Shotshell reloading

[mrmiskin]

Ok I am going to start shotshell reloading and am open for suggestions on a reloader powder hulls etc. Thanks in advance for the input will keep you all informed on my progress.

[skeet]

Done this more'n a thousand times. Are ya talkin 12 ga first?? If so..best loader for the money is a Mec 600 Mark V or 600 Jr(16 20 or 28 too). Go to ebay and buy one cheap. I sell all I get for 40 bucks..The sizemaster is a better machine also by Mec but lots more money. get it with the 302-118 bar for 1 1/8 oz loads. prefer the new Remington STS shells for reloading. AA's were the best at one time but the STS IS more like the AA that the new AA is....most any primer..Winchester 209s or Nobel sports... Red Dot powder (or 700X Clays... blah blah blah). The correct wad according to a LOADING MANUAL.. correct size shot for the practice you will be doing .and a little time practising. If ya don't get the owners manual with the used press you can get it from Mec's site on line. I hope ya have a scale as approx 85% of shotshell reloaders don't. The bars use bushings for the powder charges and they never throw what the chart says..ALTER the bushing to throw what the book recommends.. Then practice....both reloading and shooting. When ya practice shooting...remember to always look at the bird. Don't act like the typical American male shooter and think you were born knowing how to shoot. Remember to LOOK at the bird. Let the little ballistic computer between your ears do the calculations..It actually will seem like magic..and oh so much cheaper than buying factory ammo....even that cheap crap they sell at Wally World. Your reloads will actually be of higher quality than that stuff and under 4.00 a box to boot

[Adam Helmer]

mrmiskin,

Skeet nailed it! I got a MEC 250 reloader for Christmas in 1961 and it is still going strong. I load 12 and 16 gauge shells on it every week.

I would add one thing: Go to your local trap/skeet range and chat with a knowledgable reloader to give you assistance.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

First, get a copy of the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual and scan it from cover to cover. It will provide a wealth of reloading information.

I have several MEC 600 presses and they work well when teamed up with a MEC SuperSizer. The MEC 600 press will resize the brass and the MEC SuperSizer resizes the rim. I have a few shotguns that will not accept oversize rims in the magazine tube.

The answer for me was to get MEC SizeMaster presses in 12, 16 and 20 gauges. These presses incorporate the SuperSizer into the press. For the money they appear to be the best press value on the market. All the best...
Gil

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I guess my question is: what type of shotshell reloading do you wish to do? Do you want to just make some target shells for informal clay target busting and getting in shape for bird season? Do you want to reload hunting loads for upland hunting? Do you think you might want to reload nontoxic shot (steel, bismuth, hevishot, ect) for waterfowl, or slugs and buckshot? Are you talking multiple gauges, or just one?

I don't think you can go wrong with a MEC 600 jr Single stage press.....I've loaded all the above on mine, and it I've had it for over 30 years.
As for powder, shot, ect.....what type of shotshell you wish to reload will better determine my recommendations for shot, wads, powder, ect.
I agree with skeet re: getting a good scale; I weigh powder and shot on ALL my hunting loads, and for target loads I use the bushing that throws the closest shot charge.
One area I will disagree with is the use of a 1 1/8 oz charge bar.....I started out this way, but unless you are shooting formal trap/skeet, you can get away with a 1 oz shot bar and still bust clay pigeons cleanly......and get 45 more rounds from a 25lb bag of shot, to boot!
As for hulls, I use just about everything that's out there, esp. in 16 gauge, and do a fair amount of dumpster diving, but I've found that the Remington "Unibody" hulls (black or green, from their promo loads) seem to last the longest (for me) and are usually found by the tons in the dumpsters!
The Lyman shotshell manual is a good reference book.....it will tell you how to identify the various hulls that each manufacturer makes.
Keep us posted, and let us know how we can help......doesn't seem to be too much interest in shotshell reloading on this forum.

[skeet]

[QUOTE=Gil Martin;336571]
I have several MEC 600 presses and they work well when teamed up with a MEC SuperSizer. The MEC 600 press will resize the brass and the MEC SuperSizer resizes the rim. I have a few shotguns that will not accept oversize rims in the magazine tube.

I should have addressed this in my first post..As Gil says the thickening of the rim can and will happen. The cause of it with a 600 is when we use the regular shotshell sizer we have a tendency to try to size too far down and it squeezes the rim out and makes it larger..eventually it will no longer fit in the mag tubes of many shotguns..may not even fit the chamber of some guns. When it happened with me I just pitched the shell. Usually 3 0r more times loaded... And Gil is also correct..the Sizemaster is a very good loader(I have 4)..but unless you can find one under a hundred bucks or even less..stick with a 600 for a starter press JMHO...

[skeet]

Also this is a link to a site where you enter the costs of all your components and it figures the cost of your reloads. When you buy supplies..it may cost more initially but buy enough for a thousand rounds..which figures to be 3 bags of shot 1000 wads..1000 primers and 3 lbs of (target type) powder. Will usually cost less and save you more trips..And as someone said..talk to the local shooters..but find an astute one..not ol Joe that almost knows whats going on.

http://www.10xshooters.com/calculato...Calculator.htm

copy and paste the link..

