12g reloading Question

[phil384]

OK, got the press, got some 65mm, 67mm and 70mm cases, powder, primers, #6 shot etc etc.

I'm loading 32g #6, 1.7g Maxam CSB3 powder, 4mm overpowder cards, fibre wads.

The problem I'm having is the shot column is too short for both the 67mm and 70mm cases. The 65mm wont crimp in the Lee Load-All press.

I'm finding the crimp caves in as the shot doesn't reach the right height in the case.

Can I just use cork filler wads to pack it up to the right height? Will this adversely affect the cartridge performance?

Many thanks

[pjinoz]

OK, got the press, got some 65mm, 67mm and 70mm cases, powder, primers, #6 shot etc etc.

I'm loading 32g #6, 1.7g Maxam CSB3 powder, 4mm overpowder cards, fibre wads.

The problem I'm having is the shot column is too short for both the 67mm and 70mm cases. The 65mm wont crimp in the Lee Load-All press.

I'm finding the crimp caves in as the shot doesn't reach the right height in the case.

Can I just use cork filler wads to pack it up to the right height? Will this adversely affect the cartridge performance?

Many thanks

Hi phil384,
You have 2 choices:
1. Find a published load that will suit your requirements including PRESSURE DATA!
2. Cobble up a wad column that allows proper crimping for you and PUT IT THROUGH A PRESSURE GUN!
Or perhaps #3 Don't put # 2 through a pressure gun and "pray like hell either the gun does not come apart or does not shoot loose real quick"
It is near impossible to read pressure signs (unless they are extremely high-dangerous) like it is possible to do when reloading centre fire ammo.
My suggestion to you is to stick with #1 EXACTLY as published down to the last component; small changes can have very large consequences.
I have probably reloaded 30-50000 shotshells and unless I know the pressures developed I DON'T DO IT!
Cheers and safe shooting
pjinoz

[phil384]

Hi phil384,
You have 2 choices:
1. Find a published load that will suit your requirements including PRESSURE DATA!
2. Cobble up a wad column that allows proper crimping for you and PUT IT THROUGH A PRESSURE GUN!
Or perhaps #3 Don't put # 2 through a pressure gun and "pray like hell either the gun does not come apart or does not shoot loose real quick"
It is near impossible to read pressure signs (unless they are extremely high-dangerous) like it is possible to do when reloading centre fire ammo.
My suggestion to you is to stick with #1 EXACTLY as published down to the last component; small changes can have very large consequences.
I have probably reloaded 30-50000 shotshells and unless I know the pressures developed I DON'T DO IT!
Cheers and safe shooting
pjinoz

Thanks for the reply. I am using a published load, in fact slightly lighter than the published load so I'm confident about the pressure being fine. I've been reading up and it seems a 3mm cork filler will do the job so I'll give that a go. Thanks for the advice.

[Junes1]

Thanks for the reply. I am using a published load, in fact slightly lighter than the published load so I'm confident about the pressure being fine. I've been reading up and it seems a 3mm cork filler will do the job so I'll give that a go. Thanks for the advice.

I've used weetos in the base of the shot cup to fill out the shell. Don't use a smaller shell than the recipe calls for as the same components in a smaller shell generally equal higher pressure as there is less space for the gases to expand into before it opens. I would stick to 70mm recipes in 12 gauge for simplicity.

[phil384]

I've used weetos in the base of the shot cup to fill out the shell. Don't use a smaller shell than the recipe calls for as the same components in a smaller shell generally equal higher pressure as there is less space for the gases to expand into before it opens. I would stick to 70mm recipes in 12 gauge for simplicity.

Weetos? The breakfast cereal?

[Junes1]

Weetos? The breakfast cereal?

Yes

[phil384]

Well obviously

[GoodWILLHunting]

Weetos is a southern softy solution Tiny bit of folded news paper rammed into the base of the wad works for me. If I were you and using fibre wads, I'd just stick to adding the cork filler