Shot shell reloader recommendations

[kgcabs]

Just bought a CZ Ringneck 410, beautiful piece.

I have been shooting primarily 20 and 12 gauge Federal bulk pack ammo that is not to expensive.

The 410 is a different story!

I know there is a reload section on Calguns but seems to be primarily rifle related.

I need reload equipment advice please.

Thanks, Karl

[CSACANNONEER]

I just use a little MEC Jr. for my .410 press. I had to modify it a little to get the adjustment just right for my 2 1/2" shells. If this is your only .410 and it accepts 3" shells, I'd suggest setting everything up for 3" shells and not worry about trying to load 2 1/2"s. What else do you want to know? I load 15.3ish gr of Win 296 under 1/2oz of shot.

[kgcabs]

I have heard good things about the Mec Jr. Just wanted to make sure I was on the right track.

What does it cost to reload 25? I think ww sells a box of 25 for about $9.

The Ringneck does shoot 3".

Thanks

[mike100]

I can load 28ga with a 3/4 oz load for less than $4 a box, so 410 should be even cheaper with less shot. you really need to jump on cheap lead shot in bulk when you find a good deal in person- the rest of the components are a little more common place and don't seem to vary in price as much.

[Revoman]

A 600 Jr will be sufficient, however, depending on how much you shoot, a 650 can put out many more rounds in much less time. Yes they cost a little more, but overall they, in my opinion, are the best machine that MEC makes. Manual turret so when/if something goes awry, they are easy to cope with, yet automated enough to perform 6 different operations on one stroke of the handle.
Great little press'. I have one for each gauge/bore and love 'em.
You can find them used many times on ebay or Craigslist. There is a local guy here in the San Diego area that refurbishes them for much less than new.
I agree that lead is the biggest cost, it was huge last year with the price at most sporting stores in the $45 - $50 neighborhood. It has settled around $25 - $30 now. While I have a ton or slightly more right now, I would not buy much more as I am afraid that our lawmakers will outlaw lead in CA. soon.

[sargenv]

Let me just warn you that I had many years of experience loading metallic and 12 and 20 gauge. I picked up a 410 loader and was endlessly frustrated by that lil cartridge. You had to crimp it just right or it would give you fits. I finally sold all the hulls, wads, and the press to someone with more patience than me.

[ERdept]

Any MEC 600 series, but he progressives they make can pop out a shell on each pull.

the single stages can be slow and tedious.

[ERdept]

Want my MEC 650 Jr MK 5 with wads, primers, shot, EVERYTHING for $150

[kgcabs]

Want my MEC 650 Jr MK 5 with wads, primers, shot, EVERYTHING for $150

Is it set up for 3" 410? What condition is it in?

I am still debating whether or not I should get the Sizemaster. Is it necessary to re-size the case?

Thanks

[sargenv]

Yes it is neccesary.. I received some 3" loaded ammo with the 410 loader I bought and they were not properly resized.. and they will not fit into my 870. They go partly into battery and then get hung up. If you only fire them in your gun you might be able to get away with it, but likely you will want them resized.. It is one less thing to think about when loading that PITA shell..

[kgcabs]

Thanks sarg,

What makes the 410 such a pita to reload?

[CSACANNONEER]

Want my MEC 650 Jr MK 5 with wads, primers, shot, EVERYTHING for $150

If kgcabs isn't interested, I am. I've been wanting to replace my old rusty MEC JR for a while. Where are you located?

[Revoman]

When reloading the smaller gauges, 28 and 410 bore, the smaller the gauge, the less margin for error.

They take less of everything, less powder, less shot, but those two items take up a lot of space and space is not a strong point in those two gauges/bores. Therefore, they are much tougher to 'get it right' than say the 20 or 12.

However, once you do get it right, they are a joy to shoot with the less recoil, yet good power to powder what ever you are shooting.

Go strictly by the book, load quality hulls, use only the listed wads and use small size shot and you should be okay. One of the keys though is getting the wad right, that's why it's important to not deviate from the manual. (I happen to use the AA hulls with Claybuster (AA clone) wads. Li'l Gun powder. It works for me.

Most MEC press' are set up well from the factory, used can be, but that also may be hit or miss dependent upon how careful the previous loader was.

I will also state that if you are not careful with a turret style loader, shot is easily spilled in the pencil bore when moving the hulls from station to station. Since they are of small stature at the base, they wobble easily.

I agree, if you shoot your rounds in the same gun, you will probably be okay without resizing. If you shoot them in multiple guns then sizing is a must......but that would apply to any shotshell. I also have heard that if you get shot down inside of the sizer, it won't work quite right. Then you either have to disassemble the sizer or turn the machine upside down to remove it. I happen to use a separate sizer as a separate operation.

That offer for $150 is a really, really good one. If it were me, I would snap that up in a heart beat.

[tankerman]

Get the best - Ponsness Warren

http://www.reloaders.com/

[SLO_Ryan]

What kind of volume are you planning on shooting?

I reload mostly 20ga, and a little 12ga. I have a MEC 600 jr. and a MEC Grabber. I like them both - the 600 is just so simple and easy to use, but take a while, the Grabber is really nice, but it took me a while to get proficient at it. Sometimes a primer would not drop, or the powder charge would not drop due to a stuck bar, and so on.

If you haven't reloaded shotshells before, I would start with a simple loader like a 600 Jr.

My brother in-law was given a progressive reloader, and had a hell of a time learning to use it, since he didn't start with a non-progressive. Mostly it was problems with the primers not dropping, and he didn't realize it until powder spilled everywhere, and then he had to take off the shell plate to reset everything.