NB :- No responsibility will be accepted by the author for any accidents occurring from the home loading or use of cartridges loaded using recipes obtained from these websites. Many of these links contain information on wildfowling cartridge loading data. The amended laws as of 2005 pertaining to Black powder and Smokeless powder storage and and manufacture can be viewed using the link at the bottom of this page.
What's in a cartridge?
This is a simplified explanation of what is inside the cartridge and what it does. The wrong use of components when home loading can cause serious injury or even worse if not loaded properly. If you wish to home load please ensure that you are fully conversant with the safety procedures and how to do the job properly before you even attempt it. It is not a great money saving idea but the satisfaction of knowing that your loads are part of the process and they do the job well makes it worthwhile to some.
The
modern shotgun cartridge offers the home loader a wide variety of components to
choose from. Different shot sizes, weight loads, case lengths, type of wads,
primers and powders are available to meet their needs for use on different
quarry and shooting applications. The picture on the left shows the basic make
up inside one type of cartridge. Starting from the top we see the "8 star crimp"
the crimp is a method of closing the case which allows the components to be held
within it and create the resistance for the powder to build up the pressure for
the shot. There is also the 6 star type and another type the "Roll Turn Over"
this rolls the edge of the case to form a closure rather than a crimp and uses a
cardboard disc to contain the components within the case. The "Compression
formed" case is just one type that the shooter may come across, these are
probably the strongest type in use as they are made from a single piece of
plastic compressed to shape. Other types of case are the "Parallel Tube" which
is as its name implies a straight tube with a separate plastic piece inside to
form the base. Inside the case a wad is used to separate the shot from the
propellant powder below. The shot may be lead, steel, tin, bismuth, tungsten or
a mixture in some cases depending on the quarry/application it is needed for.
The wad may be made from plastic, cork or felt, the one in the picture is a
plastic wad and is the most commonly used type today. The propellant powder is
the component which propels the wad and shot on its way to the quarry or target.
There are a wide variety of powders and primers which burn at different speeds
to allow heavier and lighter loads to be used. The primer when struck by the
firing pin causes it to ignite the powder which in turn creates pressure from
the rapid expansion of gases and forces the wad and shot out of the case and up
the barrel towards the quarry or target.
Lee Precision. Loading tools, recipes. machine instructions and more (USA)
Quality reloading powders
available worldwide. Reloading data available for download from
the website.
Based in Hull, Yorkshire.
Manufacturers of a wide range of cartridges - Impact Tungsten
Matrix for wildfowling .
Manufacturers
of reloading equipment and components, online ordering, based in
Mayville Wisconsin. USA
Manufacturers of reloading equipment and components. Mail
ordering available, based in New York, USA
Lyalvale cartridges,
Staffordshire based. The european distributor for Hevi-shot.
This shop stocks all types of
components including non toxic shot for wildfowling.
Western
Powders Inc- accurate arms- reloading components and reloading
data
Specialists cartridge
supplies. Dealing in all types.
Birmingham Proof House.
Bullet reloading data for rifles.
USA
Reloading, online ordering, no minimum.
USA MEC reloaders, Loading data
etc.
Gunpowders, reloading tips etc.
Blackpowder
substitute for Muzzle loaders.
Links to articles on reloading centre fire
rifles and shotguns :- These links are all to the private site of
Mr Steve Riciardelli in the United States. Many thanks Steve.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk:80/si/si2005/20051082.htm Link to the laws relating to the storage/manufacture of explosives including black powder and smokeless powders.