Next Project - 20 gauge slugs (not sabots)

[GoodOlBoy]

So for my next question on Tom Foolery.... I want to start casting and loading my on 20 gauge slugs. Remington rifled lead slugs work well for me, but I don't see a mold even similar out there.

I am completely blank here. What powder, primer, wad, slug, slug mould, etc would you experienced fellars and gals recommend? And would I need to use a regular shotgun press? Roll or star crimp? Would there be a way to basically recreated the aguilla mini slugs for a 20 gauge single shot? (IE a short but effective little deer getter) I would be reusing old spent birdshot hulls of remington, federal, winchester ,etc.... I want to be safe as always, but I want to be able to feed my old single shot.....

Thanks

Richard

[GoodOlBoy]

Just realized what it looked like I was saying was I was ONLY interested in shorty reloads. Not true at all, I am looking for any and ALL non-sabot reload ideas, techniques, advice, etc.

Thanks so much!

Richard

[buckhunter]

I looked into it a while back. It just wasn't worth it from a lot of points. For as much as I use them I will just buy them. Because the People Republic of Massachusetts is shot gun only I normally will fire about 10 or 12 a year I shelved the idea.

[skeet]

GOB Listen to Buckhunter. I did the slug thing quite a few years ago. Lyman had a 12 and 20 ga slug mould..and a rifling die But they no longer have the same stuff. It was a LOT of work to make up the loads...and accuracy was very elusive. Maybe what I should say..accuracy was non existent. Lyman and Lee have a newer type of wasp-wasted new slug that is somewhat better..but not much. and although it does not use a real sabot it is loaded in a regular plastic wad. That said.. I tried 'em too. My actual take on the whole thing? Spend the money if ya want but it will end up being a money pit..almost as bad as a boat..on a smaller scale. You might find a slug load that will shoot real close..for a shot or two..Think of it this way...A lyman mould will be 70 dollars without handles. At 80 cents each for factory..that is 90 rounds. and they will be infinitely more accurate. Even when I did crop damage deer shooting I only shot 125 rounds a year or less shooting from 70-100 deer.per year. Sounds neat to load yer own..but it ain't even worth thinking about

[skeet]

Hey GOB.. Forget the slug thing..but for short range you can get a Roundball mould and make fairly accurate punkin ball loads in 12 16 and 20..with a bit of work even for the 410. I have a .410 round ball mould..just got me to thinkin..

[Jack]

Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
In areas where slugs are used, just before every hunting season, some big box store will have a sale on slugs, and they sell them so cheap you couldn't load them for the price. Stock up.

[GoodOlBoy]

Thanks for the advice guys. I was afraid that was the way it was going to lean, but I wanted to be certain. Around here we cannot hardly get squat for 20 gauge except for #8 bird shot. 12 gauge loads are a little better, but only buckshot, no slugs. Guess I will have to find some to order online.

Any idea what the ball size would be on pumpkin loads for a 20 skeet?

Thanks again

Richard

[skeet]

GOB..20 ga bore size is about .615..but the round ball for the gauge will be under .590..maybe as small as .570. Punkin ball loads are usually roll crimped and there was usually a card wad with the center cut out to fit over the round ball. I also have a recollection there was a cutout card under the ball too. I measured one of them once and if memory serves me right the card wad was approx. a .200 size in 12 ga. Never measured a 20..a 28 card with hole was .100 I think. Punkin balls were loaded in 10 12 20 28 and some say 410..but I have never seen a 410 punkin ball... have seen some 410 multiple round ball loads. But for deer etc it would be anemic. Even the 20 would be a short range proposition at best

[Adam Helmer]

GOB,

Being retired since 1996, I have too much free time, even with a farm to run. I tried making and loading 12, 16 and 20 gauge slugs. I will say the job was labor intensive. Happily my old reloading guru, Al Smith, now deceased, had the moulds and tools; I had the cases, primers, powder and the time. Bottom line; I prefer to buy a few boxes of slugs for the half dozen or so I shoot per annum.

Adam