12 ga reload for Cowboy Action shooting

marklyftogt · September 11, 2012, 11:50 PM

Wondering what powder etc you all use for reloading 12 ga for CAS.

Not sure if it is cost effective but I am sure it would be fun to reload shot shell.

tCan · September 12, 2012, 12:36 AM

The closest to reloading I've ever come is converting dove loads into 1 oz round nose slugs, but; I hear that most people start out with a "square load" depending on the shot size. This is black powder of course.

They call it a square load because you'll use the same measure for both your powder and your shot. So, depending on the powder you use and your shotsize, you'll wind up with something like 1 oz of medium shot to 50 grains of powder.

If you want to lighten the load, smaller chargers work better with smaller sized shot and vise versa. Again, I'm no expert, but these are the things that people commonly suggest when loading black powder and shot shells.

And of course you can play with plastic wads fiber wads, paper hulls, and all that old school stuff. It all works about the same in the end, and there are recipes for these variations available just about anywhere.

Sorry if my post is not that far reaching, but it may be the simplest advise (assuming of course you're interested in BP at all).

marklyftogt · September 12, 2012, 10:54 AM

I am not ready for black powder yet. Just smokeless to get started.

Noz · September 12, 2012, 02:45 PM

Find a shotshell reloading manual and follow it to the letter.

Crunchy Frog · September 12, 2012, 09:05 PM

No need to beat yourself up with excessive recoil to hit a static target at CAS distances.

Most folks I know are using a seven-eighths or one ounce shot load at a velocity that mimics the Winchester Low Noise-Low Recoil factory load (what used to be called Featherlights).

If you buy Winchester AA powder the load data is on the can.

Most of the published data for shotshells is "warmer" than that.

B.L.E. · September 13, 2012, 05:54 AM

Winchester AA or Remington STS shell

Winchester "grey" wad WAA12L

7/8 ounce shot

Winchester 209 primers

Alliant Red Dot powder 16.5 grains.

Perfect for CAS, it effectively turns a 12 gauge into a 20 gauge.

Winchester AA and Remington STS shells are super slick on the outside and drop out of the shotgun chambers without having to be pulled out. This is important for shooting SASS matches where you want to reload fast.

I don't shoot SASS much anymore, but I do shoot a lot of muzzleloading trap and there is a black powder cartridge catagory.

Here's my black powder trap load.

Cheap Estate shells picked up on the range, I'm not going to re-reload them.

80 grains FFg
one "nitro card" over powder
a half inch fiber wad, dipped in mixture of 1/2 beeswax and 1/2 Crisco
1 1/8 ounce shot

The ML trap rules don't allow plastic wads.

marklyftogt · September 13, 2012, 09:10 AM

Thanks B.L.E.! I and my wife's shoulder salute you!

Jbar4Ranch · September 13, 2012, 10:39 PM

For CAS, I use 12.5 grains Red Dot and 7/8 oz shot with a cheapo Claybusters Lightning 7/8 - 1 oz wad (CB4100-12B... I think...). No preference for primers, but I prefer STS hulls over AA hulls. Windjammer wads work well for the Cowboy game too - whatever is available. With the larger capacity Windjammers, I'll put a piece of a plastic foam packing peanut on top of the shot column to keep the crimp from folding inward.

September 11, 2012, 11:50 PM	#1
marklyftogt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 138	12 ga reload for Cowboy Action shooting Wondering what powder etc you all use for reloading 12 ga for CAS. Not sure if it is cost effective but I am sure it would be fun to reload shot shell.

September 13, 2012, 05:54 AM	#6
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	Winchester AA or Remington STS shell Winchester "grey" wad WAA12L 7/8 ounce shot Winchester 209 primers Alliant Red Dot powder 16.5 grains. Perfect for CAS, it effectively turns a 12 gauge into a 20 gauge. Winchester AA and Remington STS shells are super slick on the outside and drop out of the shotgun chambers without having to be pulled out. This is important for shooting SASS matches where you want to reload fast. I don't shoot SASS much anymore, but I do shoot a lot of muzzleloading trap and there is a black powder cartridge catagory. Here's my black powder trap load. Cheap Estate shells picked up on the range, I'm not going to re-reload them. 80 grains FFg one "nitro card" over powder a half inch fiber wad, dipped in mixture of 1/2 beeswax and 1/2 Crisco 1 1/8 ounce shot The ML trap rules don't allow plastic wads. Last edited by B.L.E.; September 13, 2012 at 06:35 AM.

September 13, 2012, 10:39 PM	#8
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	For CAS, I use 12.5 grains Red Dot and 7/8 oz shot with a cheapo Claybusters Lightning 7/8 - 1 oz wad (CB4100-12B... I think...). No preference for primers, but I prefer STS hulls over AA hulls. Windjammer wads work well for the Cowboy game too - whatever is available. With the larger capacity Windjammers, I'll put a piece of a plastic foam packing peanut on top of the shot column to keep the crimp from folding inward. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

September 12, 2012, 12:36 AM	#2
tCan Junior member Join Date: July 4, 2012 Posts: 9	The closest to reloading I've ever come is converting dove loads into 1 oz round nose slugs, but; I hear that most people start out with a "square load" depending on the shot size. This is black powder of course. They call it a square load because you'll use the same measure for both your powder and your shot. So, depending on the powder you use and your shotsize, you'll wind up with something like 1 oz of medium shot to 50 grains of powder. If you want to lighten the load, smaller chargers work better with smaller sized shot and vise versa. Again, I'm no expert, but these are the things that people commonly suggest when loading black powder and shot shells. And of course you can play with plastic wads fiber wads, paper hulls, and all that old school stuff. It all works about the same in the end, and there are recipes for these variations available just about anywhere. Sorry if my post is not that far reaching, but it may be the simplest advise (assuming of course you're interested in BP at all).

September 12, 2012, 10:54 AM	#3
marklyftogt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 138	I am not ready for black powder yet. Just smokeless to get started.

September 12, 2012, 02:45 PM	#4
Noz Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Posts: 643	Find a shotshell reloading manual and follow it to the letter.

September 12, 2012, 09:05 PM	#5
Crunchy Frog Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 591	No need to beat yourself up with excessive recoil to hit a static target at CAS distances. Most folks I know are using a seven-eighths or one ounce shot load at a velocity that mimics the Winchester Low Noise-Low Recoil factory load (what used to be called Featherlights). If you buy Winchester AA powder the load data is on the can. Most of the published data for shotshells is "warmer" than that.

September 13, 2012, 09:10 AM	#7
marklyftogt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 138	Thanks B.L.E.! I and my wife's shoulder salute you!