Manual
Source of Empty Cases
All Winchester
®
cases used in shotshell reloading are obtained as a result of first firing of factory loaded ammunition. In a great many instances, once-fired AA
®
cases and
other Winchester shotshells can be purchased from local skeet and trap ranges, gun clubs, and dealers catering to the shotshell reloaders. If this service is not available,
the only means of obtaining these cases would be as the result of firing factory ammunition.
Powder Bushings and Scales
Shotshell reloading tool powder bushings do not throw the exact charge specification in many cases. The reasons are many and include:
1. Variations in gravimetric density of powders from lot to lot.
2. Usually a bushing chart lists the nominal weight of a powder charge based on normal packing as a result of free flow and gravimetric density of a powder or on a
bushing volume and the nominal gravimetric powder density at 100% packing.
3. Various operators of a tool will get various powder weight from an identical tool and bushing. This is due to the change in force of operation and the amount of
vibration transmitted to the tool with resultant amount of packing of powder.
4. The amount of sizing force required on cases being loaded can cause a change in powder drop due to the change in tool vibration.
5. Bushing manufacturing tolerances.
6. Tool manufacturing tolerances.
7. Mismarked bushings.
A bushing listing chart cannot be interpreted as an absolute. It can represent what the manufacturer believes to be the nominal charge thrown with the listed bushing
and powder. A reloading scale is an absolute must. Charges thrown must be carefully checked and changes in bushing sizes made where required. Do not try to deter-
mine the powder charge thrown by simply metering the powder bar back and forth and weighing charges. The tool must be cycled through the complete loading cycle
to insure the same amount of vibration and powder packing as will take place in a normal loading cycle. Powder charges measured under the two conditions could vary
as much as several grains.
WARNING–Steel Shot
With reference to the repeated inquiries on the reloading of steel shotshells, Winchester's advice, at this time, is: "DON'T DO IT!" Wait until suitable
components and tested data are available from the ammunition makers.
At this time, key components, for acceptable steel shot loads, are not widely available to reloaders. This includes "soft" steel shot, the special plastic wads and shot
sleeves designed for use with such shot, and the special powder and primer required. Some steel shot pellets have a diamond pyramid hardness of up to 270, as
compared to the desired DPH of about 90 for the soft steel shot being used in commercial shot loads.
In some cases, available steel pellets are harder than the gun barrel in which they would be fired and can severely score barrel walls and distort barrel chokes.
Commercial steel shot loads have special wads and thick plastic shot sleeves helping to shield the barrel wall from the shot pellets. The shot sleeves used in lead shot
loads are not sufficient to protect gun barrels from damage due to steel shot. The reloading of steel shot loads, entirely different than loading lead shot ammunition,
requires all new components and data. The attempt to load steel shot loads, with current components, would damage your gun and could injure the shooter or
bystander.
Basically, when reliable data is available, the recommendations are as follows:
1. DO NOT RELOAD STEEL SHOTSHELLS WITH ANY COMPONENT OTHER THAN THOSE SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS SUITABLE FOR SUCH LOADS.
2. DO NOT USE STEEL SHOT COMPONENTS IN LEAD SHOT LOADS UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS SUCH DUAL APPLICATION.
Steel shot components are not currently available from Winchester.
WARNING–Bismuth Shot
The reloading of Bismuth shot requires data developed specifically for Bismuth shot. Please refer to Bismuth Cartridge Company for appropriate load data for Bismuth
shot. Do not reload Bismuth shotshells with any component other than those specifically recommended by the manufacturer as suitable for such loads. Bismuth
Cartridge Company can be contacted at 7100 De Celis Pl, Van Nuys, CA 91406.
Buffered Shot Cautions
The use of any buffering material in a shot column will significantly alter the ballistics for any given shotshell load. Also, if not carefully tested, buffering materials can
produce dangerously high pressures. The development of loading data for any buffered load requires extensive pressure and velocity testing to insure the proper speed
propellant powder and propellant charge weight are being used for the specific buffering material.
The use of talc, flour, and similar non-compressible materials should not be considered as buffering materials as they can produce dangerously high, erratic pressures in
an unpredictable manner.
The rate with which shotshell propellant burns within a shotshell is governed to a great extent by the uniform compressibility of the wadding and the shot itself.
Changes in the compressibility, such as is the case with buffering materials, can drastically change the burn rate of the propellant. Careful testing is required to assure
the load will not result in a damaged gun, personal injury or death. We do not suggest the use of buffered shot reloads without lab testing.
Shotshell Loading Instructions
CAUTION: Carefully read the information on the powder can label and follow the recommended loading instructions and precautions contained herein, before using the
reloading data.
Winchester suggested loads are based on results obtained in our laboratory under carefully controlled conditions. They are offered without fee as an aid to handloaders,
to be employed at their own discretion and risk. Since Winchester has no control over the circumstances of loading, Winchester assumes no liability for the results
obtained. The handloading of shotshells should be undertaken only by those familiar with all safety precautions and observe conservative practices in reloading
operations. The powder charges shown are maximum and must not be exceeded.