Shotshell re-loading help
Iv'e loaded rifle and pistol ammunition for years , but would now like to try my skills at handloading shotgun shells. Where do I start ? What tool, first of all ? I don"t want to sell the house , something solid and does the job . Loading 12 - 16 - 28 gauges mainly for skeet shooting .
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First of all, I'm no expert, however I've reloaded a lot of trap & skeet shells in the last twenty five years with very few problems.
I still use my trusty old MEC 600 Junior reloader.
You can find these at most gun shops, Gander Mountain, Cabellas, ect.
These places also can sell you powder, primers, wads, and shot.
I recomend AA low brass, standard primers & wads, ball powder, and 7 1/2 shot for trap and maybe 8's for skeet.
With each reloader you will get an instruction booklet.
As "Tim the tool man" sez. "Read, know, and understand all manufacturers written instructions".
It's easy, fun and a great hobby. I belonged to a club years ago, we shot trap on Tuesdays and skeet on Thursdays. I ran the grease out of that old reloader every week! Sorry this got so "wordy", but your posting brought back lots of good old memories. Good luck, good shooting and above all be safe.
R.L.Smith0 -
I agree, and have a Mec 600. But for just a few more bucks you can buy a sizemaster, and I think it is well worth it especially if you ever intend to use high brass or autoloaders. It is marginally faster, and I still use both. 0 -
thanks , it's beginning to fall into place with the research I've been doing . appreciate you'r help ! 0 -
Sounds like you might need 3 loaders.Not real familiar with all of 'em,but most don't offer interchangable heads,and those that do are kinda spendy,seems like.
What's your budge?Would help us to help you.the Mec 600;s go for about ninety bucks.the sizemaster is a better way to go as mentioned already.
dont like my Hornady 366.Not very 'user friendly.' Have never ever heard a bad rap about Med machines.
I think their site is www.mayvilleengineering.com
You can get an aftermarket adj. powder/shot bar for the mec machines that I really like.
Have fun,load safe!
Throckmortons' the alias,cas is the game.0 -
Countershaft- The sizemaster has a brass resizer built into it whereas some of the other presses don't and you have to buy another tool to mount on your bench to resize the hulls.--- I would suggest you buy a copy of the Lyman Shotshell reloading manual and read it. It tells you most everything you need to know and you'll be better informed before buying equipment. It's an exceptional manual.It will even show you step by step some of the different types of presses, etc.(unless they have changed it).--- If your not sure how much or how long you'll use it, You'd be pleasantly suprised how good of quality of shells you can load on the LEE Shotshell Presses. They are cheap to buy and load good shells.I have high dollar stuff(ponsness warren progressives and such)but I used a LEE when I was a kid and have a friend who bought one about 20-25 years ago and he still uses it with good results. Everyone teases him about it but he kills as many birds as anyone -- and usually in better guns.........Good Luck..[8D] 0 -
I use a MEC grabber for my 12 ga skeet since I shoot this mainly and a 600 Jr. for the other guages. For 12 ga I used 700X with Winchester wads and hulls and primers. Nice pattern, low pressures, and clean.
If you are using only one gun, you can get by with a loader without a sizer, but if you are using multiple guns in each guage, I would recommend a reloader with a sixer.
Try www.mecreloaders.com0 -
Only thing I can add to the good advise above is that I recommend using #9 shot for the 28GA. It will pack better, pattern better for skeet, and the crimp will be better. Since you state "skeet" you would want #9's for all anyway (7 1/2 for trap, #8 for sporting clays). Just can't beat a 600JR for multi gauges vs price, you should get 4 boxes/hr.
You'll find shotgun much more forgiving then loading rifle or pistol.
Good shooting0 -
I concur with temblor as to the Lee presses..It's a good place to start..And yea, I've been kidded about my Load All, but it's still going after many thousands of rounds..Have fun!!!
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.0 -
I've been using my MEC 600 for a long, long, time. I don't think you can wear them out. As the others have said, get a reloading manual, and it will give you the basics. Stick with quality hulls (AA or Premiere), use the "recipes" in the manual. You will find that for most shotgunning, you don't need to be quite as precise with powder amounts as with rifle or pistol reloading, which makes it easier. Good luck. 0 -
Good advice all, I started reloading with a Lee Load all and went all the way to a MEC Grabber--all loaded fine except the Lee(i'm still convinced it was me not the lEE). The thing that I have found is that once you get to MEC Grabber you have learned that the difference in the machines is more convenience than anything else. The only real difference is that if your loading for a semi-automatic you really should get a loader that re-sizes the brass so that you won't get an occassional jam because of an expanded case head. I use number 9 shot size both on trap and skeet in 1oz. loads and switch to 8 1/2 shot size with 1 /18 oz loads when I get to the 26 or 27 yard line on trap. Good luck. Pinhead 0 -
ive been on 6-mec600jrs for 20 years. 10/12/16/20/28 & 410. im the happiest camper on earth.
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.0
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