reloading 20 ga. slugs

[kenny549]

I,am going to start reloading 20 gauge with slugs. Does anyone reload there own, and what powders do you recomend? I hope to get some good results by using different jacketed bullets and powders, just looking for a starting point. I will post my results to let others know what loads, wads, primers, powder work best for my 220f savage. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Al]

CCS is the only one I'm aware of that makes a 20ga sabot. Last I knew they offered 45 and 50cal versions and had some load data they sent with them.

20ga full bore solids catch my interest thou!!

[mountainam]

Kenny, I don't know if you are loading 12 ga slugs already or this will be your first attempt at slug loading with your new 20ga from Denny. I love reloading as much as I do shooting. I honestly don't know how you can enjoy a rifle by running store bought ammo out of your gun, but in the case of slug loading it's pretty difficult to duplicate the factory's results. I'm sure that your new purchase of the Savage 220F was to enhance your long range accuracy. I'm only writing of my experience, but after sending Lightfield and Ballistic Products a total of $400- $500 I could not come close to the performance of Hornady's SST slugs in my Savage 210. I, like you, can't get my brain wrapped around $3 a shot and spending $45- $60 for a practice session at the bench which is the reason I dumped the shotgun in lieu of the muzzleloader 20 some years ago. They are more accurate and cheaper to shoot. It still blows me away after reading the posts how the smokeless muzzle loader is beneath it's potential at 2300 fps but the same guys are OK with 1900 fps using 250gr sabot slug. I know that in all my experimentation the Lyman slug that looks like a giant air rifle pellet is the only slug I could get to shoot well and using it defeats the purpose of going to a long range bolt action slug gun. If I had to do it over I would have just bit the bullet and bought a case of Hornady SST slugs. But if you love the journey, GOOD HUNTING!

[kenny549]

What does CCS stand for? I did google search on CCS and came up with nothing related to shooting or reloading.

[Al]

collet cup sabot

shoot emma a e-mail and she'll get you a current price list.



members.fortunecity.com/emmyoung/id2.htm

[corvair]

I also have considered reloading 20ga slugs and found many links for components. CCS as mentioned previously was one.

Hastings slugs are said to be very accurate and you can buy their saboted slugs in 20ga. Here is one link, there are many more.
It also contains load data in the purchase.

www.precisionreloading.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PRE&Product_Code=SPW20L&Category_Code=SLUGS_MOULDS

[tcmech]

I think I would start by going to the ballistic products inc homepage and ordering a reloading manual from them.

They sell slugs, sabots, wads, and all manner of reloading stuff for shotguns.

I would also buy a chronograph to use for load development in case you don't already have one.

I personally have a marlin 512 that is barely used unless I am hunting in certain areas where I need to be in an elevated stand to use my muzzle loader. I don't reload for it, but I have been considering it myself.

Good luck,

Craig

[artjr338wm]

FWIW Kenny, I was just perusing my 2010 Midway catalog and they had some rather impressive looking sabots/shotgun wads for use with pistol bullets to enable you to reload them for use in both 12 and 20ga shotguns.

Might be worth a look see. If you are interested let me know and I will post the exact item No#, as that catalog is not in the same room with me at the moment.

Arthur.

[kenny549]

Got to shoot some hand loaded slugs yesterday. First time reloading slugs using collet cup sabots, results were very good, using blue dot powder. 310gr knight lead bullets (old ones) and 250gr shockwave . Both of these bullets cut holes at 50 yards, 3 shot groups. I shot these through a chronograph and the velocities were very consistent, loads showed 1575 to 1585 fps. Anyone else use a chronograph , how far above the chronograph can you shoot and still get good readings? I put a guard on my chronagraph 1/4" plexiglass and if I hadnt it would have been ruined from wads hitting it. Cant wait to dhoot these at 100yds to see how they perform, I will post results when I do.

[12ptdroptine]

My son just dropped a grand on reloading supplies and a mec sizemaster press.... He is having fits trying to get them to shoot...

[xp100]

I use SR4756 Powder(24gr.), Win. Hulls, CB-1078-20 wads. Lyman slugs and a fold crimp. They shot 4" higher than Light fieldsat 55 yds. Adjusted scope and got a 1.5" 3 shot group at same range about 2" high.

[10ga]

Been down this path and it's too costly for this boy, and couldn't get the slugs, in rifled Encore barrel and a H&R to shoot anywhere near my MLs for accuracy. Sold all the gear, slugs, molds, wads, barrel and gun and got another MLII. And happy I done it. 10