As the title says, shotgun shells are increasing in price, and I have a good stock of them, so I could feasible reload with little need to look for shells.

I have a bag of #6 shot I bought a while back to weigh down some rifle stocks, and I know I can get wads.

i know primers may be an issue, but I know a few shops that stock a lot of reloading components, so I will start to look.

but as far as presses/field reloaders go, I want something relatively cheap, and simple, I don't have a great area to set up a large press right now, though I could make a workstation in my basement easily...

I was looking at like the XringUSA kits or even some cheaper reloading kits on ebay that is just a decapper, tube, and a ring or giant nut for a base- I am not planning to buy the super cheap one though, I want something a little better than bubba can make in his garage, but don't want to invest hundreds right now.

I shoot 12, 20, and .410 and may look to reload all three of them.

Any suggestions or is anyone selling a setup relatively cheap?

Sad thing is, I had a Mec JR 12 gauge setup a few years back, and I gave it away

I was going to suggest the Mec until I read your last line. I have one up in the attic. I don't know of any presses that will adapt from .410 - 12 Ga. I had (have?) a Lee press I bought for 20 ga, and I found it better than nothing--but not by much. If you have time and aren't needing a lot of production, it will get the job done.

Yeah, I am looking at taking my time, doing like maybe 50 shells at a time. Don't need to do thousands right now. I am not opposed to several presses or reloaders, one for each caliber, as long as their relatively cheap. I would start out with 12 gauge or 20 gauge if I can find a Mec press cheap enough.

I'm a complete noob when it comes to reloading- not sure if something like the Lee single stage works on shotguns or only on pistol and rifle...

The Lee Load All II is a pretty good deal at Midway right now, under $60 and looks to be decent for 12 gauge. Anyone use one before? Good for a beginner?

I always found the AA one piece hulls easiest to reload.
During my competition skeet shooting days I had a Pacific set up for 12ga and MECs for 20,28 and 410.
I hear the 209 primers are hard to locate but how about the wads?

__________________
NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

The Lee Loader is a piece of ****. Find a used Mic at an auction, yard sale, or gun show.

Mec loaders go begging at auctions and yard sale, around here at least. I have a mec 600 that I gave $40 for with a bunch of wads, almost a pound of Red Dot and probably 15 lbs of shot. It has set idle for the past few years. If you were closer, I'd make you deal.

I'd pay shipping, but I bet it would cost a fortune... I know the powder probably could not be shipped

Wads are easy to find and cheap.

If you're not an experienced handloader, get at least a Lyman shotshell load manual (assuming they are still published). Read it until you completely understand the process; THEN buy your equipment and components.

This is a much better way to proceed than a hit-or-miss haphazard approach using quick Internet forums and/or YouTube which is sort of like getting a degree from an unaccredited college. Not the fastest way, but the best way. Keep in mind that you'll likely be sorry buying cheap stuff, but there is good equipment that may be a bit cheaper than other good equipment. Takes some work to do it right. Good luck-

I loaded thousand's upon thousand's of 12ga. rounds using a MEC 600 Junior when I was a member of a trap club. It wasn't fast but it did the job. When it got to the point where there wasn't a huge difference in cost between loading and buying shell's I retired the MEC. The MEC has been sitting under my loading bench for probably 15 years gathering dust.

I load 12, 20, 28, & 410 (2.5" &3") on a normal year about 8 to 10 thousand rounds! I have 7 MEC presses. I sold my (Wack-a-Mole) Lee loader in 410 2.5" to a 19 year old that wanted to start loading.

It is no longer about cost! If you want to shoot over a few boxes of any shot gun ammo, you need to reload!

I had an injury almost 8 years ago and stopped shooting 12 & 20 gauge. I found that with quality 28 and 410 shotguns my sub-gauge scores climbed to match my big bore average (between 70-75%) The bonus is: there are 400 one ounce loads in a bag of shot, there are 800 half ounce loads! Shot used to be the largest expense in reloading shot shell! So I doubled my shots and reduced my costs.

If you have a large single stage press, like a Rock-Chucker II or Supreme, the 7/8-14 bushing comes out and you can use 1 1/8" dies. RCBS makes a 12 Gauge die set (look for it in the Cowboy die section) and CH4D dies of Mt. Vernon, Ohio makes 12 & 20 gauge dies also (I have 12 ga. in RCBS and 20GA. in CH4D) Be sure you get the shell holder at the same time!

