months to get here, but it got here. I posted the ebay link earlier in this thread. I crimped a couple 12 gauge shells, but it will roll crimp 16 and 20 gauge also. Over all I'm pleased with it.

 

[midland man]

okay question how much bp will it take to load a magnum load for my 3 1/2in 12 gauge with 2oz's of shot?? thanks!

 

[Pete D.]

drams

Check this chart.
http://s236.photobucket.com/user/_DMC/media/DEP12.jpg.html

Apparently the dram equivalent is 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 drams....
A dram is 27 grains.