Need Comprehensive low pressure reloading how-to

[John Cleveland]

The Hodgdon reloading manual came with the MEC Sizemaster loader that I ordered. It had a number of 2 3/4 inch 12 GA loads that were in the 5,000's and 6,000s PSI, yielding 1150 to 1250 fps velocity.

I called Hodgdon to ask if they could tell me how those loads would change using 2 1/2 shells. I spoke to a fellow named Luke Otte who was very responsive. He would not comment on how the listed loads would change in 2 1/2, BUT, he sent me a table of loads for 2 1/2" shells with pressures between 6,600 and 7,000 and velocities ranging from 1075 to 1300 fps. pushing 7/8 or 1 oz of shot. They were for Bashieri & Pellagri, Cheddite, and Fiocchi shells. They all used Universal powder and either Cheddite 209 or Fiocchi 616 primers. Of course all the Fiocchi shells used Fiocchi 616 primers (I have some Cheddite 209's). For the B&P and Cheddite shells, they used BP CS12 Short wads. The Fiocchi loads used a variety of wads. I am trying to upload a Word document to share.

However, this leaves the issue of getting components. I found some sites saying that they have the Universal powder and a couple with the Fiocchi primers. The question I have is as to the legitimacy of some of them. They claim that the credit card companies and PayPal will not do business with gun related vendors. So they want you to use PayPal but selecting the option that it is a transfer of cash to a friend or family, not a business. The significance is that PayPal says that there is no recourse for those transfers.

So, I wanted to know if any of you have safely used online reloading vendors that did this and whether I can trust ordering and paying with this channel?

Thanks!

[John Cleveland]

Attempt to upload Word version of loads table.

[Keith Doty]

John, I have purchased all kinds of components thru Gunbroker, etc. If they can't take a major CC for the transaction I recommend avoiding them. I did a bit of searching on a couple of dealers that wouldn't and found addresses that didn't match the business and other "odd" things, looked like less than reputable vendors. Same with Paypal. I don't think Paypal allows any ammunition or powder/primer sales so the "friends and family" deal is sketchy in my opinion. I HAVE used Paypal for wad purchases, no issue.

[John Cleveland]

Keith, thanks. The PayPal thing made my antennae go up and I didn’t complete it.

However, it is interesting that the one I was ordering Universal from, ended up later showing on their site the order being processed using ApplePay. I had initially clicked that as a payment option, but there were some problems submitting to that. It will be interesting to see if it went through and if I get the powder. At least AP is paid using my Amex card, so I can dispute it if it is bogus.

I am hopeful about the possibilities of one of the Hogdgon 2 1/2 loads being good for my gun. I would be interested in your opinion on any of them. (I hope that the load chart uploaded.) I can buy the B&P and Fiocchi locally in 2 3/4, shoot them and cut them down to 2 1/2.