MEC presses are the best bang for the buck! There are better, there are more expensive too. I have MEC Jr presses, and MEC Grabber Presses and one 9000 G full progressive press in 12 gauge.

One of the keys to good crimps is use hulls of the exact same length and adjust your press to that case and don't change any component except shot size! Even 28 gauge AA Super Sport shells have changed length 3 times since introduction! If the crimp isn't good, you end up with a pocket full of shot and cases full of air!

The Winchester 209 primer is the standard! Remington primers are interchangeable in the load data. Federal 209A are hotter and use less powder for the same velocity. Fiocchi's primers are hotter still and a tiny bit larger in diameter. (When my W209 loads get loose primers, I save the hulls and load small batches with Finocchi primers!) Fiocchi cases require Fiocchi primers! A case of primers is 5000! I shoot 2 cases a year, my brother shoots 3 to 4 cases a year!

I was told a few weeks ago that several small gun shops haven't been able to order 410 for over 2 years! Shop someplace else! I have been buying 10-box flats nonstop since 2005. They aren't always in stock, but they do come and go at stores that cater to Skeet and Sporting Clays shooters! I try to keep 3 to 5 cases of 410 Super Sports in my stash. The hot loads (WW296) I use allow an average reloading of 5 to 7 times. On a good/normal year I reload 5000 410 and 4000 28 gauge. So I'm always on the look out for the powder, W 209 primers, and #7.5 & #8 bags of shot. When I see some I buy what I can. My brother lives down the road and we borrow back and forth all the time, so that helps too!

Best wishes for your future reloading endevors!

Ivan

The powder is long gone....

The current best place to buy shotgun reloading supplies is at your state's championship. These happen in the summer and there is one for each sport: Skeet, Trap, & Sporting Clays. I was at a Trap Championship last fall and helped a friend get primers and powder. Limit 2000 primers and 2 pounds of powder, so together we got him 4000 and 4 pounds of Longshot (great 28 gauge powder!) So take the wife, friends or even stray kids! (Wife and kids require feeding! and wives reduce buying opportunities!)

Ivan

Get yourself a single stage press. Mec 600 is good. I have had a bunch of them in the last year or so. 12 ga I sell for 40-50dollars...20s a bit higher./ 28 and 410 sell for pretty rich prices. But one of the easiest to use and if in a hurry good for 7 boxes an hour or more. I have used them since they came on the market in the early-mid 60s. Loaded an easy 1/4 million rounds on them. I used to take well used ones to the Grand American Trap Shoot and for about 10-15 dollars they would rebuild them. A long time ago in a galaxy far away.

Go to a few gun shows, garage sales, watch the internet, and pick up a MEC 600. Loads factory perfect shells, is easy to set up, and time consuming. Once learned on one You can load a box every half hour.

The LeeLoader,,the little tube thing that you use a hammer/mallet to pound the hull into to size etc I would not consider unless you are really only going to load a box (25) or so every so often.
Yes it will load the rounds for you, but the process gets old very fast.

The Lee LoadFast,,the simple Press that has individual stations for sizing, priming, ,,then powder dispensing from a hopper,,then wad seating and then the shot dispensing from a hopper and finaly star crimping.

The sizing station uses a sparate sizing steel ring that you slip over the hull then place the hull w/ring into the sizing station.
Pull the press handle down and the ring is pushed down over the hull all the way to the rim which sizes the 'brass' portion of the shell.
This station also deprimes the case.

That ring will be 'stuck' on the hull at this point.
On station 2, the case is primed and that ring is also pushed free of the hull so you are left with a sized & primed hull and the now detached separate sizer ring ready to be used with the next case.

That primed hull is then run through the powder drop, wad seating, shot drop and crimping stages to get a finished shell.

The press itself is at first look rather flimsey for lack of a better word. Plastic abounds and it seems to flex when the round it run through each station.
But the thing does work! and it will produce nice reloaded ammo for you at a fairly good rate. Not quite as fast as a Mec 600Jr,, but only because of the need to handle that sizing ring separately.

