New to the forum, hallo.

I am looking to start casting my own shotgun slugs for cheap and safe plinking ASAP.
I have a ton of lead bars I want to use up.

Are the Lyman Foster type slug molds good?? Am I missing any others. I've only looked at the Lymans online.

Planning on the 7/8 oz. as I can get more slugs per pound.


I am new to casting.

beer jager,

You might want to post that question on this website:

http://cast_boolits.aimoo.com/

Hope this helps,

Dave In Oakwood, GA

thanks, will do.

that forum sucks

Hello, beer jager - and, Welcome to the forum.

Maybe Mr. Jim Gates will see this and give you some advice. He's our resident expert of shotgun slugs.

beer jager,

I've been casting and shooting the Lyman 12ga 525 grain HB hourglass shaped slug for quite a while now, with excellent performance. The loading data that comes with the slug mold performs as depicted, and the slugs are easy to load, using standard Winchester AA12 wads (or clone thereof), and a standard folded crimp. Fire them out of two different Ithica 37 smoothbore deer guns with iron sights, and a couple of 870's with bead sights. The 870's have modified tubes, the Ithicas have cylinder bore. With the Ithica 37's either gun will shoot five shot groups at 50 yards into about 3", and wow, does that big flat frontal area of the slug pack some punch! A friend killed a couple good sized deer with them, one of which was a frontal stright-on shot at about 65 yards. Recovered the slug, virtually in-tact after hitting the sternum, penetrating the entire lenth of the deer, and finally came to rest against the hide of an off hindquarter! This, with a very mild 1250 fps load. I would recommend the Lyman slug without hesitation. Too, I shoot the 20ga version in several 20 ga shotguns, including my various Savage 24's with very similar accuracy reports from them all, better if with sights, such as the Savage 24's. A very inexpensive, way to shoot volumes of slugs.

Hope this helps.

God Bless,

thanks,

This is the mold I am going w/ , Lyman 1-Cavity Shotgun Foster Slug Mold 12 Gauge 475 Grain.

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/481595

I don't think it is the ' hour glass' shape, says foster type mold.
I would like to use the Winchester AA12 wads in the reloads.
Actually,...
The the type of wads used are the deciding factor in what type of mold I use/purchase. As I plan on using the cheap and available AA12 wads.

Hopefully they are compatable w/ the AA wads.

Beer...

Have you looked at the Lee Precision slug molds (http://www.leeprecision.com/catalog/browse.cgi?1075384630.426=blackpow.html#shotgun)? They offer a 7/8 and 1 oz. projectile.

http://www.leeprecision.com/catalog/graphics/slugmlds.jpg

I see that Midway has them in stock. (http://www.midwayusa.com/midwayusa/applications/esearch.exe/search?TabID=5&category_selector=685&search_keywords=Lee+slug+molds)

A fellow that I met about a year ago was over last night picking up some Linotype. He knows I'm new to this and he watched me cast some bullets with the Lee mold and then tried it. He went into my office, sat down at the computer and order a Lee pot and 15 different molds... replacing all his Lyman's. I've seen people decide to change something but never have I seen it this quick. This morning I noticed that he took both my 2003 and 2004 Lee catalogs. This fellow does a lot of shooting and hunting... owns one of those high $ high fence places.

Lee molds are Al. correct. Is there a issue w/ wear or life of the mold??

they are reasonably priced.

Lee moulds, as ALL alum. moulds are more susceptible to misuse/abuse. They are softer than iron (duh), but they don't rust. Pay yer $, and make your choice.

beer jager,

The Lyman Foster-Type slug that you mention is most definitely NOT compatible with the AA12 wad. The slug requires traditional nitro card wads, felt and cork wads for use, and a roll crimp.

Either the Lyman hour-glass style slug, or the Lee Key-Drive slug are designed to employ the standard AA12 wad, and a conventional folded type crimp.

Hope this information helps.

God Bless,

quote;"Lee Key-Drive slug are designed to employ the standard AA12 wad, and a conventional folded type crimp."

Thanks!! thats was just the info. I was looking for.

I wanted to stay far away from the pain of using card, and felt wads.

Thats one problem solved.

Mr. James Gates, who frequents these boards, and spent quite a time as moderator here, is probably the best resource for the information you seek. He's done extensive slug testing and shooting with all manner of shotguns and components. Too his credentials are impressive as well, having bee VP Smith & Wesson Ammunition when they were in the ammo business, for Winchester Ammo, and then and exec for Fiocchi of Italy in the same capacity. He knows his way around shotshells! Look at some of his posts here on the forums, and you'll glean some good information, just search for James Gates, and his posts will surface in your search.

Hope this helps.

God Bless,

I cast a couple hundred of the Lyman 525 12 ga slugs a few years ago, loaded and tested about a dozen with good results.

Seems I misplaced my load data. Anyone have a recipe on hand?

(these are the hour-glass shaped slugs for AA12 wads.)

Thanks

Data can be found in latest Lyman shotshell handbook. (ver.4?) Otherwise, tell what hull you're using and I can look it up.

Sorry it took so long for me to catch onto the forums this thread was posted in. Moved it to conform with the board's desire to maintain some sort of order.

Hey I also just got into molding slugs and after doing some research for myself I found that people said that the Lyman 525 gr Sabot Slug is a lot more accurate than the foster and it is easier to load and everything because they use most wads that are for shot and all along with the same primer. But if you have a lot of lead and want to mold slugs I would go for the bigger sabot slug because it is more accurate and there are more loading recipes out there for it (at least from what I saw) Also get yourself the Lyman 4th edition Shotgun Loading Handbook, that tells you everything you will ever need to know, from what equipment to buy, what bushings along with what kind of shells and 1000's of loading recipes from 10 ga. and to 410 bore. Its basically the bible of shotgun loading. And thats all I can tell you about it.

When you cast the Lyman foster slug , mike the diameter. If it is about .030" under bore size. You can cut a .015" teflon patch/wrapper for it. It will help with leading, and engage the rifling. You need to measure the bore, and the slug to check the fit. I just got some cheap virgin teflon in .015" thickness on Ebay. If you need it, I might still have the guys address. Greg S