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

[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

 

[smithra_66]

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

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.

 

[GT_80]

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.

 

[GT_80]

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...

 

[Skeet 028]

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.

 

[Nevada Ed]

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.

 

[Skeet 028]

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

 

[stan v]

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.

 

[2152hq]

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....

 

[Nevada Ed]

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.

 

[Skeet 028]

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

 

[GT_80]

20 gauge is my favorite by far. Plenty of power, plenty of shot, very diverse, and less recoil than 12 gauge. there are not as many "cool" 20 gauges guns as there are 12 gauge though... No trench sweeper 20 gauges, no slam fire 20 gauges (not that I have seen anyway...).

I was able to secure my old 12 gauge MEC 600 JR press back from the guy I gave it too! He said he has about 1/4 bottle of powder, some #8 shot, 1000 wads, and a fair amount of de-primed and re-sized hulls as well. The press is free, the rest of the stuff he said he would give me "market value" (from 5 years ago I hope).

I am waiting to hear back on the Mec 600 JR 20 gauge press, I think I will be able to get it for about $80 - Hoping it is not missing anything, but at least parts are plentiful.

The .410 loading station, i am going to make one I think, at least for now using the best info I found on Youtube, and forums online. I have de-priming, and priming down, have scale for weighing powder and shot, and have wads, powder, and shot... Just trying to figure out a re-sizer to make sure the cases don't have issues loading or extracting.. If mine does not work, I may just buy a "survival loader" from Xring off ebay, they are like $85. I don't shoot enough .410 to warrant another press, unless I can find one setup for .410 for around $100.

 

[Skeet 028]

You may find a Mec 600 at a yard or garage sale. I've never found a 600 but did find a 650 almost new for 75 dollars with 800 once fired cases(AAs) and a bunch of wads. To be honest. 410's are the hardest shotshells to load and they usually NEED to be resized. They normally are the highest pressure shotshells and need a good crimp. Find a shotshell loader for the 410. They are running $20 or more a box in these times...and are the cheapest shotshells to load

 

[GT_80]

You may find a Mec 600 at a yard or garage sale. I've never found a 600 but did find a 650 almost new for 75 dollars with 800 once fired cases(AAs) and a bunch of wads. To be honest. 410's are the hardest shotshells to load and they usually NEED to be resized. They normally are the highest pressure shotshells and need a good crimp. Find a shotshell loader for the 410. They are running $20 or more a box in these times...and are the cheapest shotshells to load

Yes the .410 prices keep going up. and if I did my math right, I can reload them for about $0.24 a round. They cost $0.85-1.00 and up a round if you can find them in store. That is a pretty good savings. I am still looking for a decent .410 loader, just haven't found one yet...

 

[Gamecock]

Back in the 70's, I used a Lee Load-all for a few years. Cheap, got the job done. I have better stuff now.

If cheap is important, Lee Load-all would be my first choice.

 

[scooter123]

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 favor the 28 gauge for new shooters, I've been told by several top shooters that the 28 produces a longer shot string than the 20 which makes it a bit easier to hit crossing targets.

 

[GT_80]

Well, I now have a complete 20 gauge Mec 600 JR setup in my possession. My sportsman club had a member pass away, and all his reloading equipment and a bunch of random ammo was donated to the club.

I got the Mec for $80 (only missing the crimp starter which I already ordered a 6 point and 8 point). It was pretty grimey, and has some surface rust on it, so I started off cleaning it with WD40 and a brass brush, got a lot of the junk off, then cleaned with carb cleaner.

I'm going to dis-assemble anything that needs better cleaning/polishing, and probably buy new bottles, and get some Orings. The charge bar says "20 Gauge :2A" so I need to figure out what it loads. It's an older at without the replaceable bushings.

I also got a unopened bag of 25 pounds lead #6 "Lawrence brand chilled lead shot" for $15.

I hope to get my 12 gauge press this week, but we'll see. As luck would have it, Cabelas had some Hodgdon Long Shot too! I hit everything right in the last two weeks!

 

[SMSgt]

Once you get it all cleaned up, spray it with a good rust preventative. WD-40 isn't one.

 

[GT_80]

Once you get it all cleaned up, spray it with a good rust preventative. WD-40 isn't one.

I know WD40 is not a good rust preventative, I was using it more as a degreaser which is works OK as.

I picked up all my 12 gauges reloading equipment today from my buddy... Holy ****, I had no idea how much he had!

I got the loader of course, a set of 20 gauge dies etc for the loader (didn't know he had those, so I have spares for my other press), maybe 650 de-primed tall brass hulls, all sorted in plastic totes by brand and or color, maybe 1000-1200 primers, some powder (not sure what brand or model yet), some shot (no idea how much yet, but at least one full bag), a lee slug mold and a bunch of cast slugs, a couple containers of wads (maybe 300-400), and a ton of 7.62 nato shells that he never got around to buying reloading equipment for.

I paid $300 for everything, and I bet I have closer to $600 worth of stuff. I still don't know exactly what I got.

Now I am almost ready to reload all three calibers that I shoot.

For my .410 reloading equipment, I bought a MEC resizer from a press that I will use for resizing, I have the MEC pre-crimper and final crimper coming, and have a steel plate that I am setting up for de-priming, and priming and holding the shells as I load them. If it proves cumbersome or too slow, I will look for a better .40 reloader. But I shoot less .410 than 20 or 12 gauge so I don't think it will be an issue.

Now I have a lot of reloading reading to do, and then I will practice some and test fire.

 

[GT_80]

well, a couple weeks have gone by, and I have gotten both my MEC presses set up and running, and I bought a bunch of MEC press parts for reloading my .410 shells

I loaded a bunch of 7 1/2 shot, 1 1/8 oz loads in Federal 12 gauge Grand hulls, and some top gun hulls as well, and loaded some 1 oz lee key drive 12 gauge slugs, and I had good results with them all.

I bought reloading books for 12 gauge, and the other smaller shotgun gauges and I am glad I did. I have been absorbing hours of videos on shell design, wad style, stack height, what to look for if your crimps are looking crummy...

i had mostly success in reloading, and only a few shells with swirled crimps and depressed crimps due to the wrong wads in a couple shells (again still learning...).

I am completely hooked on reloading though, even though there is a lot more science to it then I originally thought.

Finding loading data with powder, wads, and hulls I have in stock or are readily available is the most challenging part of it so far. I have been able to pick up a couple more types of powder, and have a lot of flexibility in my loadings too.

I did take a bunch of my reload birdshot out, and some of the Slugs I loaded, and they all shot pretty well.

 

[SS336]

All this shotshell reloading talk got me motivated to dust off my Mec 9000 and crank out a couple of flats.
Haven't used it in a couple of years. A little lubricant in the right places and away it went. They really are good machines.
Now you just have to shoot enough to use all that new ammo.