The press comes with a bag full of powder bushings (plastic) as well as shot bushings. Easily changed out to adj the powder drop and shot drop to what you need.
I used a 12ga and a 16ga version of this press for a long time before getting a Mec9000 in 12ga.
In 16ga,,I still use the Lee.

In 410 I have a Mec600JR. Nice single stage press and have no complaints about it.

The 600jr and most all the MEC's have been offered in the past with conversion kits to other gauges.
But the time needed to convert and adjust plus the cost of a conversion kit really isn't worth it IMO.
Just get another MEC press in a dedicted gauge.

For 20ga, I was going to get one of the conversion kits for the above 410 600jr.
Then a 20ga Mec SizeMaster was offered up for sale at my local gun club for $150. So that's my 20ga press.

Shot is running about $50 to $60 a 25# bag right now.
Obviously, lower the payload to keep the price of your loads down.
No real reason to shoot 1 1/8 loads at SC or Skeet unless you're in a $$ shoot.
7/8 is fine.

I shoot 5/8 oz in 12ga and have no trouble at all.
I use a 7/8 load right out of the Lyman book that has a low PSI ( I shoot older guns).
Then reduced the payload to 5/8oz. I fill the leftover space in the hulls with cherrios or rice crispys for a good crimp.
Birds like 'em too I suspect.
Most all my shotguns are Full choke so there are plenty of #8 shot in the pattern circle for a 'kill'.

Wads are usually easy to find.
Brand name (Winchester, Remington, Federal,etc are the most $$,,buy the same as a 'clone' from Claybuster Wads at less money).

Primers are not cheap.
Not very long ago a Brick of shotshell primers was $25/$30
$70 and $80/1000 is a 'good price' ( 1000 primers in a 'brick')

The cheapest are usually the Cheddite brand also the ones that usually in stock. I think they are mfg in France.
Good quality, generally a 'hard' primer meaning the primer itself takes a good firing pin strike to make it go bang. Most will never notice it.Some vintage guns may notice a misfire or two with them.

The Cheddite primers though marked as a '209' size primer, they can be a .000 or 2 larger in dia than the standard US made 209 primer.
This doesn't cause any issue in seating them,, a press will simply seat them by swaging the primer pocket open that small amt the first time.

What can happen is that if you then go back to the slightly smaller US 209 primer in those previously reloaded hulls primed with the larger Cheddite 209,,the US 209 primer will be a loose fit. They can drop free sometimes after being loaded.
Fiocchi primers can cause the same issue.
But sometimes they are only thing around too.

I've been told there are 2 sizes of 209 Cheddites, the European (larger) and the standard US 209 size. But I haven't seen that to be the case.

Powder,,,can be very hard to find. Sometimes you just walk into a store and the shelves are full.
Powder is expensive when you do find it.
Some people say they got a good buy at $30/lb. I seem to recall it was just under $20/lb not long ago.
Doesn't matter,,you pay the price if you want the stuff

Be ready to switch powders. You favorite powder may not always be available. But some of the other all time standbys may be. Grab what you can when you can
If you happen to really like a new XYZ powder and have fallen in love with it,,that's great till it ain't avail anymore.
Then a can of RedDot might do just as well.

Empty hulls can usually be scrounged from ranges or friends that don't reload.
Our club has buckets of them that go to the trash every week.
After a SC tournament that comes around to the club a few times a year, there are 6 or 8 large drums of emptys waiting for the trash pick up. Most are new/once fired of all types.

That's what I had. It works--barely. It is far more likely to encourage one to stop reloading shotshells. There is a reason it's under $60.

Yes back in the 70s I used one for recreational shooting. Worked well. I remember using Unique powder, # 6 and 8 shot and included instructions.
I also loaded some slugs. I never had mother loaded to compare it to.

Mec has a kit for loading .410.

Parts are easy..............
it is the primers and the lead shot that hurts your wallet.

Hulls, powder and wads are not bad, cost wise, if you shop around.

8lbs of Promo if you can get it, was the way to go for cheap 12 Ga. loads.

