Loading 16 gauge slugs

[potatojudge]

I purchased some 16 gauge slugs for a few German Drilling/Vierling/combo rifles and thought I was getting loaded ammo. Nope, just the slug component. 

I have supplies to load 12 and 20 gauge, but don't have any of it set up and haven't loaded shotgun stuff in probably 20 years. I'm really not looking to load these myself since I'm already swamped with reloading projects. 

Does anyone know of a service that would load these slugs for me? Bonus cool factor if it's in brass cases. I've only got 60 of the slugs so it's not a huge run. 

[flyingzebra]

Show us the vierling

And one of the slugs too

[potatojudge]

Lightfield slugs

The Vierling is unmarked for maker, relatively pedestrian, and in need of some gunsmithing (22 magnum firing pin is broken, dural receiver needs some TLC, etc). It's a 16/16/8x57/22 magnum.

The last pic is a Krieghoff combination in 16/7x65R

[flyingzebra]

Looks like a fun vierling
Not too fancy to get out into the field and actually use it

Nice peek at the combination gun too

JJ Perodeau might be your best and fastest route to getting that firing pin fixed
He's a fantastic resource for this kind of work and this kind of gun
Reasonable fee and quick service

Shotshell loading for the brass case is sometimes disappointing when the handloader learns that the thin wall thickness of the magtech cases yields a larger inside diameter of the brass case than that of a paper or plastic hull

That ends up as a fit issue with the loading components, and along with that, the internal volume is quite a bit greater than the paper or plastic case due to there being no base wad in the brass case

The magtech cases are great for black powder loads using oversized card and felt wads to fit the thin walled cases

Smokeless shotshell and slug loads tend to be hull-specific, as pressure can vary greatly depending on case volume and component design
Chamber length and crimp type can also change the recipe more than you'd think

I did a quick search for 16 gauge Lightfield Slug load data
Didn't hit paydirt on the first shot
Maybe a call to Lightfield would get you something to start with

[potatojudge]

Thanks for the Perodeau recommendation! I've been looking for someone that might take on the project.

I've got a pile of 16 ga hulls of a couple different manufacturers, so I bet something will do the job. Might have to just load them myself, hopefully with a little handheld kit rather than full press.

[bigbrowndog]

A quick purchase of snap caps would be a good investment as well, keeping those springs loaded doesn’t help but neither does dry firing them help the FP’s. 16/7x65r is a great combination ive got one in a Merkel and it shoots slugs well also.

You might try RST shells, and see if they can do the job or point you in a direction. I use them for my vintage hammer guns and 16ga specialty ammunition 

Trapr

[flyingzebra]

Dec 15, 2022 12:51:06 GMT -5 potatojudge said:

Thanks for the Perodeau recommendation

Might have to just load them myself, hopefully with a little handheld kit rather than full press.

JJ is your guy

A hand held loading setup is all you will need

[potatojudge]

Dec 15, 2022 13:14:45 GMT -5 bigbrowndog said:

A quick purchase of snap caps would be a good investment as well, keeping those springs loaded doesn’t help but neither does dry firing them help the FP’s. 16/7x65r is a great combination ive got one in a Merkel and it shoots slugs well also.

You might try RST shells, and see if they can do the job or point you in a direction. I use them for my vintage hammer guns and 16ga specialty ammunition 

Trapr

I had the same thought when I started buying these and get snap caps for everything.

Merkel are very nice, and I’d own one in a heartbeat if I found the right deal.

Will look into RST. Loading the rifle rounds has been no problem and 16 ga shot is easy. It’s turning the drillings into triple rifles for this mountain lion trolling the ranch that’s been a little more difficult.

[lar4570]

Ballistic products makes a great roll crimping tool. I have them in 410 and 12ga.
www.ballisticproducts.com/Original-Roll-Crimping-Tool-16ga/productinfo/ROLL16/

[potatojudge]

Lar, if I can get that roll crimp and 100 primed cases (also from the website) for $60 I'd be well on my way to loaded rounds without a lot of hassle.

I'm so behind on shotshell reloading, I'm going to have to find out what brass height works best for my application.

[flyingzebra]

When you order the roll crimp tool, also order a case head clamp or case head blocks for your drill press vise

Although you can hold the case in your hand and make that crimp tool work, it's better for all the reasons to be able to solidly hold the cartridge case perpendicular to the drill press table and pre set a depth limit for the ram

[lar4570]

I have the hull vise also for holding the shell for roll crimping. I just use a cordless drill, but a drill press would work much better.
Some of the old 16ga were 2 1/2" vs the 2 3/4", so it would be good to know the chamber depth.
The loading for shotguns section at castboolits has lots of slug loading information. Ballistic products also has a slug loading manual.