Thinking of getting into reloading shotshells, cheap and easy method?

[socal s&w]

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.

 

[smoothshooter]

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 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.

 

[smoothshooter]

Wads are easy to find and cheap.

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

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

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

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.

 

[BrovoEchoSierra]

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.

 

[Skeet 028]

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.

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

 

[stan v]

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

 

[Narragansett]

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

 

[scooter123]

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.

 

[Skeet 028]

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

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

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.

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.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

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.

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.

 

[SS336]

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.

 

[Nevada Ed]

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

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.

 

[Rich/WIS]

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.

 

[Patrick L]

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.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

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.

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

 

[2152hq]

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.

 

[scooter123]

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.

 

[GT_80]

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