410 Alliant 410 cheapest........... H110 case life doubles.
Good luck.

Since you already know the MEC 600, I think that would be the best way to go. They can be had in all the gauges you mentioned and can readily be found at sales as others have stated. MEC is a very good product line and will last a long time, or until you graduate to something a little better/faster/easier to use.
Not knowing where you live, I have about 800 pounds of #8 and #9 shot, but likely too much for shipping. I'm in SoCal by the way.

I almost wore out 2 Lee Load-Alls in the 1970’s and 1980’s. 12 and 20 gauge. A little slow, but made good ammo.
With the prices on components currently, especially shot, shooting factory loads may be cheaper than reloading. Availability of the CORRECT components are a big issue too.
Follow the loading manual specs EXACTLY. Pay particular attention to the wads and hulls. They are not interchangeable. Usr the correct wad for the hull. Some hulls have an inside taper-the rest do not. Using the wrong wad in some hulls will cause serious pressure spikes.
Get at least one, and preferably two loading manuals, and read them cover to cover. Several times. Just like you should metallic cartridge loading manuals.

Are you sure about that?
However, they are of no use if primers cannot be had.

What he said!!!...........X2.

The Mec 600 Jr MK 5 is the best bang for your $$$ these days. And contrare to what someone said above. With the available die sets you can go from 2 1/2" 410 to 3 1/2" 10 ga. on the same loader..........My oldest Mec 600 dates from the early 60's(was my Dad's) and it still makes great shells. Currently I have 4 600's setup. 410 2 1/2"--410 3"--20 ga 2 3/4" and 12 ga 2 3/4". They are preset to my loads. So All I have to do is add powder and shot and commence loading....STAY AWAY from the LEE LOADALL........It's a flimsy piece of junk.

__________________
S&W Accumulator

Good luck with your quest to load shot shells.
Mec is a good choice, and I am sure there are other brands that will work.
I had some Pacific presses that i sold a few months ago, and it surprised me what the brought.
I actually like the way the Pacific loaded better than the Mec. However it seems awkward, as it was arranged backward.
The 410 is a pain in the rear to load for. Its just so small, and the shot wants to hang up in the drop tube and the fall out on the floor when the handle bumps the top.
With the 410, Its easier to keep the shot bottle empty, and dip the shot into the case, with an adjustable dipper, or home made dipper, made to the correct size, after seating the wad.

I have to say I disagree. The 410 does take a very little more attention to detail to load as well as the other gauges. BTW polish the inside of the 410 drop tube(45 cal bore brush with electric drill)...it does help the shot to drop. The problem with shot bridging is mainly because of the size of the shot used. Anything over size of 7 it is best to tap the drop tube while letting the press handle up. My favorite shot size for rabbit and squirrel is number 5s and I can load about a 100 an hour with no problem. With the Spolar 410 I can load over 500 an hour with 8s and 9s. My favorite single stage Mec is the Sizemaster...kind of a 600 Jr on steroids. Another good 410 press if you can find one is a Pacific/Hornady model 266. I have one a friend tries to steal every time he visits...LOL

Don't overlook a Ponsness-Warren press. It'll load all gauges with quick change heads. I've had one since 1974 and still use it. Much more stout than the Mec

I used to use a Hornady 366. Loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds on it. I used to shoot 20-25000 rounds of 12 ga a year.

I do not see what you are going to reload for? If hunting, just buy shells, you do not use that many. If you are clay target shooting, then I guess reloading is the way to go, but in my area lead is 45.00 a bag, primers can't be found, and powder I hear is nuts.

My every other year order that I split with a friend was 100k wads, 100k primers, 3 tons of hard shot, and 200 pounds of powder. Powder was 72.00/8 pound can of green dot. Lead was 8 dollars a bag.

For fun, I used to play with loads, and had good 7/8 oz target trap loads from 12ga at 900fps velocity. Yes they work fine, if you put the gun in the right place.

Anyway, I would look for a 366 Hornady used for 12 ga to answer your question

__________________
Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Shop ebay for a used MEC 600jr, you should probably be able to find one for 50 bucks or less. As for the Lee Load All, not worth even considering because they are notorious for wide swings in the powder charge thrown.

