Shot shell reloading

[advocatusdiaboli]

Spurred by cost savings and the coming restrictions on ammunition purchases (they might fail this 3rd time but eventually they will prevail unless the Supreme Court weighs in our favor), I am about to embark on shot shell reloading. Sure, the cost savings _now_ is small, just wait if the new restrictions pass though. I have reloaded for my USP 40 S&W with my brother in laws RCBS gear for a couple of years now. So it's not completely foreign to me. But there is a dizzying array of shot shell reloading equipment out there.

I'll be reloading 12 and 20 for sure and maybe 28 and 16 later but my near-term focus is 12 and 20 as they are my most used calibers.

I intend to buy a progressive at the start--why mess around with buying and selling and trade-ups to get where I should have started? I hear good things about RCBS Grand and the MEC 9000 but hear that Dillon and Ponsness-Warren are a notch above in durability and ease of use and then there is Spolar as the cream of the crop. The price range starts at $500 or so new with a Spolar Gold topping it at $1500 ( non-hydraulic). I don't know why I'd need hydraulic anyway--but might decide to add it one day. If one were to measure just savings, the Spolar would take a lot of hulls to make up that price difference but as we all know, since many of us pay that much or more for a 2-barrel breakdown gun (or more) there is more than cost involved--usability, reliability, precision, accuracy, and even aesthetics though that's nowhere nearly as important as in a gun. Not to mention reloading will avoid the fingerprinting and high price inevitable after teh new Cal Regs should they go into effect. I imagine reloading 300-500 a month mixed gauge and while price is no object (considering what my Beretta Silver Pigeon IV 12 gauge field is about to cost me) I don't throw money away either (yeah, sure, I just spend it on guns ;-)

I am interested in the collective wisdom here--any opinions and experience?

[freakshow10mm]

300-500 a month I'd get a dedicated MEC in each gauge and be done with it. MEC has always been good to me and their support is top notch.

Depends really on if you want to size on the press or off the press for the MEC. Loaded on my uncle's 650 that doesn't size, he's got one of those stand alone sizers. Works real good and it's real smooth. Sizing and inspection are done while watching TV and when it's loading time, grab ready hulls, and just load, no worries about sizing etc.

[Revoman]

freakshow 10mm........is spot on.

The MEC 650 is the middle of the road press, not too manual and slow like the 600, nor too automated like the 9000. It does six operations at a time and will churn out a lot of rounds in an hour. I commonly push out 100 in just over 20 minutes, that's starting from zero, no primers or powder in the hoppers.

They will not cost too much, although that isn't your initial problem, but remember that you will eventually be buying multiple machines.

There is also a guy in the San Diego area that refurbs MEC loaders and sells them for really decent prices. email; barb-j@cox.net,,,,,, if you're interested. I believe he ships too.

[advocatusdiaboli]

Thanks

Thanks guys. You make a good case for procuring two middle-line loaders dedicated to the two calibers than purchasing a single pricey one I have to fiddle with especially since I'll probably have a dedicated time I expect to be loading both--especially if I can get refurbs (thanks very much for that email). Unless of course I like fiddling with loaders instead getting the loading done so as to go shooting--when pigs fly--and I wing shoot for pork. The money I save can be unsaved elsewhere.

[SLO_Ryan]

I agree with freakshow 10mm also.

I am not sure where you are located, but there is a shop in Covina (socal - LA county) that usually has refurbished MEC grabbers in stock for $120-130, which seems like about the best value. I have one in 20ga, and a MEC 600 in both 12ga and 20ga.

If you want the name/address, just send me a PM.

[remington]

I reload alot, about 2000 rounds a month in both 12 and 20. However, about 90% is 20 gauge.

I agree with MEC's, I have 2 (9000g) of course in each gauge. I shoot trap and skeet alot. I have them set up and have not changed the set up in a few years. Same primers, wads, powder, charge, hulls and shot, 7.5. I compete with it and hunt with it.

A Ponsness 800 plus is a good model and you can switch out the turrets for a new gauge. But you can get 2 used 650's and maybe two 9000's for the same money. The 9000's can pickey, stay focused, keep you eye on the primer drop, know when stop pulling when you feel things that are not right, watch the powder drop, make sure you dont run out of powder or shot. I do about 250 rounds a hour, not going to fast to screw up. The guys that claim 500-600are telling the truth, you can do it. But I dont like misfires so speed is not so important.

