Jeffrey H. lives in Arizona, and in 2022, Jeffrey purchased a Rock Island Armory pump action shotgun.
He bought the shotgun from the Palmetto State Armory website.
After getting the shotgun he loaded it with five shotgun shells from Blackwater, then he racked the slide to load a round into the chamber.
When he did this, the ammunition exploded in the shotgun.
After the explosion, Jeffrey was rushed to the hospital where he was treated for second and third-degree burns.
He also suffered injuries from metal fragments and spent one day in the hospital.
But he struggles to walk or stand without pain.
Jeffrey says his injuries were from a manufacturing defect before he purchased the weapon and ammunition.
He filed lawsuits against Blackwater, Palmetto State Armory, and Rock Island Armory.
Palmetto State Armory said they didn’t manufacture the weapon or ammo involved in the incident.
Blackwater issued a voluntary recall of the ammunition in late 2022 saying they were aware of two incidents where ammo exploded.
This issue raises the question of whether it’s better to reload ammo, so you know exactly how it was done.
Yet, reloading pistol ammo and reloading shotgun shells are two different things.
So, if you have ever thought about reloading shotgun shells here are a few things to keep in mind:
Upfront costs:
There are upfront costs to reloading, and before you get started you will need to buy the supplies.
Things like shells, primers, wads, powder, reloading presses, and manuals.
Yet, with shotgun shells, the costs of supplies can be more than what you would spend reloading a metal-cased round.
My point is that the way to make reloading shotgun shells cost-effective is to buy everything in bulk.
The savings from reloading shells vs buying them are small enough that the only way to save money is to do a lot of reloading.
Use a manual:
No matter what type of ammo you are reloading, make sure you have the recipes perfect.
One little miscalculation could mean an entire batch of worthless and unusable reloaded ammo.
Shotgun shells operate at lower pressures than metal cartridges, but mistakes can still happen.
This is why I would use a trusted manual such as the Lyman Shotshell Handbook (it’s available on Amazon).
Shells:
As with any casing, you are limited to the number of times you can reload shells.
Depending on the original manufacturer you might be limited to only a few reloads.
Most shells have a metal base and plastic body.
Depending on the quality of the shells you could run into problems with the sealed crimps.
They can leak pellets so it’s something to watch out for.
Wads:
Shotgun wads are made from plastic pistons that contain shot pellets.
Most wads can work with various pellet combinations.
The key with plastic wads is to make sure you have the right fit.
If the wad is not seated firmly, it will be a waste.
So, it’s critical to always use a manual to determine the right pressure.
For instance, a common shell might use 45 lbs. of force to be seated properly.
Shot:
Pellets come in all different sizes.
Plus, these days, non-toxic pellets are required for waterfowl.
This is something you want to keep in mind so you know what reloaded shells can be used for each task.
Another thing is that buckshot and slugs can be reloaded, but doing so requires a special roll-crimp.
It’s not something that is a deal breaker but it’s an added step that can make a big difference in the quality of the reloaded shell.
If you decide to get into reloading shotgun shells, look for a network of people who have been doing it.
There are online groups where you can learn from others’ failures and successes, which can help you avoid wasting time and money.
I personally don’t reload, instead, I buy quality ammo from manufacturers I trust, and spend my time training my shooting skills.