BTW, I currently have 5 presses in operating status. Once I gain some confidence with the used 9000 G in 410 I picked up I'll retire the Sizemaster. Got the progressive because I am a cheapskate and use the 410 for my primary practice caliber. It's cheap to reload, the recoil is nothing, and it requires the most precision. The only downside for 410 is that the gun is only 6.5 lbs. and makes my 8.5 lbs 12 gauge feel massive.

The P-W is a better press I guess(I sold them). The price difference for the average-hunting ammo reloader isn't worth it. And the 366 Hornady is an ok press. To expensive and complicated for the average reloader too. I sold reloading supplies for 50 yrs. The average shooter/hunter/reloader was very well served by the Mec 600 Jr/MkV. That is why they are found so cheaply at auctions yard sales flea markets. And even at the prices of components today it is still worth reloading...even hunting loads. Heck I had one customer that reloaded 1000's of shells on the aforementioned Lee press. Hey...it worked for him

Nope. My 2 410 loaders will bridge in the drop tube occasionally. tapping on the side of the press frees the shot up. Once you learn the eccentrics of loading the 410. You can load them almost as fast as a 12 or 20 ga..
Looking at my loading log. Since 2019(when I started loading 410). I've loaded 5633 rounds or 225 boxes. It's not a pain to load for if your machine is setup correctly.

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S&W Accumulator

The loadall has NO die adjustments. The hoppers are a PIA to empty. BET you spill it! You load by "feel". No positive stops at the end of the stroke. I use a lot of Lee stuff. but I wouldn't use ANY of their presses even if they were free.

__________________
S&W Accumulator

I have a “love/hate” relationship with shot shell reloading.
When I shot a lot of trap I could save money reloading. I have a Mec 9000 and components to load 3000 shells sitting on shelves.
But, and a big but, if I was to starting out loading shotshells today I might not. At least till component prices come down.

To get set up to reload today will be expensive so unless I was going to shoot every week in ATA or skeet I think I would just buy flats of AA.
Reloading a couple of flats, even on my Mec 9000 is time consuming.
It all boils down to how much your going to shoot. If you shoot enough to amoritize the expense, go for it.
If you are going to shoot a couple of flats a year it might be cheaper to just buy factory.

The PW press is a good "Volume" press but you will have to come up with more money.......

however it is one of the TOP loaders made for filling a case with ammo, in short order.
After seven pulls on the handle, every pull is a finished product,
ready to shoot.

Back when I shot a lot of skeet loaded for 12, 20 and 410. All on MRC presses. The 12 was a Sizemaster with an added primer feed, 20 and 410 standard 600's. Haven't shot skeet in years and the 12 and 30 presses are sitting in my son's basement in WI gathering dust (note to self: clean them up and store properly) and the 410 is with me. Figure I'd use it here in KY, so far in the last four years have fired one shot (copperhead in yard).

The advice to get a shotshell manual is spot on as loading component mix is critical with shotguns.

The sad thing is, used MEC single stage presses used to go for like $25-$40 (even as recently as 10 yrs ago.) Used MECs are through the roof, as are new ones.

As for the Lee, they work. Back when they had metal bases they REALLY worked great, back in the 80s I loaded 1000s of 12s and many many 1000s of 20s on mine. I have since graduated to MECs, first single stages and now progressives,( I do a lot of clays, in 5 different gauges) but there's no denying that the Lees work. They're just a little flimsier now.

Forget hand tools. Please. Even for minimal quantities a simple single stage press will make life so much easier.

That's sad Rich.......The smell of gunsmoke( paper shotshells had the best) and the sound of gunfire is soothing to the soul.

__________________
S&W Accumulator

Shot bridging is a problem in the 410 MEC 600JR loader if I use anything larger thn 7.5 shot..
I rarely use anything larger than 7.5, but every so often i have some 6's to use up.
I have a habit of giving the handle of the press one shake to the side as I withdraw it from dropping the shot no matter what size I'm using on te 410 press.
But a quick trip thru the drop tube with a cleaning rod with a rag wet with Pledge furniture polish also helps a great deal to prevent bridging.
The polish is mostly silicone and really slicks up the tube.
The plastic primer feed tray on my MEC 9000 and 20gs Sizemaster will feed much better if they are wiped down with a little of the Pledge as well.
Makes the plastic surfaces very slippery and the primers slide easily on the trays.
The plastic wad guides can be helped as well from the cloth being pushed through the guide a couple of times.
No there's not enough of anything there to contaminate the primers or powder.

