Blackpowder Shotgun Shells

[jjamna]

I would like to shoot all black powder in our C.A.S. matches. Can anyone tell me where I can get info and supplies to load shotshells with?

[PlacitasSlim]

I buy my wads from Circle Fly Wads. The most used brass cases are Magtech's which you can get from most reloading sources. Mine came from Midway. Remember when loading these that they are much thinner than plastic cases and require the use of 11ga wads and nitro cards and 10ga over powder cards. I use the brass shells as plastic only seem to last for one reloading.

[jjamna]

Do you need special dies for brass or just standard reloader?

[PlacitasSlim]

I use the RCBS shotgun dies. They had stopped making them, but now they are back.

[Sir Charles deMoutonBlack]

I, too, have the RCBS dies but they are not essential.  Brass shells can be completely reloaded with expedient tools.

Depriming goes a bit better with a LEE depriming punch
RE-priming can be done with a copper pipe punch over a piece of flat metal
Use any Blackpowder measure for powder
wads can be inserted by hand, and seated with a wooden dowel
shot can be measured with a LEE shot measure (about$5!) or just use the same measure as for powder
The over shot card can be glued in with Elmer's glue

Short of wads?  Use a 3/4 inch punch from any hardware or Tandy store and bang away.  Any firm cardboard, like family pack cereal boxes get my attention.  A stack of wads knocked out of pulp egg cartons will do for cushion wads if you can't wait for your supply to arrive from Circle Fly.  How about 1/8" Cork gasket material from the carparts supplier?

Crimping the mouth is unneccessary.  Re-sizing is unneccessary.

Plastic can be used as well!  I prefer R-P RTS or GUN CLUB.  Use a field wad to allow more room for Blackpowder.

There is plenty of advice on Cascity or The Open Range

[jjamna]

Thanks Guy's. The Circle Fly Wad Website has some real good reading.
Jeff