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Hello all,

As i'll shortly have somewhere to put all this carry on, I’m gradually building a shotgun reloading set up, more so that it goes unnoticed by ‘the boss’ than any other reason… Anyway, I’m looking to get hold of a Lymans Shotshell Handbook 5th Edition and I’m looking for the best price. At the moment that appears to be from Bushwear.co.uk at £23.94 (inc. P&P). Anyone know of anywhere cheaper?

Also, anyone who has one, does it include slug recipes using a Lee Loadall II? (Just got one off fleabay for £15 and the guy threw in some lead and wads!) Specifically which powder bushing to use (in conjunction with a variety of powders)?

Although I’ll likely start using a standard crimp initially, I’m going to want to start roll crimping. I’ve got the drill, I’m confident I can get the roll crimp (although I think that’ll have to come from the US looking at the ridiculous prices over here - £40 from MidwayUK!!!), but I need some kind of press to put the drill in, such as the one shown here;



Now this doesn’t look like it would be cheap, and I don’t even know what it is actually described as so I can have a shop about for one! So the first question is, what is it called?? I’ve tried searching for ‘drill press’ but that invariably brings up dedicated workshop machines etc. :roll:

The next question is, can anyone think of a way you could roll crimp without one, but still be able to (safely) put variable and ‘feel-able’ pressure on the cartridge while you crimp it? I know there's those ye olde hand cranked roll crimpers but i'm yet to find one for less than 'antique' prices!

Other equipment to buy;

Lee slug mould
Lee 18 buckshot mould
Handles for the above
A lead ladle
Lead melter (preferably with a spout)

So any recommendations as to where to get them would also be appreciated. For ease Henry Krank seems to do them all under ‘one roof’ but I know they’re not normally the best price. I'm looking at you Saddler...

It's rude to stare!! :lol:

I can get the Lyman book & Lee kit for you at much better prices than Kranks.

Have a spare copy of the Sapp book too...
The data in all manuals is not machine specific - aside from the times they talk about shot & powder bushing data
LOTS of slug data in most of the books - though I'd avoid the RCBS book: the writer's opinion of slug & buckshot was that it is best bought over the counter commercially!!

BEST lead ladle is the Lyman one

The old style roll crimpers are OK if you stick to paper cases. Never had any success using them on plastic hulls.
The modern roll crimp tools are best sourced from Italy - SIARM normally does them at a good price - as well as consumables such as felt wads, over-powder & over-shot cards, etc.

Drill press is just called that = a drill press, get one that will take whatever drill you already use (look on the makers site for your model in case they make one, then look on Fleabay for an unused Fathers Day one). Ch-leSt Saturday market will possibly be a cheaper source for one - look for the chap in the black bowler hat on the tool stall and ask him if he has one (he may not have it with him due to the size)

Mark, I picked up a hand roll crimp tool from Siarm for about €30 and a cheap drill press off Ebay, you can take out the roll crimp part and fit it into the drill press and use it either way.

Hand tool, http://www.siarm.com/product_info.php?c ... cd55daafcc

Brass Roll Crimp, http://www.siarm.com/index.php?cPath=2_ ... cd55daafcc

Steel Roll Crimp, http://www.siarm.com/index.php?cPath=2_ ... cd55daafcc

In the end it was a lot easier to crimp using the LoadAll and I get excellent and more importantly very consistent results, you're more than welcome to come and have a play with it if you want, I have supplies of hulls and slugs you can try

saddler wrote:It's rude to stare!! :lol:

I can get the Lyman book & Lee kit for you at much better prices than Kranks.

Have a spare copy of the Sapp book too...
The data in all manuals is not machine specific - aside from the times they talk about shot & powder bushing data
LOTS of slug data in most of the books - though I'd avoid the RCBS book: the writer's opinion of slug & buckshot was that it is best bought over the counter commercially!!

BEST lead ladle is the Lyman one

The old style roll crimpers are OK if you stick to paper cases. Never had any success using them on plastic hulls.
The modern roll crimp tools are best sourced from Italy - SIARM normally does them at a good price - as well as consumables such as felt wads, over-powder & over-shot cards, etc.

I'll be after the manual and other little bits at the start of next month

saddler wrote: Drill press is just called that = a drill press, get one that will take whatever drill you already use (look on the makers site for your model in case they make one, then look on Fleabay for an unused Fathers Day one). Ch-leSt Saturday market will possibly be a cheaper source for one - look for the chap in the black bowler hat on the tool stall and ask him if he has one (he may not have it with him due to the size)

Found them straight away on Ebay as 2drill press stand", then went on Amazon and they're on for £17, boom!

phaedra1106 wrote:Mark, I picked up a hand roll crimp tool from Siarm for about €30 and a cheap drill press off Ebay, you can take out the roll crimp part and fit it into the drill press and use it either way.

Hand tool, http://www.siarm.com/product_info.php?c ... cd55daafcc

Brass Roll Crimp, http://www.siarm.com/index.php?cPath=2_ ... cd55daafcc

Steel Roll Crimp, http://www.siarm.com/index.php?cPath=2_ ... cd55daafcc

Is there a reason why the steel ones are 10 times the price of the brass one??

phaedra1106 wrote: In the end it was a lot easier to crimp using the LoadAll and I get excellent and more importantly very consistent results, you're more than welcome to come and have a play with it if you want, I have supplies of hulls and slugs you can try

Oo-er missus! :lol:

They will last longer but I'm not sure they're worth the difference in price!.

You know you want to come and play with my bits, especially my new little toy!, it did very well at 100m considering I was kneeling on very painful knees at the time!, I did try it off the bipod but the scope was too far back to get a proper hold, I've moved it further forward so will try again next outing. I'm also picking up an 870 Wingmaster with the deluxe stock this week so you can play with that as well!.