Cadet,
I was in the same boat when I bought my first 8 gauge about 5 years ago. I had to do some hunting to find loads, components, and the "how to" to actually put it all together. Tom Ambrust's book, along with some helpful forum members, put me on the right track.
I currently load both BP and nitro loads for the gun, but using two different processes. Here is what I settled on -
Black Powder: I went "old school" on the BP loads. First, I had Rocky Mountain Cartridge Company (
http://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/in...ts%20Prices.pdf) make me 20 brass cases. They can be made to whatever dimensions you need. The cases are pricey at $13/each, but I have been told to expect to be able to load them 50+ times. The cases are really high quality.
For the BP loads, I shoot a 2 oz, 6 dram load. Using the RMC cases, I use Cheddite 209 primers, Circle Wad 8 gauge 1/2" fiber cards, Circle Wad 8 gauge 1/8" nitro cards, and Circle Wad 8 gauge overshot cards. I use Goex Fg (single F) blackpowder and whatever brand of appropriately-sized shot I have on-hand. I seal the cartridge head with Duco Cement.
To load the rounds I use a "load kit" I purchased from RMC for about $100 (see website above). The only item not included in the kit is the "dipper" to volume measure the powder and shot. I bought mine off of eBay.
Loading is pretty straightforward using the kit. I'm not especially fast, and it probably takes me an hour to load 15 rounds rounds.
Nitro Loads: I'm probably "cheating" with my nitro as I load them on a single-stage MEC loader in a similar fashion to my other nitro loads (loaded on MEC grabbers.) Tom Armbrust put me in touch with a gentlemen who sells custom 8 gauge presses. The press is reconditioned older/heavier MEC single stage press that came already mounted with 8 gauge resizer/crimper/etc. I say I "cheated" as the press was set-up when it arrived. I was loading as soon as I had the thing mounted on my workbench.
The downside was that the ready-to-go press was not cheap, but worth it considering the (lack of a) hassle factor to get everything set up (and to be honest, what I already had in the gun). I can dig up the name of the gentlemen selling the presses if anyone is interested.
In terms of loads, I shoot a smaller 1 and 5/8 ounce nitro load using Hogdon Clays powder. The 8 gauge wads were sourced from Ballistics Products (
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/Reloading-Components/departments/271/). For hulls, I use Winchester 8 gauge industrial hulls also sourced from BP. The sizer in the press removes the band of brass that would otherwise prevent them from being loaded in the shotgun.
My reloading process is really the same as any other single stage press, just more shot and powder. Reloading new hulls is straightforward, but the reusing/reloading the "used" hulls can be tough as the hulls tend to stick a bit in the press. The nitro process is easier than the BP and I can do about 50 rounds per hour.
Ken
