Steel shot - home remedy?

[HogHQ39]

I have been thinking about reloading shotgun shells for duck and geese. Does anyone here make their own steel shot at home? I’d be interested in hearing your feedback and techniques! Thanks.

 

[Ready_fire_aim]

Loading steel shot is just like loading any shotgun stuff, you just have to gather the correct components (wads, shot, powder, hulls, etc) then assemble them according to published recipes

You won’t save any money doing it, especially nowadays. It’s expensive to gather the gear and materials.

I’ve been messing with loading 12ga for a couple years or so. It’s fun. My motivation was to be able to load stuff I can’t find on the shelves (super low recoil 3/4oz, in #5 shot for example, for squirrels)

 

[retrieverman]

I’ve loaded shotgun shells for over 30 years and never loaded steel, because I’ve never shot enough of it to justify buying the needed components.

I started dabbling in loading tungsten last year, and even with me having the equipment, I wish I would’ve just bought factory ammo.

 

[HogHQ39]

Loading steel shot is just like loading any shotgun stuff, you just have to gather the correct components (wads, shot, powder, hulls, etc) then assemble them according to published recipes

You won’t save any money doing it, especially nowadays. It’s expensive to gather the gear and materials.

I’ve been messing with loading 12ga for a couple years or so. It’s fun. My motivation was to be able to load stuff I can’t find on the shelves (super low recoil 3/4oz, in #5 shot for example, for squirrels)

I was hoping prices of components and ammo would go down, but I’m sure that won’t happen anytime soon.

 

[HogHQ39]

I’ve loaded shotgun shells for over 30 years and never loaded steel, because I’ve never shot enough of it to justify buying the needed components.

I started dabbling in loading tungsten last year, and even with me having the equipment, I wish I would’ve just bought factory ammo.

What made you reconsider loading tungsten? Is it because of the price of the metal?

 

[retrieverman]

What made you reconsider loading tungsten? Is it because of the price of the metal?

All the shotgun loading I’ve done up to this point has been really simple…deprime, prime, drop powder, insert wad, drop shot, pre crimp, and crimp.
With tungsten, load data is scarce, and if a guy has a load, instead of sharing data, he’ll want to sell you his shot before giving up the data. Every load I’ve found has different wad set ups with spacers and cards over or under the shot, and at $27/lb for the shot, load testing ain’t cheap.
No more than I turkey hunt (which is all I intend to use it for), I would’ve been better off buying factory loaded ammo, but at this point, I’ve already bought 10# of shot and am committed to the project.

 

[turkeyrun]

I have reloaded steel for years. Bought the shot, just like buying lead. It is a soft steel. Never heard of anyone successfully making their own.

The biggest reason to load your own is to get the load you want. At one time, there was a savings. Today, not much is saved, but having the ammo you want is justification for me.

 

[HogHQ39]

All the shotgun loading I’ve done up to this point has been really simple…deprime, prime, drop powder, insert wad, drop shot, pre crimp, and crimp.
With tungsten, load data is scarce, and if a guy has a load, instead of sharing data, he’ll want to sell you his shot before giving up the data. Every load I’ve found has different wad set ups with spacers and cards over or under the shot, and at $27/lb for the shot, load testing ain’t cheap.
No more than I turkey hunt (which is all I intend to use it for), I would’ve been better off buying factory loaded ammo, but at this point, I’ve already bought 10# of shot and am committed to the project.

I completely understand, thank you sir for the input!

 

[HogHQ39]

I have reloaded steel for years. Bought the shot, just like buying lead. It is a soft steel. Never heard of anyone successfully making their own.

The biggest reason to load your own is to get the load you want. At one time, there was a savings. Today, not much is saved, but having the ammo you want is justification for me.

This is good to know.. thanks

 

[Ready_fire_aim]

Oh and also, ignore the guys on YouTube loading air gun BBs into shotshells. As a previous post mentioned steel shotgun shot is a softer steel. Air gun BBs are too hard and can possibly cause high pressure spikes or barrel damage