I load shotshells because I want low pressure loads for the vintage guns that I use.

If I didn't need or want 'special loads' I'd probably just buy off the shelf 12 and 20ga shells at this point.
They are still sold by the flat (10boxes) for $78.00 here.
So $7.80 and box of 25,,I don't think I could buy the componets and reload the box of shells for much less.
You have to buy the press as well if you are just starting,,another couple hundred most likely.
I still think the Lee LoadAll isn't such a bad press for the occassional reloader. They certainly are not MECs, but they are not priced as such either.

Used MEC presses are expensive of late. Once in a while you can find a good one for a deal.
Don't necessarily pass up one of the older discontinued models either. They work just as well. Mostly all single stage earlier versions of the 600JR.
Check MECS website, they used to have the older models listed with parts and instructions available.

Just worked up an Excel Spreadsheet to calculate per box costs for a reloaded shotshell. Assumptions were made as to current costs based on my recent purchases. Powder - 240.00 per 8 lbs. Primers - 80.00 per thousand. Wads - 14.00 per 500. Shot - 53.00 per 25 lbs. bag. Hulls 0.02 each - note this assumes a minimum of 10 reloads per shell.

12 gauge, 1.0 oz. = $8.39 per box
12 gauge 7/8 oz. = $7.92 per box

20 gauge 7/8 oz. = $7.81 per box
20 gauge 3/4 oz. = $7.29 per box

28 gauge 3/4 oz. = $7.23 per box

410 gauge 1/2 oz. = $6.20 per box

If you compare the 28 and 410 commercial at 18-20 dollars per box to the reloads the benefits are very clear. For the larger calibers the benefits still exist because most of what you can find is 10 dollars a box and a bit more. In addition if you are older and wish to spare your shoulder it's much easier to build 7/8 ounce 12 gauge and 3/4 ounce 20 ounce 20 gauge than it is to find them in a store.

PS; I'm a 4 gun Skeet shooter and the 410 is my primary practice caliber. Because it is the least expensive to load, the recoil won't build a flinch, and it requires more precision which forces you to become a better shot. Now that I'm semi retired I plan to do a lot more practicing and am hoping to be shooting the 410 in the 90's by the end of the summer.

Well, there is a lot of good info on here.

There are 2 reasons I have been looking into this...
1) 12 and 20 gauge shotshells used to be $0.21 a round near me, very available, sometimes cheaper. Now, the same ammo is $0.36-0.40 a round, and .410 was never cheap, but are creeping up on $1.00 a round. I know I can reload cheaper than that, and can get free shells at my range, and re-use the shells I already have.
2) I think it will be fun to do. Something to keep my hands busy while I watch TV (Although I will probably set my reloading area up in the basement, not my bedroom )

I have not gotten a press yet, but I started sourcing components that I found at local shops. I am waiting to hear back on a Mec 600JR press that I gave a buddy of mine lie 5 years ago- Want to see if he still uses it, and if not if I can get it back Hindsight...

I already had a bag of #6 shot that I bought for weighing down lightweight stocks to make the guns more fun to shoot, so that is already sunk cost. Was $50 when I bought it. I also have a ton of steel bb's I was thinking of experimenting with...

I found a bag of 500 12 gauge wads for $15, and a bag of .410 wads for $15, will need to order 20 gauge most likely...

Found two 1lb containers of Winchester 296 ball powder (recommended for the .410) for $40 per bottle

Got 1000 primers (Nobel Sport) for $75 yesterday. One of my local shops got a pallet of them in yesterday, and I hit it just right on timing. I may pick another pack or two up soon, but for now I am getting started slowly on this.

I was not able to find any powder for 12 gauge or 20 gauge yet, I am waiting on a reloading book I ordered from Ballistic Products, so I will probably wait to get that before I buy any powder anyway (I can only buy locally, no one ships powder to Mass, or at least not any I have found yet).

