16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 694 Location: MN

Anyone know where 24ga shells are available

Here you go:
http://www.grafs.com/ammo/403

This came up not long ago and I can't remember the other supplier.

I actually walked into a little mom n pop gun shop a couple of weeks ago, and lo and behold, the store stocks 24 and 32 ga. shot shells. They are available by the box, so, if you are looking for "small quantities, send me a PM and I'll get a box or 2 on their way to you.

Peter

Peter: Are they Fiocchi?

Aw, Now Rev, you're really asking a lot. Memory doesn't serve me that well.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

I know of a store with 4 boxes--not sure of the price Embarassed

BPI is another source

http://shop2.mailordercentral.com/bpicart/products.asp?dept=206

Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: western PA

I buy my 24 gauge shells from BPI and they are fiocchi.

Ben

Are there 24 and 32 gauge presses available for reloading?

Member Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 743

Saw a 24ga OU imported by American Arms at a gun show recently. Very reasonable price, right around $500. Thought about it . . . then reminded myself that a 24 is basically a 28 with much harder to find (and reload) ammo. All 24's, I believe, are 2 1/2" guns. So you end up with about a 28ga load through a slightly larger bore. Fiocchi does indeed make 24ga shells.

Hal, not sure about the reloading stuff. I know the late Don Zutz was set up to reload 24's at one point.

Contact Fiocchi America directly. They will tell you where you can buy 24 ga. ammo by the case, which is the cheapest way. BPI gets top buck and will not cut a volume deal on specialty stuff. They love to hold your feet to the fire when they can. Otherwise, the novelty of the gauge will soon lose its novelty so to speak. Feeding it will wallop your wallet unless you find a cheaper alternative.

You can't readily reload these hulls unless you make a set of tools yourself similar to a Lee Loader set. However, Lee Presision will do custom work, so it might be possible to have a basic set made for you at an affordable cost. The cases are also all roll crimped, so you will need a roll crimp spin tool t tand an electric hand drill or small drill press. It would be certainly worthwhile to load your own, if you can get the tools.

You will also be restricted to solid wads, because I don't think anyone makes 24 ga. one piece plastic wads. I think Circle Fly wads can help here. They probably make 24 Ga. wads. They make everything else. Their prices are the best in the country. The more you by in quanity, the better they treat you.

Standard shot charges are about equal to a standard 28 ga. 2-3/4 inch shell. Any powder and charge that works for a 3/4 ounce 28 ga load will work for a 3/4 ounce 24 ga. load. The Expansion ratio of a 24 is bigger so pressures will certainly be less. You will probably need a grain or two more powder. Alliant Unique should be just about perfect. Probably 14-14.5 grains will give you about 1200FPS at somewhare around 9500 psi according to my old Pawlek powder charge computer wheel. It will just be a process of juggling the wad column length to accomodate 3/4 ounce of shot, a nitro card or two of the right thickness, the powder charge, and still leave enough case mouth to roll crimp the shell closed on a thin overshot card wad. Trial and error should guide you here.

Feeding the little gauge can be hard but certainly not impossible. Beretta still makes a few 24 ga. O/U guns now and then. They made some a few years back and they can often be had very reasonably on the used market. These are delightful little quail and grouse guns. So the effort will be worth the results. If yours is a Beretta 686 O/U, I think you will love it for anything from doves and quail up to close in pheasant with the right loads. Anything a 28 can do, the 24 will do just a bit better.

My hat's off to you SS. I love to hear how folks find a way to get something done. BTW, the 24 gauge is just about the same size as a 58 caliber round. I do know some of these cases were made in brass. Old Western Scrounger and a few other sources may have a few brass cases for sale. These can also be used and are easy to reload with a few simple hand tools like a primer punch, a few card wads, and a taper crimp tool to snug up on the over shot card wad. If taken care of, these brass cases will last a very long time.

Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 265

John P

Want to trade?

I have 5 cases (250 each) of Fiocchi 24 gauge ammo. We can just ship to each other. I can always use 16 gauge, 28, gauge or 410 ammo.

PM me if interested..

Brian