Shotgun Hulls

[Sheriff Dill]

Has anyone reloaded 67mm shotgun hulls with a Lee Load All.  I am getting a Lee Load All and it states 2 3/4” -3” hulls. A 2 3/4” hull is 70mm. Has anyone reloaded the smaller ones with a press that calls for 2 3/4”. 
 

Thanks

 

SD

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

Why is exactly 67mm important?

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

First you need to tell us exactly what you are trying to load.   Metric shells usually come in even increments.  E.g., 60mm, 65mm, 70mm etc.  What are you loading that is such an odd number?  As a practical matter the Lee Load All has no adjustments.  All the instructions say is if the crimp is bad to try changing wads.  Even the cheapest Mec has some adjustment to the pre-crimp, final crimp, etc.  Without knowing what you have the best way for you to tell is to try and load a few.

[Sheriff Dill]

That’s just what the hull says on it. They are made by Sterling. 67 mm is roughly 2.6 inches 

[Sheriff Dill]

I’m trying to load 3/4 oz 12 gauge. The Sterling hulls are some basic hulls that I picked up at Dicks Sporting goods a little while back when we started shooting CAS. They were factory loaded for 1 oz. 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Have you taken a metric ruler and actually measured a few?  Sterling is cheap Turkish made ammo.  Their website only shows 2 3/4" and 3" 12 gauge as being currently available.  If they really are 67mm try loading a few.  If there is a problem rather than get wrapped around the axle trying to load some weird foreign shells I would just toss them in the trash.

 

P.S. Shotshells vary a lot in length.   I just grabbed five empty Remington STS hulls and they varied between 68 and 70mm.  Winchester AAs tend to be even a little shorter.  Just try a few of your hulls.

[Sheriff Dill]

Thank you very much. I couldn’t find theses ones on there site either. I have some AA coming and will definitely try a few of the Sterlings and see how it goes. 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

If your Sterlings don't work, you should be able to find some Remington or AA hulls for free that will load well on your equipment.  Some dumpster diving at a clays range should provide plenty.

[Sheriff Dill]

I’ll take a look at our range here in VT

 

Thanks for your advice 

[Eyesa Horg]

2 minutes ago, Sheriff Dill said:

I’ll take a look at our range here in VT

 

Thanks for your advice 

Don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you yet! Come join the Verdant Mountain Vigilantes next season up in Morrisville at the Lamoille Valley Fish & Game club. There's still another shoot in NH at Pemi F&G in Holderness on Nov 3.

[Blackwater 53393]

I’ve loaded 12ga shells as short as 2 5/8” on a Load All II.

 

2 5/8” is 2.625” which should be 66.675 mm. 
 

You may have to put a spacer under the shell at the final crimp station. I used a 3/16” over shot card.  It made some nice looking shells for my 1893

Winchesters and they shoot really well!

[Sheriff Dill]

Awesome ty 

[Chantry]

16 hours ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Has anyone reloaded 67mm shotgun hulls with a Lee Load All.  I am getting a Lee Load All and it states 2 3/4” -3” hulls. A 2 3/4” hull is 70mm. Has anyone reloaded the smaller ones with a press that calls for 2 3/4”. 
 

Thanks

 

SD

 

You could also use the Lee Load All to do all the steps except the crimp and then do a roll crimp.  I've done that for 2 1/2" hulls for some of my antique British shotguns that have the shorter chamber.

[Sheriff Dill]

I’ll have to do some research into that one. My son and I are all new to this and are greener than green can be when it comes to reloading. 
 

thanks 

[Eyesa Horg]

You've got lots of us pretty local to give ya hand though. If you end up buying hulls,watch for @Wild Hair Larry sales. The Remington STS hulls work great and last a long time. I just got 300 from him and have zero complaints.

 

If you'd like, once you have the components, I'd be more than happy to have you over to use my MEC Grabber! I'm less than hour from you!

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

If you decide to roll crimp I have found the old antique hand roll crimpers work almost as fast as putting shell in vise and crimping with roll crimping tool in drill press.  Have found antiques for as low as $25

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

STS hulls crimp well and shuck well as do Nitro hulls.  Gun Clubs don’t crimp as well but load the same as STS hulls and can be picked up for free.  Just use published loads and your shells will work well in cold weather.  Your caution towards reloading tells me you are going to reload safe ammo.

[Sheriff Dill]

I definitely want to be very careful and make sure the loads are the best they can be. Being retired law enforcement I have seen lots of awful stuff and want to keep it away from us as far as possible. 
 

@Eyesa Horg I have been in touch with Larry and am in the process of getting some hulls from him. 

4 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said:

You've got lots of us pretty local to give ya hand though. If you end up buying hulls,watch for @Wild Hair Larry sales. The Remington STS hulls work great and last a long time. I just got 300 from him and have zero complaints.

 

If you'd like, once you have the components, I'd be more than happy to have you over to use my MEC Grabber! I'm less than hour from you!

Doc is bringing back a Lee load all I bought here on the wire from Landrun for me. But I will keep you in mind. Thanks for the offer 

[Sedalia Dave]

If you decide you want a MEC 600 Jr. I have two that are just collecting dust at the moment. Only reason I'm selling them is I switched to MEC size masters.

 

My 1887's can be finicky when I reload range hulls unless I resize them to SAAMI specifications. My SXS and 97 could care less.

[Sheriff Dill]

Will do. Thank you.  What are you asking for them out of curiosity? 
 

My son shoots a 97 and I’m  getting a SxS. We shall see how the Loaf All does. I’ve seen and heard mixed reviews. 

[Sedalia Dave]

$120.00 plus shipping.  To keep the shipping cost down I'll remove the handle. It's not too hard to reinstall.

[Sheriff Dill]

I will keep you in mind. Thank you 

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

13 minutes ago, Sheriff Dill said:

I will keep you in mind. Thank you 

MEC 600 Jr. go for between $70-100.

 

Cheers!

Phantom

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

1 hour ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Will do. Thank you.  What are you asking for them out of curiosity? 
 

My son shoots a 97 and I’m  getting a SxS. We shall see how the Loaf All does. I’ve seen and heard mixed reviews. 

I recommend you use the first few reloads for the SxS then use them in the '97 when they get scratched up and/or frosty.  Pump shotguns extract hulls regardless how smooth they are on the outside.

[Blackwater 53393]

Sheriff Dill!

 

I was working with my Lee Load All II this morning, using it to dispense shot for some shells that I was building up.

 

I figured I should take a photo of how I space up the shorter 2 5/8” shells when I’m reloading them. This will give you a good crimp without jumping through a bunch of hoops or buying another press, although buying another press is NOT a bad idea, (you really can’t go wrong having options)!!!

 

This is a 3/16” nitro over powder card.

 

 

 

 
I guide the shells into the pre-crimp and crimp stations by hand and it does a nice job.  And it’s my favorite price! CHEAP!!

 

 

[Eyesa Horg]

Sheriff Dill,

I may have a few of those nitro cards, if I can find them I'll bring em to Pemi.

EH

[Eyesa Horg]

18 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Sheriff Dill,

I may have a few of those nitro cards, if I can find them I'll bring em to Pemi.

EH

Found them. They are in my gun cart for you. Great idea Blackwater.

[Sheriff Dill]

That’s exactly what I was thinking of using. I appreciate the help and photos @Blackwater 53393  

 

@Eyesa Horg thank you. I will hopefully see you at Pemi. Appreciate it. 

[watab kid]

i keep reading , hoping to learn more even if never needed