Where to buy copper slugs for reloading ?

[boarhuntr]

Gents, I live in People's Repub. of Kalifornia where the area I hunt allows only non-lead ammo, due to condors. I want to reload shotgun slugs for my trusty H&R ultra, but nowhere on-line do I find anybody that sells slugs, only loaded ammo. Can you guys help me out ?
Thanks,

Boarhuntr

[jpshaw]

The only copper "slugs" I've seen are Sabots and those are just .45 caliber copper jacketed bullets placed into a .50 caliber or 12 Gauge size plastic cup for firing in a muzzle loader or shotgun.  While they are copper jacketed the core is still pure lead.   Why the restriction, do condors eat bullets like ducks eat shot?

[bikerbeans]

boar,
 
Link below is to a "non lead" slug at Ballastic Products.  I think it is a copper jacket over some other metal.  No experience with this slug.  Google "slugs r us" and see what they have for sale as well as look at their links to other suppliers.   Also, I would look into just buying the sabots that allow you to load either a 45 or 50 caliber bullet.   There are sabots out available the will allow you to load a Hornady .458 350 or 500 grain jacketed bullet.  This bullet was designed for the 458WM so it wouldn't expect it to come unglued on a hog when fired at 12 ga velocity.  Also,  there is a slug gun/ammo forum on GBO so you could use the search function on that forum and maybe find what you are after.
 
good luck,
 
BB
 
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/Green-Slug-12ga-729-375gr-15_box/productinfo/7000005/

[boarhuntr]

The antis in Kalifornia have been able to pass legislation mandating the use of non-lead ammo for hunting in condor country, claiming condors eat the guts of hunted animals and get lead poisoning, thus diminishing their numbers. Bunch of crock. I don't see hunters throwing hundreds of rounds of lead to the point those stupid birds get poisoned by eating the guts. Eventually the antis will extend the ban on lead to fishing, so we have a big fight on our hands.
I've looked at Slugs R Us and they only stock 12 ga lead sabots. No copper. Another problem is my HR ultra slug is in 20 ga. so that limits me ever further for reloading.
So I'm still waiting for someone to steer me in the right direction . But thanks for your feedback.


Boarhuntr 

[bikerbeans]

boar,
 
Link below to a webpage at the Slugs R Us.  You can buy their 20 ga sabots w/o a slug and it says it will work with MOST 44 cal bullets.  Then just buy a barnes or other all copper 44 cal bullet and you should be good to go.   I have never reloaded copper sabots so I would contact the folks at Slugs r Us for load data.
Good luck
 
BB
 
 
http://www.slugsrus.com/store/handload.html

[boarhuntr]

Biker,
   Thanks for the info. Slugs R Us does say I can load the 44 caliber bullets in their sabot casing. I checked out Midway and found several 44 caliber copper bullets from different mfg's, so that's the way I'll go.
BTW, anyone know what SPW stands for ?


Boarhuntr

[bikerbeans]

Boarhuntr
 
Keep us posted on your load development with the 44 cal bullets in your 20 ga USH.   I put a shorty 20 ga Tracker II for my wife and my homemade sabots using 20 ga shotcups leave a lot of room for improvement.  I know I can go the factory route for a hunting round but I just can't make myself pay $3 to $4 a round for shotgun ammo. 
 
BB