So I will definitely be starting out with .410 as that is what I have all the reloading materials for. I don't have any empty hulls right now, wish I kept the hulls from the last few range trips with my Governor and the Bond Arms... But, I have been wanting to do some more .410 shooting anyway, so that will be soon

If you are looking to stay low volume: Mec 600 jr.
If you are looking for high volume: Mec 9000

Fooling around with lower priced options will lead to nothing but headaches. Neither one of those is that expensive and will pay for itself in short order.

It will be all low volume. Several hundred a year, maybe 1000 a year is probably what I will do. Maybe more once I realize the savings... I love .410, I would definitely shoot more of that once I start reloading.

Well, I think I found a Mec600JR set up for 20 gauge! Someone donated it to my club, ad the chairman is a friend. He said he would pick it up form the club, clean it up and give me a call... Said $75-100 is what the club wants for it, so that would get me started on 20 gauge!

I am still waiting to hear back on the 12 gauge I gave my buddy...

Was out in the grudge today. Selling a lathe. Moved the lathe and behind it found a Mec 700 Versamec(just a 600 Jr with extra features). Complete without bottles in 410 bore. I honestly didn't remember even having it. Hardly looks used. That is 2 410s I have...one is set up for 3 inch(fleabay
bound). Found 3 bags of mag shot behind the lathe too...along with a bunch of vintage metal powder cans. They will go to fleabay. One can half full is old Hodgdon BLC(not 2) surplus and a full can of Dupont 4064 with the small metal top.

I can't beleive all the stuff that you find around your place, that you forgot you had.
There is just something fun abount going on those treasure hunts and saying...................

"Well, hellow there, old friend".

BLC without the 2..................
Mercy.

Well if I keep cleaning out the grudge I will eventually be able to park a car in it. I kinda knew about the BLC as I knew I had a can and a half...and had lost the 1/2 can. I went around the grudge and think I found all the Mec and shotshell loaders. 5 Mec 600 Jr/700s. 2 Sizemasters..2 9000Gs a 650 Mec and a Hornady 366 somewhat modified by a previous owner. But I used to sell shotshell(and metallic) presses. I also pulled a new Thompson Center Encore in it's box out of the corner. It is the only 270 Win I have left

I've always enjoyed reloading, be it shotshell, bottle neck (did some today) and pistol. Shotshell recently for the grand kids.

Loading shotgun today is nothing like it was in the 70's/80's. We shot a lot and I don't remember one shortage.

I'm glad I bought up odd reloading stuff over the years when I found it at shows and gunshops.
Stuff I didn't even need, but the prices were really great.

I just opened another of those wooden trays of LR primers and loaded some 30-30's. I bought those primers for 25cents a tray/100 sometime in the past.
They all went bang.

I'll have to look behind my Lathe,,seems like reloading stuff may grow there.

Can't belive the cost of reloading componets today. I'm even thinking of dragging out the lead pot and moulds again for 30cal.
Running low on my supply of cheaply gotten stuff.

Seems like it would be a winner if one of the reloading companys like LEE would make a simple 7/8-14 die set to load .410 shotshells.

Maybe they have looked into it and it ain't a winner....

In the hands of a good or skilled shooter the little .410 is a great shotgun.

However I think the best shotgun for starting a youngster on or for light field work
is still the old 20 Ga. that can be a light fast handling shotgun, to hit targets
big or small.

I am also a believer in the 20 ga. Way back when I bought my daughter an 1100 Remington at JC Penney's The week after introducing her to waterfowl hunting with a single shot H&R 20 ga. Shot her first goose at about 15 yards. 1st shot. . She was 10. She was and still is a good shooter. Better than many men. She uses the 12 ga for deer...but still uses that 1100 for most of her hunting. The 28 is a good starter gun too but ammo is harder to find/more expensive. In about 1995 I quit shooting the 12 ga in skeet. Just used the 20. The 410 is a hoot to play with ...but it takes being serious when you hunt or shoot registered skeet with the little gun. I shot it a lot. I bought a Spolar reloader in 410. Loaded 8800 rounds in April. They were all gone by the end of August. I had to load more to shoot the rest of the shooting year. It is a hard gun to stay consistent with...but fun...and it is the cheapest to load...much less shot. I use 8 1/2 shot in 410. 7 1/2 or 8s for doves and quail...all with the 2 1/2 inch shells. I have found patterns are better with the short case by far in most guns compared to the 3 inch