OT-Full Brass 12 ga. shells

[505stevec]

I just found 50 full length brass 12 gauge shells. When did they stop making these? Any help appreciated.

[Lefty Dude]

They still make them. Check out Magtech, they make .410, 20 , 16 , 12 & 10 also 28 & 32's. Midway Sells them. The PB shooter use them. Mine are made by Hammer Double and use a standard 209 primer. The Magtech's use a large rifle primer.

I just cleaned 2 boxes of 16's that I shot at a CAS shoot last weekend. They will be loaded tomorrow.

I use regular 16 ga. plastic wads when I load. however when using BP you use a fiber wad.

Check here for fiber wads & cards and loading information for brass shells;

http://www.circlefly.com

[Rusty]

I buy my Mag tech 12 ga. brass from Cabelas.

[Ysabel Kid]

Okay, I'll raise my hand for the "dumb question of the day". I haven't reloaded shotgun hulls - just pistol and rifle. do you need special equipment to load a full brass shotgun shell?

[505stevec]

Thanks guys, I though I found something old and cool

[Hobie]

Thanks guys, I though I found something old and cool

You may have found something old and cool. What's the headstamp?

[Lefty Dude]

Okay, I'll raise my hand for the "dumb question of the day". I haven't reloaded shotgun hulls - just pistol and rifle. do you need special equipment to load a full brass shotgun shell?

No special tools required.

I have found the best reloading tools are the old Lee SG reloaders. You can find them on E-bay. Lee no longer makes them for SG.

I use a combination of the Lee tools and the ones I made myself.

All you really need is a plastic mallet, a punch to de-cap the primer and a 7/16" deep socket to re-set the new primer & a 1/2" short wood dowell rod to seat the wads. The shot card that keeps the package together is held in place by a ring of Duco cement.

I use regular published loads for the amount of powder and shot. The column length is adjusted by the fiber cushion wads & can be cut to a tailored column length. It takes a bit of adjusting of the fiber wads but once you have the proper component pieces it goes vary quickly.

I like the brass SG shells, they last forever. If they get a dent or the mouth gets smashed I use a mandrel in the vise and with a plastic or wood mallet, they get pounded out. I re-size with the Lee loader body die, lube the case and drive them thru with the plastic mallet. My case gauge is the chambers of my double gun. I pull the barrel and after I clean the cases I drop each brass shell in the chambers to verify that the case will chamber and extract properly. If I have any case head expansion I use my MEC Supersizer collet base resizer to return the case base to the factory size.

If you have vintage SG's, brass is the way to go.

[Ysabel Kid]

Okay, I'll raise my hand for the "dumb question of the day". I haven't reloaded shotgun hulls - just pistol and rifle. do you need special equipment to load a full brass shotgun shell?

No special tools required.

I have found the best reloading tools are the old Lee SG reloaders. You can find them on E-bay. Lee no longer makes them for SG.

I use a combination of the Lee tools and the ones I made myself.

All you really need is a plastic mallet, a punch to de-cap the primer and a 7/16" deep socket to re-set the new primer & a 1/2" short wood dowell rod to seat the wads. The shot card that keeps the package together is held in place by a ring of Duco cement.

I use regular published loads for the amount of powder and shot. The column length is adjusted by the fiber cushion wads & can be cut to a tailored column length. It takes a bit of adjusting of the fiber wads but once you have the proper component pieces it goes vary quickly.

I like the brass SG shells, they last forever. If they get a dent or the mouth gets smashed I use a mandrel in the vise and with a plastic or wood mallet, they get pounded out. I re-size with the Lee loader body die, lube the case and drive them thru with the plastic mallet. My case gauge is the chambers of my double gun. I pull the barrel and after I clean the cases I drop each brass shell in the chambers to verify that the case will chamber and extract properly. If I have any case head expansion I use my MEC Supersizer collet base resizer to return the case base to the factory size.

If you have vintage SG's, brass is the way to go.

Thanks for the explanation LD!

[HEAD0001]

RCBS makes a set of dies. You can load them in a rifle press, just like you do rifle shells. Tom.

