Beginner Questions on Shotshell Reloading

[Positrack]

I'm considering getting into reloading shotshells, but I don't have any reloading experience and would love some sage THR advice. I would be reloading 12 gauge shells. I figure I probably go through 4-5 boxes of low-brass/week on average (more in the summer). I know that's not much compared to many on THR, but it does add up, and the scrounger/recycler in me hates wasting all those spent hulls. I also shoot as many buckshot and slug loads as I can afford, but that's not many lately... The price on these is just crazy, particularly in the 3 and 3.5" varieties (yes, the local shop STOCKS 3.5" 00 buck eek, but the cash register kicks even harder than the 870 ). Being able to afford to shoot heavy/magnum loads is a lot of the reason I'm considering reloading.

At the moment, I'm weighing two possibilities. I'd love a progressive reloader such as an MEC 650 due to efficiency and speed (and I'll admit to a certain allure of having my own little "ammo factory" in the basement), but I've read that there is little savings to be had reloading low brass shells (at least in 12ga). What do you guys think about the $$$ saving potential of reloading low-brass 12ga? Also, can heavy buckshot (such as 00) be used with the progressive machines?

If there isn't much $$$ to be saved by reloading the low-brass shells, and the progressive presses can't do heavy buck (I'm assuming they can't do slugs, correct?), I would move to my second possibility which is a small, inexpensive single-stage machine capable of reloading the heavy stuff (slugs and buck). Am I correct in assuming there is quite a bit of money to be saved by reloading these guys? Is there a machine that will do slugs and buck in 2.75, 3, AND 3.5"? I shoot very little 3.5", but it would be nice to be able to reload it considering it's RIDICULOUS price. How much could I reasonably expect to save reloading the heavy and/or magnum shells? Can anybody recommend both a good progressive reloader in the $300 (+-) range (what do you think of the 650?) and a good single-stage press for doing heavy stuff? Any good book suggestions? Any other advice/opinions? I imagine this is a pretty common question, so if somebody can direct me to a link I missed in my searching, I'd appreciate that too. Thanks.

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

From what I know, most of the savings when it comes to shot shell reloading is going to be with buckshot and slugs.

As for the quantity you are talking about, it sounds like you would have more fun with a single stage press anyway.

Just my opinion.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The "real" savings come from being able to custom tailor loads to your liking that are either unavailable or say expensive from the ammo manufacturers. I load 3/4 oz 12 and 20 ga and you cannot get these from the factory in 12 ga and they are scarce in 20. Downloading like this also helps you get more shots per dollar by not using so much shot and powder on each round.

Another form of "savings" comes from the fact that reloading gives you premium ammo for much cheaper than you can buy it for. Plus you are ideally using Remington STS or Winchester AA hulls that generally cost a little more in factory guise than the WWB or black hulled Remingtons.

 

[33rowdy]

With the MEC 600jr/650N you need a conversion and extention kit for your 3.5". $51.99 in the old Midway catalog.

I don't think 00 can be used in progresive.

I do think the saving is their in your 3.1/2 buck, and slugs. But 2.75" trap loads; Its gonna take awhile to pay that off for those.

 

[FredT]

The cheap LEE Load All will load 2 3/4 and 3 inch, I do not know about the 3.5. It will load the slugs that use a regular power piston type wad and buck is hand stacked when loaded, buffering material helps a lot. Ballisic Products has a lot of good specialty stuff. I like the MEC Sizemasters. I use their Grabber for faster production. I find it hard to save anything over the Walmart 100 pack. It is not worth my effort there. My savings is with slugs, turkey loads and all my 10 gage loads. You can make some neat custom stuff in the 10 gage!

 

[Geneseo1911]

I can load 250 rounds of 1 1/8 oz, 3 dram eq. loads for $40, assuming the hulls as free. I scrounge hulls off the ground and get all my buddies to give me theirs. The cheapest shells I can buy are $54/250. I bought a Lee Load-All 10 years ago and it has paid for itself many times over. I would start with a MEC 500jr if I was doing it again today, mainly because it's much simpler to change loads, empty hoppers, etc. I also am able to load some 1500 fps #7s to reach out there for "Annie Oakleys" at the gun club. I can do about 100 rounds per hour if I don't have to make any changes.

EDIT: I'm not accounting for my time here. I enjoy my reloading time almost as much as my shooting time. My friends don't reload simply because they don't enjoy it enough to spend the time unless they can "pay" themselves a decent wage to do it.

Buckshot and slugs are always loaded by hand. Load data is organized by number of pellets. I got some 00 buck form forum member CSSPECS, and I can load 10 pellets in a 2 3/4" shell for about 25 cents/round (IIRC); a significant savings, as you know.

I would definitely suggest a single stage to learn on before you jump into a progressive. You'll need one anyway if you're doing buck and slugs. The best thing to do would be to get Lyman's Shotshell Reloading manual and read it all the way through before you do anything. That book will tell you most anything you need to know, and you'll need the reloading data in it anyway. It has a good selection of buck and slug data as well.

 

[Positrack]

Thanks for the advice all. I guess for now I won't worry about reloading the low-brass stuff if there isn't much savings there. I think I will look into getting a single stage reloader for the heavy stuff though. Geneseo1911, I checked on MEC's website but didn't see a 500 Jr. Did you mean the 600 Jr. Mk 5? It seems like a nice machine. Can the 600 Jr. and the Load All both do slugs? I know they have a roll crimp rather than the standard "star" crimp or whatever it's called. Is a separate attachment required for doing roll crimps? I'm going over to GM today, so I'll see what they have and check out their book selection. I'll pick up a copy of "Lyman's Shotshell Reloading" if they have it. Thanks again.

 

[earlthegoat2]

You should consider loading buckshot in Rem STS hulls that are low brass. These are the best hulls that can be had for loading.

 

[Geneseo1911]

Sorry, the 600 is what I meant. Neither machine will do roll crimps. Lee has a slug that sits in a standard shotcup and uses a star crimp. I think the Lyman book may have some slug loads that use a star crimp, but I can't remember off the top of my head. To do a roll crimp, you'll need to cruise over to Ballistic Products and find their roll crimp tool. You chuck it in a drill. If you have a way to resize the brass (you might be able to get away without it), a powder scale, and the hull skiver (expands the case mouth & makes it round) and roll crimp tools, you might be able to load without a press at all. BPI also sells new hulls, which have never been crimped and wouldn't need to be expanded. Look around there, they have lots of books and tools, although their prices are a little high on some things.

Good luck.