jman 125
Well-Known Member
Finally broke down and decided to roll my own
Hopefully they shoot good 3 in 1 5/8 oz 9's
Hopefully they shoot good 3 in 1 5/8 oz 9's
First tss loads
- Thread starter jman 125
- Start date
Looks good! Been loading mine and my boys' for probably 15 years. It's a fun little hobby that we enjoy each spring leading up to turkey season. Tip…If you like that load, stock up on supplies in the off season. Lots of guys wait til the last minute, and have to beg, steal, or borrow enough stuff to get them through the season. We've tried several different loads over the years, but the tried and true Big20XL is our go to.
jman 125
Well-Known Member
Thats exactly my plan have you tried a shot trap just wondering if its worth building or not
I haven't. I know guys that have, but they are continuously trying new loads and chokes, chasing those numbers. We really only shoot a few shots a year on paper, just to check our zeros, so it's definitely not worth it to me at this point. If you have lots of guns/choke combos to work thru, it might be different. You can build one fairly cheap if you're good at sourcing cheap/free materials.
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jman 125
Well-Known Member
I am a super in comercial construction so material isn't a problem just wanted some real world experience
Thanks for the information though really appreciate it
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Post up your pattern when you shoot them!
jman 125
Well-Known Member
Will do when it cools down
Yes, it's worth it IMO and I don't shoot very much at all compared to some. Even if you don't want to hunt with the reclaimed shot (I'd have no reservations whatsoever), it would be great for loading shells for testing chokes/verifying red dot zeroes.
Wonderland
Well-Known Member
Has anyone put a pencil to the total cost per shell made?
If you already have the tools or can borrow them, $6.50 or so per shell, depending on when you bought components and how much you bought. The shot alone is a touch over $5 a shell nowadays. If you don't have a roll crimper, scales, and various other things you might need, you'll have a little upfront cost. Less than $100 should get you started from scratch on those, then you gotta buy your components on top of that.
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Ditto! I still roll Big20XL for my pump guns but roll a different shorter compact load for my autos. Best of luck, I know they will shoot great!
I built one back in the day when I was into "testing loads" aka "wasting a bunch of time and money". Find a GOOD ENOUGH load/pattern (250/250) and stick to it, and you will not need a shot trap. My shot trap is down in the bottom where we built it years ago withering away with each passing year.
jman 125
Well-Known Member
Just got it built looking like its going to cool off tomorrow probably going to shoot looking forward to it
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jman 125
Well-Known Member
As you know i shoot a lot and usually have all my buddies over and have a pattern day and we test alot going to add wheels to it so i can hook the 4 wheeler up to it and store in my shop
Looks good! It'll pay for itself in one patterning session with buddies.
Good looking roll crimps. What crimper are you using?
This was with my first loads this year. I know its a hot core but it works em over. Had a couple buddies shoot them too. My dads stock stoeger shoots an impressive pattern with it (top pictures) 300+ in 10" circle. Its pretty fun and rewarding for something to play with. But that buffer material is some kind of messy!
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jman 125
Well-Known Member
Its the Ballistic Products original
Mounted in a press
Really easy
I'm a fan of hot cores myself..both of my guns/chokes/loads are around 330/185 and I wouldn't change a thing.
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jman 125
Well-Known Member
Hoping for those results and you are right about the buffer it is messy
It's absolutely smokes em when it hits them. It just aint for the type that gets too excited because its nasty at 20. Theres one from 25.
I'd hunt it!!
jman 125
Well-Known Member
Shot 2 this evening had 98% recovery in the trap at 40 .
Didn't count holes but i think its going to work.
I'd tighten that choke a c hair.
jman 125
Well-Known Member
Nah im done shooting softballs AT 40 BEEN THERE DONE THAT. i would rather have a 16 inch even pattern versus a 10 inch very clumped up pattern
jman 125
Well-Known Member
Yeah that load shot more left than the factory fed 9s
jman 125
Well-Known Member
Nope
Stevens 301 20 factory turkey choke
Every SBE3 I've patterned has been high and left
