shotgun Reloading newbie!!

[SilverSalmon]

Need your help. I'm new to reloading and I want to know what Shotgun reloading books to buy(how to) and shotgun reloading equipment I need to get started. i want the best products for the dollar. I'll be reloading mostly defense loads like #00 buck.

[mike100]

You won't be shooting buckshot by the 1000's so I'm sure a Mec 600Jr or Sizemaster would be fine. The sizemasters cost about $220 and I've seen used Jr's go for $50 when you can find them. You really just need to buy the components- sticking the stuff in the hulls is fun and easy, it's buying the myriad of components available for the 10001 different 12 ga combinations that gets confusing.

[SilverSalmon]

You won't be shooting buckshot by the 1000's so I'm sure a Mec 600Jr or Sizemaster would be fine. The sizemasters cost about $220 and I've seen used Jr's go for $50 when you can find them. You really just need to buy the components- sticking the stuff in the hulls is fun and easy, it's buying the myriad of components available for the 10001 different 12 ga combinations that gets confusing.

What are the components I'll need for 12 Gauge #00 buck?

[mike100]

What are the components I'll need for 12 Gauge #00 buck?

I don't know as I never reloaded it (only birdshot), but all you need to do is look up a recipe and buy the proper wad for 9 pellets of 00 and some kind of slow to medium burning magnum powder. The sizemaster resizes the brass which might be important on max loads like these.

you might consider buying a bag of smaller shot to learn how to load with or to use for practice at a shotgun range at clays.

different payload weights have higher or lower stacked shot-cups so wads are important. The heavier the payload, the slower burning powder or a smaller amount of fast powder is used to keep pressure in check. lightweight payloads can use more powder because the shot gets out of the way faster and the pressure is less of a problem.

you just need to arbitrarily pick a recipe- buy the components and duplicate it. from there you can deviate as you get the hang of it. I started with powders I already owned for pistol calibers- I just bought wads that had recipes listed for the hulls I use along with the powders I have. You can just look at reloading tables and pick and choose based on that.

[Revoman]

The 'RCBS Handbook of Shotshell Reloading' is an excellent up to date book that covers most if not all shotshell reloading in great detail. It does have some RCBS exculsive stuff in it, but overall that can be over looked and it's a really good resource, especially for a novice. I highly recommend it.

Lyman also has a shotshell reloading book, I have not read that one, but see it often in gunshops.

MEC probably offers the best bang for the buck. Their loaders are simple and easy to use and will last forever. They also have good warranties and the factory is excellent if you need something.

A 600 Jr or 650 would be great for a newbie. The 650 has a turret to advance each round and every pull of the handle produces a loaded shell.
However, being a newb, you may wish to simply use it as a single stage and move one hull around until it is complete, then start another until they are all complete in the same fashion.

The reason I recommend a turret style is because when you are ready to load after your apprenticeship is done, you already have a machine that you can use that is a little more automated. You can put out a lot of loads on a 650. They are automated enough, but not too much like some others that are VERY complicated and if you make a mistake, not very forgiving. The 650 is forgiving enough that it is a good choice.

[Sideline Shooter]

As a previous poster mentioned, you will not be loading by the 1000's, so realistically only loading 00 buck might not be worth it for you. You have to crunch some numbers like the cost of the press, wads, hulls, powder and primers vs. the cost of a case of loaded 00 buck. The most important is, are these components readily available to you at a store near you or is this going to be all mail order? Do you even have a decent shotgun to shoot trap and sporting clays with or only a HD shotgun?
If your going to load target loads also and mix in the 00 buck, you can make it worth your time, if not just buy the 00 buck in bulk cases at a gun show or mail order. Not being negative just realistic.

sideline shooter

[scratch]

Shotgun reloading is recipe driven.

Go to Hodgon's site, plug in variables, i.e. gauge, load type(buckshot), shot weight (9#00), shell type you are using and bingo it list powders, primers, powder weight, pressure and fps. Only use the components listed.

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Here is a shotshell calculator to determine cost: http://10xshooters.com/calculators/S...ReloadingCost/

If you're only loading a few boxes occasionally the Lee Load-All works OK. I used it when I first started shooting Cowboy Action; I now use a MEC 9000G. The other MEC's suggested work fine also.

[CSACANNONEER]

The biggest question is how many rounds/year are you planning on loading? I have a Lee Load-All Jr. that I paid about $6 for years ago. It would work great for low volume reloading if you are lucky enough to find one. I'm not talking about the $40ish dollar Lee Load-All IIs that are sold today. The press I'm talking about is much smaller and you have to weigh or use a scoop to measure each charge and each shot load. I've probably loaded 1000 rounds with it over the years and IMO it works better than a Load-All II but, it's not as nice as a MEC 600.

[mjsweims]

Just keep in mind that when you load rounds for practice trap/skeet ranges won't allow shot sizes much larger than 7-1/2. Many rifle ranges require shot larger than 00.
I don't know how well any shotshell loader will handle the large shot size - you may have to spoon it in.
I'd get a MEC 600 JR. If you don't like it you can probably sell it for close to what you pay for it. Then if you find you enjoy loading and want to increase your volume go to a progressive and keep the 600 for special loads.

[scrat]

LOL i have a lee load all jr. the old what 1960s it rather small but does the job. i have loaded several hundred rounds with hit. same thing i picked it up for like 12.00 delivered to my door. now as far as the loads you need to get some load data on what you will be doing

[SilverSalmon]

Thank all of you guys for the GREAT ADVICE. Much respect and love to you all. I have a Super nova benelli, and A Super black eagle benelli I, so I think the MEC600 Jr is probably worth the money. Be well.