Making custom shot bushings Lee load all 2

In this video, I show you how I made 3/4 oz and 5/8 oz shot bushings for a lee load all 2. I don't get too deep in the math, but do give the dimensions of what I came up with if you want to make your own.
They come up nearly spot on for #9 shot, just a hair lite for #8, and lighter yet for #6. Remember, you can throw a slightly lighter shot charge and be safe (lower pressure). Most Shotgun recipes are MAX loads, so you can't throw heavy without the possibility of consequences. Gotten a couple of nifty loads out of these already and looking forward to some more.

[@marcveronneau8750]

Murphy, I lack words to thank you warmly. As an exclusive skeet shooter, I'm a big fan of 3/4 ounce in the .12 GA. I am really sensitive to felt recoil. I have had a Lee Load All press for years and it was only today watching your video that you gave me the solution to use this press to reload 3/4 ounce, shot number 9. With my MEC, it was easy. Now your genious gives me one more option and at a very low cost. Thank you so much.

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

Wow maths! I almost drew a blank and you were simply increasing wall thickness, then it all becomes clear. Thanks for the video, I'm thinking of getting into reloading some shotgun.

[@knallis.hjemmelading]

Great idea, thanks for sharing this

[@TheChewy78]

Good to know i just bought two of these. 2 12 gauge model . But might convert one of them to 20 gauge.

[@marvtomson574]

linear regression, Y = mx + b, taught in high school. LOL however, I'm guessing most graduates have already forgotten what that is, or used for. Same for most KZbin users 😋

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

True, but it is useful for many things.

[@buckeye43210]

You might enjoy using OpenSCAD to create a 3D design for your custom shot bushings.

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

Tempting. Last thing I need is another hobby.

[@buckeye43210]

@@murphyfirearmstraining3630 OpenSCAD is a scripting language for describing 3D objects -- you can use equations to scale an object's dimensions :-)

[@SilntObsvr]

I was just about to add a comment that you can 3D print any bushing you like -- want a 1 1/4 steel shot load? You can make a bushing that will throw that (hint: it'll be bigger than your 1 1/2 lead shot bushing, might be the full charge bar cavity). But you can go smaller, too. How about a half ounce load, for getting the kids started without having to shell out for a 20 ga. or .410? Get yourself a wad punch and some fiber wad material, and you can make those (could do it your way, too, I'm sure, but you could tailor for the shot size, too).

[@ebrahimjahangiri3828]

thank you.

[@travisweldmaster7815]

Good stuff, I wonder if you completely epoxy a bushing then re drill gradually up in size, I'm in need of a smaller powder bushing, think I'm gonna do it and whittle away with the drill

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

It would work to do that. You could even figure out the volume and that would let you know what drill size you need. I am waiting for someone to start 3D printing them.

[@travisweldmaster7815]

@@murphyfirearmstraining3630 yeah that would be great, hadn't even thought about that

[@timothytietz9194]

Somebody on ebay has them...you decide if they're pricey.

[@hakeem7510]

Your idea is quick and easy thanks now I can relax.

[@Hoosmoose]

Hello bud, Tony in Sweden here. I am wodering if you would be so kind as to help me with somthing thas has to do with the "Lee Load All 2". I am only ever going to shoor the following two powder loads: 2 3/4 and 3 inch loaded with "00" buckshot on top of 28 grains and 31 Grains Hodgdons Longshot. I need help in coosing the right powder bushings in Powder Grains. Everything is metric över here. Which of the "Lee Load All" bussings should i use ?

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

Tony, I am not 100 % sure I understand - Do you have this press but the bushings are marked with metric? 28 grains of longshot equates to the 0.141 bushing and 30.8 grains of longshot equates to the 0.155 bushing. Let me know if that helps, or give me a little more detail and I would love to help you out.

[@Hoosmoose]

@@murphyfirearmstraining3630 - Thank you bud, it helps alot = solved my problem :)

[@theoldshooter5631]