IMO, Remingtons load best in 20 gauge, AA or STS in 12 (especially Gray and Gold). Only use Win, Rem or CCI primers. Some of the others open the primer hole slightly and then you can't use the Win, Rem and CCI on them again. For the most part CUP and Velocity are not to different with WIN/REM primers. You can use either for most recipes. But ALWAYS check the data books. CCI's are a bit hot for me.

Find the load you like and stick to it. Good luck. Its actually very relaxing.

Nick

[mike100]

I just started in with shotshells a few months back. You can get used MEC loaders very cheaply sometimes - I've even seen a 12ga Jr for $20 at a garage sale. If you can get in at that price, run with that press until you figure out the in's and outs of it and then buy the progressive.

The hull/wad/primer combo is a little different than metallic cartridge, but unless you are pushing the top of the pressure range for a given hull, it is actually pretty easy to mix wad and hull types once you cross reference a bit from reloading charts.

Handicap loads are a good bit cheaper than $8 box when you do them yourself.

[5hundo]

Something to consider

I used to reload 12 Gauge with my Dad but after a while, we didn't really see the point. You can find 12 Gauge shells from about $5 and up per box, even today, with ammo prices pretty high. Wal-Mart usually has the 100 round boxes for $25, which is a pretty good deal...

If it were me, I would go the other direction: If you've got a 16 Gauge and a 28 Gauge shotgun, I'd start off loading for them. They are much harder to find shells for, so I think your reloading time and efforts would be better served by loading for the less common cartridges.

12 Gauge and 20 Gauge are readily available everywhere, so I'd hold off on that until those cartridges become an issue.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Personally,

I have the HORNADY 366 AUTO.

Look around and you may be able to find one pretty cheap. (I purchasd mine from an retired clay shooter for around $200.00. Found him on the internet).

Anyhoo...if you are loading for trap or skeet shooting, a progressive press is the way to go...period!

But if you are interested in 00-Buck, or slugs, then the awesome MEC's are the way to go. (You cannot load 00-Buck or slugs progressively).

I like my Hornady 366 a lot. I do not have experience with any of the others, but I can vouch for the Hornady press.

Below are a few OLDER pictures of my office reloading bench. (I have since set-up for .223 as well). You will also see the little stand I made for my presses. On the Dillon XL650, it gives me extra space on my bench to stash stuff when not in use. But on my Hornady 366 Auto, the box is set-up to catch the finished shells. (The last picture shows the rear side of the press, where the finished shells fall into the box)..

And if I may, be sure to purchase the newest version of the LYMAN SHOTSHELL RELOADING HANDBOOK. It is the one book to have if you are going in this direction.

Enjoy your new hobby!

In Christ: Raymond

[LexLuther]

I like the pics and really like the idea of a hole in the mount that swallows up the finished rounds, but whats with the purfume?

[freonr22]

i see armani on the back right

[Sheepdog1968]

Does anyone know how much it costs them per shell for 00 buck? Same question for bird. Would appreciate some sort of breakdown in the cost. Thanks.

[SLO_Ryan]

Does anyone know how much it costs them per shell for 00 buck? Same question for bird. Would appreciate some sort of breakdown in the cost. Thanks.

It really depends on how much you will be making. Will you be buying an 8 lb jug of powder, quantity discount on shot, 5000 pack of wads, etc? I think for bird shot you can get down to around $3.50 per box, or $0.14 per shell for 12 gauge. Sub gauges are obviously cheaper, b/c of using less components. Also, the most expensive component by far will be the shot.

I have not run any numbers for 00 buck, maybe someone else can answer that one.

[RaymondMillbrae]

The "smell good" is Aqua Di Gio. (Pronounced Akwa Dee Goe).

The one in the rear was...ummm...I think it was Kenneth Cole-Reaction.

I like the Aqua Di Gio, and have pretty much stuck with that.

Pretty funny talking about "smell good" on a shotshell thread.

In Christ: Raymond

[RaymondMillbrae]

Here's a link to a 366 Auto Progressive on eBay.

Act quick!

EBAY 366 AUTO

In Christ: Raymond