Author Topic: Is it possible? (Read 1364 times)

.Dirty-.30 · « **on:** February 02, 2013, 05:43:14 PM »

My handloading is limited to rifle and pistol chamberings... Is it possible to take shotshell emptys from my H&R or NEF single shots and load them without a press? I see online that there is drill operated crimp starters. Following a published recipe can I nock out and reset a new primer, weigh on my reloading scale a proper weight of powder, add my wad and shot then crimp and expect these to chamber and function in a single shot? Hope someone has done this and can help....

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2013, 08:12:26 PM »

Yes it's possible. I think Lee use to make a "Lee Hand Loader" for shotgun shells, but I haven't seen them for years. If you really want one, you could probably try to find one on ebay, but you'll probably have to pay a lot more than they originally sold for. You might look at the link below, it will give you an idea on how to load shotshells without a press.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=452209

Just remembered, Lee also ~~use to~~ makes a product called a: Lee Load All, see link for instruction sheet.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/LA1088.pdf

It's ~~was~~ for reloading all gauges of shotshells. Just found it on Midway, but it seems to be currently out of stock.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/436640/lee-load-all-2-shotshell-press-12-gauge-2-3-4-3

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2013, 08:18:22 PM »

.Dirty-.30 - You got me thinking, which is a dangerous thing for me, so I went and searched ebay. I found a couple of the shotshell loaders for sale. If you do use them let us know how you made out.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=lee+handloader&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313&_nkw=lee-loader&_sacat=0
If anyone else is interested, they also have the Lee hand loaders in different calibers available.

jpshaw · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2013, 01:03:31 AM »

It is possible to load shotshells with just some cut off dowels and a hammer. While the Lee Loader hand tool can be found on ebay, the Lee Load-All which is a kinda press only runs $47 new from Midway and that's probably less then the hand tool bought used.

bikerbeans · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2013, 01:45:42 AM »

Quote from: .Dirty-.30 on February 02, 2013, 05:43:14 PM

My handloading is limited to rifle and pistol chamberings... Is it possible to take shotshell emptys from my H&R or NEF single shots and load them without a press? I see online that there is drill operated crimp starters. Following a published recipe can I nock out and reset a new primer, weigh on my reloading scale a proper weight of powder, add my wad and shot then crimp and expect these to chamber and function in a single shot? Hope someone has done this and can help....

dirty,

Yes, maybe.

The crimp starter in a drill is probably a roll crimper and you would need overshot cards if you roll crimp with birdshot. FWIW, I haven't had much luck trying to roll crimp used hulls that were originally star crimped. The steel roll crimpers cost more than have the cost of the Lee Loadall II. I have seen plastic 12ga roll crimpers that are cheaper but have not tried one.
You may or may not be able to rechamber a fired shotshell, all depends on how much the metal base expanded. Just check ~~the~~ each hull will chamber in the gun you plan on shooting it them in before you reload.

Depriming can be done with a small pin punch or a nail. Installing a new primer is a bit more dicey w/o a proper press. I have reprimed shotgun shells using the "Bubba" method but I don't want to post about it.

BB

scratchmark · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2013, 02:06:46 AM »

What BB said. my dad has a couple of the lee kits and i used them as a kid back in the "70's. They worked but most of the time you were loading shells for the same gun they were originally shot in.sort like neck sizing. so it never was much of an issue whether they would chamber or not. also i wouldnt wanna do a couple boxes with those kits either. they were great to take on a hunting trip but if your at home, get the lee loadall or mec, youll be much happier. In general, it can be done, do it to say ya know how then go buy a press.

tacklebury · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2013, 09:01:05 AM »

This is another company currently making hand reloaders for 12, 20, 16 and .410 gauges and at very reasonable prices.

http://lane371.dotster.com/12gauge.html

murphdog · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2013, 10:19:17 AM »

Dirty-30,
As others have said, it can be done, and I have done it using a long nail, a wooden dowel, and a hammer. For me, the hardest part was getting a good crimp. Sometimes would not crimp down all the way. Sometimes crimped end would flare out so that I could'nt chamber the shell. I saw on the internet where some people just cut off the star crimp and glue an overshot card into the end of the shell. I wasn't comfortable with that, so I ended up buying a Lee Loadall. As jpshaw noted, it was cheaper than buying a used Lee handloader at the time. The Lee Loadall crimps very well, and problem solved.
Duane

sluggo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2013, 02:43:55 PM »

I just buy bird or upland game loads, cut the crimps off, melt the shot down, and cast my own slugs for my 12 and 20 ga.. I just drop the slug back in the shot wad and seal with silicon. These reduced loads I can shoot all day.

mechanic · « **Reply #9 on:** February 03, 2013, 03:31:25 PM »

To reprime, use a wooden dowel in a drill press, with the primer on a block of wood that is drilled slightly to cup the anvil and not the primer. If you push a shotgun primer out, it's a large rifle primer inside an anvil.

I deprime with the drill press and a pin punch, with the case centered over a hole in a board.

Use standard shot wads and loading, pressed in with the wooden dowel. Use an overshot card, and cut off the crimp, seal with hot glue.

If the shell came out of the gun, it should reload in the same gun without sizing, unless the chamber is out of round...unlikely...all mine have done fine.