[Griff]

RCBS makes a set of dies. You can load them in a rifle press, just like you do rifle shells. Tom.

[Lefty Dude]

They make them for a 12 ga. only, no 16's or 20's.

And check the price, they be proud of those big dies.

I know, I am not shooting the proper ga. 12.

For you 16 lovers try here;

http://www.16ga.com

[jjames]

http://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/page10.html

Rocky Mountain Cartridge has instructions and reloading kits for brass shotgun shells starting at $35.

Lefty Dude are you sure Magtech makes 10ga brass shells. I sure have not been able to find any from them. The ones I have found from two other companies are incredible expensive

[awp101]

Hmmm, this may be a reason for me to go back and look at an old Marlin 16ga pump...

[Lefty Dude]

http://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/page10.html

Rocky Mountain Cartridge has instructions and reloading kits for brass shotgun shells starting at $35.

Lefty Dude are you sure Magtech makes 10ga brass shells. I sure have not been able to find any from them. The ones I have found from two other companies are incredible expensive

Buffaloarms has them I think. I saw Magtech 10's somewhere. Check Ballistic Products Too. If you need the links let me know. BPI makes a reload kit for brass shells.

I checked Rocky Mt's price for the brass shells, they want close to $5.00 @.
The price of brass is high right now as you know.

I use the Hammer Double shells that have the 209 primer & have a teflon base wad. I have 50 and will buy another 25 this summer. I buy them from Buffaloarms.

[Lefty Dude]

Hmmm, this may be a reason for me to go back and look at an old Marlin 16ga pump...

If the marlin is a 98, looks just like a Winchester 97. Be advised Marlin has suggested they should not be shot, there is a safety concern. They do not have a locking safety device on the bolt like the Winny. They have the nick name "The widow Maker". The Winchester 93 had the same problem. When the Winny 97 came out they recalled the 93 and gave the owner a new 97 in exchange.

The Single Action Shooting Society has out lawed the Marlin 98, it can not be used in a SASS sanctioned Match.

BTW, Remington, Winchester & Federal make 16 shells. I buy them at WalMart, usually federals. Big 5 stocks Remington 16 game Loads. I order the Winchester 16 from my local gun shop and buy them by the 10 box flat.

[jjames]

I have checked and just re-checked Buffalo Arms and Ballistic Products and neither of them have 10 ga brass hulls. Magtech seems to make every ga. from .410 through 12 ga and they run under a $1.00 per shell. The only brass 10 ga I have been able to find are from Rocky Mountain or Gad Custom Cartridge and as you note they are $5.00 a pop. The search continues.

[awp101]

If the marlin is a 98, looks just like a Winchester 97. Be advised Marlin has suggested they should not be shot, there is a safety concern. They do not have a locking safety device on the bolt like the Winny. They have the nick name "The widow Maker". The Winchester 93 had the same problem. When the Winny 97 came out they recalled the 93 and gave the owner a new 97 in exchange.

The Single Action Shooting Society has out lawed the Marlin 98, it can not be used in a SASS sanctioned Match.

Ehhh, I guess I'll pass then!

IIRC it's an 1898, grade C engraving and less than $600 but I like having all the parts I was born with still attached...

[Lefty Dude]

If the marlin is a 98, looks just like a Winchester 97. Be advised Marlin has suggested they should not be shot, there is a safety concern. They do not have a locking safety device on the bolt like the Winny. They have the nick name "The widow Maker". The Winchester 93 had the same problem. When the Winny 97 came out they recalled the 93 and gave the owner a new 97 in exchange.

The Single Action Shooting Society has out lawed the Marlin 98, it can not be used in a SASS sanctioned Match.

Ehhh, I guess I'll pass then!

IIRC it's an 1898, grade C engraving and less than $600 but I like having all the parts I was born with still attached...

Marlin98's are a nice looking piece, you could shoot very low recoil hand loads in the piece and let it be a safe queen. Let it go to a Collector & not a shooter.
Save your Money, There are great Winny 97's out there for about the same or less. Try and find a 97 Black Diamond, the wood is supurb and are usually in Trap Grade.