Oh and keep an eye out on the bulletin board at your local club..I fing components for sale all the time at the one I frequent..Just bout some good ol Unique for my 20 and 28 ga loading as well as handguns..5 dollars a pound and I got 8 lbs that's a little more than 1 cent a piece for my 20 ga loads They have reclaimed shot available at the club too for 20 a bag..bring yer bag.. I happen to have a ton or so...so don't need it. and at a recent gun show I bought 5000 wads for my 20 ga loads for the princely sum of a dollar a bag(250)...You can save money if ya keep an eye out. I also have a shotmaker..makes good 8 1/2 size shot if ya pay attention. Fellow gave me 500 lbs of magnum BBs and 500 lb of Mag 2s and 4s..I'll use it to make shot with this winter.. Just bein in the right place at the right time. If I still loaded 12 ga I have 40 lbs of IMR 700X powder for loading..got it all cheap.. KYEOFGDs

[dovehunter]

I will agree with the others regarding MEC shotshell loaders. I would never own anything else. Whatever you get, avoid the LEE LOADALL shotshell loader like a case of the plague. It is absolutely the biggest piece of junk ever made. I know because I had one.

I will also highly endorse Remington STS shotshell hulls. They are the easiest to reload, give the best the crimps, and last longer than anything else I have ever used.

As far as powder goes, I use Alliant's UNIQUE for all my shotshell loading - 12, 16, & 20 ga. There may be better powders for specific applications but, for all around use, it can't be beat. It also works well for most handgun loads and I use it for reduced loads in my .22 HORNET rifle.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

While I agree that Unique is a great powder (and I do use quite a bit of it myself in shotshell & handgun loads), I feel that if one is just reloading target shells, there are other powders that will do the same thing for less money, i.e. you will get the same velocities with smaller charges......always looking to save a buck or two.

[skeet]

Yeah Mr 16..I was gonna point that out but then again some people don't want the bother of multiple powders.. But I have always kinda been cheaper is better..especially if you reload a lot of different loads. Thanksfully I only have about 30-or so different powders...Then there is the shotshell powders.. Actually I also use a LOT of unique in shotshell loading(20 and 28 ga) mainly cause I don't really load 12 ga much any more.. In fact I am going to a skeet shoot this weekend and hope I sell 4 12 ga reloaders..especially the Spolar..also selling a couple 20 ga machines.. Another good mid range powder for shotshelss is 800X and Blue dot does almost as well. Been going through the powders here and have found almost 50 lbs of 12 ga powders..Somebody must need 'em more'n me

[Joe Boleo]

I have several and really like them. Take care...
Joe

[dovehunter]

Originally Posted by skeet

...some people don't want the bother of multiple powders...

That's been my philosophy where shotshells are concerned. I like keeping things simple. All 3 of my loaders - 12, 16, & 20 - are all set up to throw one load based on UNIQUE. These loads have all worked great for me on doves for years (which is the only thing I shoot using reloaded shells). I figure if it works, why complicate things by changing it? Also, at least at the places where I buy my powder, I haven't found UNIQUE to be that much more expensive than anything that's comparable and they always have it in good quantities, unlike some other powders.

[skeet]

Originally Posted by dovehunter

That's been my philosophy where shotshells are concerned. I like keeping things simple. .

Man DH..That really is a BAD philosophy.. Don'cha know that he who goes out with most stuff wins?? That is an impotent philosphy!! An we gotta get ya out shootin other kinds of critters with shotguns..It's a BIG wide world out there..Pheasants quail ducks..geese.....ducks.....oh and don't forget ducks. Once ya start shootin ducks..you'll never go back to the dark side. An shootin ducks is simple..it's a pintail(or insert type) ...bang%*(^$((&^))&&%^$dag nab it..missed again.... Makes ya feel bad...cause they are LOTS bigger'n doves and they don't shuck and jive like doves...cept'n maybe teal...love to shoot(at) teal

[dovehunter]

Skeet I didn't say doves were the only things I hunted with shotguns, I said they were the only thing I hunt using reloaded shells. I'd love to try waterfowl hunting. However I think if I took up yet another form of hunting my wife would shoot me!

For years I had a whole shelf full of different shotshell powders. I tried them all at various times for various things. At the end of the day, I found that for the kind of hunting/shooting I did, one powder - UNIQUE - was all that I needed. This might not work for everyone, but it has worked for me.

[mrmiskin]

Thanks for all the input sorry I was so late in getting back to you all but i made it from the middle of no where in africa to houston in a day and then 2 days to get from houston to memphis, go figure. so i am loading 12 and 20 just for busting clays, duck and turkeys. We have a shop near here that specializes in shot shell reloading so i am off to check it out this morning. Once again thanks for all the information.