In truth, 20 ga. and 12 ga. are relatively reasonably priced, 410 hurts my feelings somewhat....I began experimenting with loading for that reason.

Use a load manual, correct components and powder and be careful...

Ben

scratchmark · « **Reply #10 on:** February 03, 2013, 11:40:49 PM »

Hey, i like that drill press idea.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2013, 06:35:11 AM »

Yep, a drill press is a light duty press with a bit of round stock or a bolt chucked up as the top punch. The leverage provided is usually good enough for reloading chores.
IME the shotshells start to get loose in the battery cup (primer) after 3-4 reloads and if they are lighter end loads the swell of the case head wont be an issue unless you make hot loads. If you use a lighter shot charge its easy enough to just cut the crimp end off and card wad it and you have as good a load as a muzzleloaded shotgun. Traditionally the top of old shells was sealed with 'waterglass', but I like the sound of the sili-seal or hot glue. It just makes sure your loads dont come undone when least expected, like in your shell carrier, pocket or, worst of all, in the second barrel of a double.

.Dirty-.30 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2013, 12:56:46 PM »

Ended up with a Mec 600 Jr from the classifieds over on MO's for 12ga, 16ga and 20ga. Which all 3 I can use. Still looking for 10ga and 3.5" 12ga options though. Anybody that has one of these presses, is it possible to resize and crimp a 3.5" load on a Mec jr?

Couger · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2013, 02:44:51 PM »

Quote from: .Dirty-.30

Ended up with a Mec 600 Jr from the classifieds over on MO's for 12ga, 16ga and 20ga. Which all 3 I can use. Still looking for 10ga and 3.5" 12ga options though. Anybody that has one of these presses, is it possible to resize and crimp a 3.5" load on a Mec jr?

Don't know if MEC (Mayville Engineering Co) ever offered a 10ga press ...... But Pacific-Hornady did with their DL-155 shotshell press.

So did Ponsness-Warren, but those are spendy!

BTW, eBay is still a great place to find and buy Lee Loader hand-reloading kits for rebuilding shotshell ammo!

Been "shopping," looking, following that site for years!

And seen them ALL!
28gauge 2 3/4", 16 gaueg 2 3/4" ..... along with both 10 gauge kits - 3 1/2 and 2 7/8inches! As well as 2 1/2 and 3inch .410 kits.
Some are spendy, but some are reasonable too.

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2013, 03:00:38 PM »

you can buy a lee load all for $55. why not get it?

gcrank1 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2013, 03:18:46 PM »

They are out there used too. A good friend had trouble even getting $15 out of one at a gun show. I should have bought it........never figured I'd load 12s and now I want to.

Couger · « **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2013, 03:20:27 PM »

Quote from: STUMPJMPR

you can buy a lee load all for $55. why not get it?

errr ...... because they're made of "cheap plastic"?

I agree however they're faster than Lee Loaders, which are almost all metal.

Often MEC 650's or Pacific DL-105's can be found on fleaBay for around $55 give or take.

Couger · « **Reply #17 on:** February 18, 2013, 03:27:48 PM »

Quote from: gcrank1 on February 18, 2013, 03:18:46 PM

They are out there used too. A good friend had trouble even getting $15 out of one at a gun show. I should have bought it........never figured I'd load 12s and now I want to.

At present I have one .410 kit for 3" shells, and both 2 3/4" and 3" kits for both 12 and 20ga.

Also have a kit in .280 Remington (which I consered myself EXTREMELY lucky to find), and one in .25-20 I bought for $20 (used) at a gunshow!

When possible will get a .45/70 kit and kits std carttridges like .30/06, 9mm, .38Spl, etc. (as last ditch methods to build ammo, if we're ever in a real deression or my other equipment is lost, stolen or confescated.

)

gcrank1 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2013, 03:29:36 PM »

Cases are plastic too, some were all plastic, including the base. Are you not going to reload them unless paper or metal like 'they used to be'? Then there are wads and shot cups, etc, etc.........
Credit to Lee for continuing to make inexpensive reloading equipment that makes shootable ammo for those of us less well endowed monetarily.

Couger · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2013, 04:00:50 PM »

Quote from: gcrank1

Cases are plastic too, some were all plastic, including the base. Are you not going to reload them unless paper or metal like 'they used to be'? Then there are wads and shot cups, etc, etc.........
Credit to Lee for continuing to make inexpensive reloading equipment that makes shootable ammo for those of us less well endowed monetarily.

Cases (shotshell hulls?) are indeed usually plastic, and paper on rare occassions.

I usually use one-piece wads, but also (by hand) make my own custom wad columns depending what I'm trying to achieve (reloading specialty rounds, IOW). I also cut wads apart to get their shot cups or over-powder wads. I also favor odd shot sizes when an application uses a #7, a #5 1/2, a #3, etc.

I agree Lee makes less expensive equipement than most companies, but I've track of the number of their items that have broken for me.

For inexpensive shotshell reloading, I'm partial to (used) Pacific DL-105 presses (or DL-266's), but have also steered reloaders (beginners and otherwise) to MEC presses.

BTW, after learning the basics of reloading shotshells on a Lee Loader, used a VersaMEC 700 when first using a shotshell press!