Would you mind a question for advice from a complete newbie at reloading? First of all, great shades dude!! That was one heck of a video. Yes Virginia, it is rocket science. Here is what I am planning to do with what research I have done so far and hopefully you will be so kind as to offer some advice on changes. I am not a hunter. I am planning this load for home defense and target practice only. The weapon I am cooking this recipe up for is the RIA VR 60 semi-automatic shotgun. I have contacted RIA by email (won’t answer their dang phone) and have gleaned two pieces of information from them that seems critical. One is the VR 60 requires a minimum of 1250 FPS in order to recycle properly. Less than that and you stand a good chance of jamming because of not completely ejecting the spent shell. The second (and this drives me nuts because I cant get an answer from RIA on why) if I use a 2 ¾ inch hull (which I plan to do) I must use the light load gas piston REGARDLESS of the FPS rating on the store bought or home made shell. I only use the high pressure gas piston for 3 inch shells….again regardless of the FPS generated. Length of shell is the driving factor, not, the force generated by the shell. If you know why please enlighten me because it makes no sense to me at all. Ok, so I am currently planning to use a CCI Magnum primer because easily available here and a 2 ¾ Winchester AA 12 ga, hull with the WAA12 wad. My shot will be one ounce of #1 birdshot. That should stay in the house versus multiple wall penetration and killing a neighbor along with an intruder. Finally, I plan to use 18.5 grains of Allliant Red Dot powder which should produce 1300 FPS meeting RIA’s indicated need of 1250 FPS or more (don’t exceed 3000 FPS) to ensure the VR 60 ejects properly. All this information was taken from an Alliant reloader’s guide available on their website. My Lee Load All 2 “is in the mail” as they say, so I am on hold till it gets here and I set it up. I have everything else ready to go. From your obvious experience, which powder bushing would you recommend? Same on shot bushing? Before seeing your video, my plan was to put powder in the appropriate hopper and run a number of tests and weigh each one on a scale selecting the bushing that got me closest to 18.5 grains. And, do the same for the shot as well. Your recommendation on bushings to start with could save an immense amount of time and hassle. Where did you get your spare set? Again, loved the video. Your thought processes were very interesting. Hope you don’t mind such a question from a newbie.

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

Rich - I am hoping to do some testing in 2021 with a few semi-auto scatterguns. I am interested if it is JUST FPS, or a combination of FPS and load weight. The DRAM equivalence of a shotshell combines both load weight and FPS of the load. My experience so far is that most 12 gauge guns want a 3 or 3 1/4 dram MINIMUM to cycle. But I want to test it on several more guns. I looked at my sheet (that will come with your load all 2) and it would put you at either a 0.171 or a 0.163 powder bushing for red dot. Oddly enough, that would be 3 1/4 dram and 3 dram with a 1 oz shot load. For shot, you will use the 1 oz bushing. The lee data is conservative, you will probably be a hair below the published FPS and 1oz, but not much. I would load a handful with the 0.163 bushing and see if they cycle, if not go to the 0.171. I hope that is helpful to get you started. Some will actually use the powder bushing (in your case the higher 0.171) and then trickle the powder on a scale to get to exactly 18.5 grains for self-defense loads.

[@theoldshooter5631]

@@murphyfirearmstraining3630 Many thanks. Def helpful. I got a copy of the Lee Manual Ed5 today and find the tables slanted toward brands I cant get here. Guess I will have to stick with the Alliant Red Dot table for now. Thanks again.

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

@@theoldshooter5631 Can you get LONGSHOT powder? Ballistic products has some buckshot (8, 9 and 10 pellet) recipes that they post on their blog/discussion using that powder.

[@theoldshooter5631]

@@murphyfirearmstraining3630 I was dang lucky to find the Red Dot! You would think the zombie hoard was on the way. What would be the advantage of LONGSHOT powder over Red Dot? Remember I am shooting #1 birdshot...not buck and using primarily for plinking and home defense. I was looking at some AA hulls for reloading the other day. One was labeled AA Light....and the other....AA Heavy. I checked out Winchester's site but could not find any info on whether the hulls are the same hull and the recipe is the only difference. Do you know?

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

@@theoldshooter5631 Longshot is more expensive per load bit will get you higher velocities. Think of it as a magnum powder. Red dot is fine for plinking and is great for a low-moderate recoil load. I don't have much experience with AA hulls, and what you describe is a first for me. Wish I could help you out on that one....

[@henrychristopher9131]

what is your buckshot load data hull, primer, wad and what number of buckshot and buckshot size.

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

I use several from the buck shot manual that comes from Ballistic Products Inc.

[@outdoorsmien6086]

I also use a lee load all 2 and I was curious how you do/get .224 bushing?

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

I bought a second set of bushings from LEE and it came with the second set. They had 2 options on their site and one comes with the extra bushing. It is for Australian powders, don't know if I'll ever use it.

[@vicirish74]

What’s the loader in the background on the left?

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

That is the perfect powder measure from Lee. Use it for rifle charges.

[@bnas3304]

Hi

[@williamcastleberry7338]

The numbers on you powder bushings stand for cc not cubic inches

[@murphyfirearmstraining3630]

Their Pistol and Rifle bushings are in cubic centimeters, their Shotgun bushings are in cubic inches. May be different with other manufacturers, but LEE Shotgun bushings are cubic inches.