WANTED - SHOTGUN RELOADER, 12Ga. or advice.

[Blktail]

I would like to get into reloading. Anybody out there have an old reloader to sell? What about advice on what to get or to stay away from?
Thanks

[billy ahring]

Check on ebay for MEC 600 jrs. You just can't go wrong with the MEC. To be honest as cheap as they are new, I'd not take a chance on buying one that someone has lost parts to on ebay and just spring for a new one. They can be had new for around 80 bucks at sporting goods stores. Heck you will pay $20 in shipping alone by going the ebay route. Might as well have a new one.



good luck!


Billy

[quigleysharps4570]

I wholeheartedly agree with Billy. By the way, how many shells and what are you gonna load for?

[fabsroman]

I was going to recommend a MEC 600 Jr. and was even going to recommend the one I have sitting on my reloading desk. However, it is as old as me and it isn't the smoothest thing around. My dad used it for a number of years and then stopped shooting when he had 5 kids between the ages of one and nine. Then, I graduated college and started shooting clays a lot. I used that reloader for an entire year before I figured it would be worth it to drop $275 on a MEC 9000G because I was spending my entire Sunday shooting and reloading (i.e., reloading was taking hours at a time each week). I love the MEC 9000G and have one in 12 ga. and 20 ga. Pretty soon, I will have one in 28 ga. and I am debating whether or not to get one for the .410. Other than the MEC 600 Jr., the only other non-progressive press I have is the Steelmaster and that is used solely for reloading waterfowl loads and the occasional odd ball lead load.

In selecting which loader to buy, it is key to know what you are loading for. I could load waterfowl loads on my 9000G, but that would be miserable. Likewise, I could load clay loads on my 9000G, but that would be miserable too. So, let us know what you are looking to predominately do with the loader and I am sure we will be able to provide plenty of suggestions.

[Blktail]

I want to load primarily for clays, but I don't do a lot of shooting. I cant imagine shooting 10 boxes in a day. 100 a day is more likely and I doubt I could shoot once a weekas things stand now. So, a starter set would suffice I am sure.
Also, I might want to load slugs and buckshot. Is this practical?

[skeet]

Blktail,
A Mec 600 Jr will suffice for all your anticipated loading. If you weren't so far away I'd give you one. Shipping would cost too much for that though. Loading slugs and buckshot is practical on a 600 Jr but hardly necessary as I'm sure a few boxes will take care of most of your shooting. Buying components for that would be more costly than buying new I'm afraid. You may want o consider the acquisition of an adjustable charge bar though. I'm sure you do have a powder scale. Best to check those loads. Surprisingly 9 out of 10 shotshell reloaders don't have a powder scale. Hard to believe but true

[Catfish]

For the money on a starter press Mec is hard to beat. I would recomand that you get aa Size Master though. If you have to load for a gun with a tight chamber the sizer is a must, especially if you want to use cases fired in another gun.

[Brant Buster]

Right after Thanksgiving I sold a DL155 Pacific press and bought a DL266 press.

I have never liked MEC presses, but you're being given some good advice on this thread. MEC is about the only BEST GAME in town at the moment.

I've been reloading shotshells for over 30 years, FWIW.

DO NOT waste your time OR MONEY fiddling around with a Lee Products LoadAll Press. They're made of plastic and not very rugged.

MEC (Mayville Engineering Company) offers a couple really good beginner models for under $100. I'd buy new and avoid someone else's problems by buying used. My $.02.

Welcome to and enjoy the new hobby you're about to embark on! Try shopping at Ballistic Products Inc. ( www.ballisticproducts.com ) for unusal or hard-to-find components.

[fabsroman]

I agree with Skeet about loading buckshot and slugs. I loaded slugs for a couple of years and just this season found that the sabots I loaded were nowhere close to the factory loaded sabots. Hence, I used the factory loaded sabots instead. Now, the grouping was about the same whether the sabots were factory loads or handloads. Buckshot might be a little more consistant and you will probably be able to achieve factory load ballistics without much hassle. However, you probably won't use much buckshot throughout the year, so I wouldn't hassle too much with it unless you have extra time on your hand.

If you shoot 100 rounds an outing at clays, you will probably shoot 150 to 200 after you start reloading. The saying is that you don't save any money by reloading, because you just shoot more with the saved money. I shot about 6 to 10 boxes a week at trap and found myself reloading most of Sunday with the MEC 600 Jr. However, it is a good starter press to learn on because you can concentrate on a single procedure instead of having to try and follow 6 different procedures at once.

[stv]

I have owned a Lee Load All, Mec 600 and MEC650. Tried a Mec9000G. The Lees are cheap but not adjustable for wadchanges and crimp set up. You must sort of hunt for a formula that stacks up OK then never alter it - no flexibility. Mec 650 was OK but I seemed to get out of sequence and drop shot and powder all over. For low volume stick with the 600. Almost foolproof compared to the others out there. A progressive is OK but in my case not necessary. I am retired and d not shoot a high volume of ammo.

[Ktallman]

I would also recomend the MEC 600 JR as a good starter loading press. I shoot trap and used one for years. They work good and fairly easy to use. I have loaded thousands of shells with mine. I still have mine, but moved up to a 9000G. MEC reloading presses are in my experience are a good product.

[Blktail]

I got a MEC Grabber progressive.

If I don't do anything stupid I can load more than 200 an hour.

Thanks for all the advice.

[Andy L]

Wish I had seen this earlier. I bought a guy out of his reloading equipment last year. There is a brand new MEC with it and I dont reload for a shotgun.

Sorry. I would probably sell it if anyone knows what its worth....

Andy

[hawke50]

I have the complete package with all you need to start reloading shotshells The press is the MEC 600 JR. with an adjustable charge bar. Also have reloading components (primers, shot, casings, powder, etc)
If still interested, contact me for a complete list of components.

Regards

Hawke50