Anybody reload for shotgun?

[Tom-ADC]

If so what ga and what loader do you use?

[Bloodman14]

12 ga. 2 3/4 " Old Mec 'grabber' Model 762 R, 6 station, manual index

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

12ga - Mec 700 Versamec . . .

Works good too . . . shot sure has gone up since I started 25 years ago . . . but I just found some on sale at Sportsmans warehouse for "only" $34.95 per 25 lb bag!

[Johnch]

12 gau MEC 600 jr and MEC 9000G for 2 3/4" and MEC Steel master for 3 and 3.5"
20 , 28 and 410 Mec 600 jr
16 gau MEC 250

I have all the presses expect the 9000G set up for quick change
Slide them into a slot and drop in 2 pins
Otherwise they reside under the bench when not in use

I sold the 10 gau and press a few years back

John

[Tom-ADC]

I do 12, 20 & 28 on MEC 9000G's But have done 12 ga on a 600 JR since early 60's
Still have a Versamec in 410 and a 600 in 28 ga.

[jlchucker]

Mec 600. 12 and 16 ga. I used to have a Lee press but no adjustments for crimp or anything else with that one. The price of lead shot sometimes makes it not worth the time unless you are loading something for a special purpose. For the last couple of years, my club bought and sold target loads for less than what you could reload them for. It may be different now that the price of lead has dropped.

[Adam10mm]

MEC 600JR for 20ga. I load only for my hunting rounds (I don't shoot trap or skeet). I bounce back and forth between #4 and #6 shot for my 20ga single shot.

[jsizemore]

Same as Gunnerd.

[Tom-ADC]

One of the ranges we shot at sold reclaimed shot for $8.00 a bag, you had to exchange a bag though, but the anti's forced the range to close because of lead. Now the club I belong to is shut down because of lead outside our assigned area, our club is located on the south side of MCAS Miramar I've shot there since the lot 70's when I was still in the Navy. I don't think the old Commanding General liked us so shut us down & now he is retired and working as a civilian so working to keep us shut down.

[zardoz]

I've been reloading Lyman cast sabot slugs, and buckshot into both 12 ga. 2 3/4" and 3" hulls using the Lee Load-All 2. Both 6 point and 8 point fold crimps on those.

So far so good. You have to get a feel for the crimp station though, but I think the Lee is great to learn on. I do eventually want to get a MEC Sizemaster some day though.

Also did a few #4 and #5 shot 3" loads as well on the Lee press.

For field birdshot (#7 to #8), I just buy commercial shells. One can really save a lot of money on the slugs and buckshot loads I found, buying once-fired hulls in bulk, and casting your own.

[Tom-ADC]

What do you use loading slugs never did that, wad of some sort or?

[sagamore-one]

Same as Gunnerd also.

[Blackhawk Convertable]

I have 2 of the Mec 600jrs for 12 gauge

[trapper9260]

I reload 10Ga ,12,20,410 . cast and load slugs for 20 and 12 ,also cast 00 buckshoot

[Nate1778]

Load All 2 for two Winchester 1200-1300's 12 gauges. Its good for roughly 500 rounds a year, any more think about going progressive. I like the ability to load slugs and Buckshot.

[Matt_G]

12 gauge 2 3/4" using a Mec 9000g.

[DLCTEX]

I have a Pacific DL 366, 2 Versa Mecs in 12 and 20, Mec 650N 20 ga., and Mec 600 Jr. 12 ga. Lee hand loaders in 20 and 410.

[Recluse]

I reload 12-gauge birdshot, target, buckshot and slugs on a MEC 650. I swear alot when I'm loading and forget to have a shell under the powder and/or shot drop and it goes everywhere.

I mean, I swear a LOT. And loudly.

But, I reload for every caliber and firearm I own. Not necessarily for the cost savings, but for the self-sufficiency.

:coffee:

[zardoz]

What do you use loading slugs never did that, wad of some sort or?

Yes. I just use the reloading recipes in either the Lyman Shotshell Book, or the LoadBooks manual for the 12 gauge. I've had great results using a fully rifled barrel on a 870 Super Magnum. I shoot the buckshot out of a Mossberg 500 with imp. cylinder choke.

For instance, on a Winchester gray 2 3/4" compression formed hull, I use the LoadBooks recipe of 44.0 grains BlueDot, Win 209 primer, a Winchester WAA12R wad, and an 8 point crimp for the 525 grain Lyman sabot slug. Made a few dozen of these a while back, and they are a great "zombie dispatch" load. Been getting 1450 ft/s or better out of these.

The slug fits neatly into the wad, and you can just press in into the hull on top of the powder. I always weigh my powder, and as a double check, weigh the hull and powder afterwards just to make sure. I do not use the powder charge device on the LoadAll.

There are other recipes of course, using different powders, primers, and wads for different type of hulls. In the same hull and primer, using 23.0 grains Unique, the book calls for a WAA12F114 wad.

I never experiment around on these, and adhere strictly to the published load.

[sargenv]

Sizemaster for specialty loads in 12 gauge (usually steel or other large shot that doesn't go through the press), Mec Grabber in 12 for high production target and hunting lead loads, and Sizemaster 20 for whatever in that gauge. I prefer the sizemasters since they have thecollet ring sizers and come with the primer feeders standard. Grabber is like the sizemaster (and 9000 series) only in a progressive.

[skeettx]

I am loader poor, I have 12 Texan Rotary M loaders, 3 Ponsness warren, 3 Pacific 155, 10 or more MECs, a Hollywood, and a few others, I load for 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, and 410. Lots of fun
Mike

[MT Gianni]

Lee Load all 12 gauge I bought new in 1976 and last used in '79. I don't shoot much shotgun but it's there.

[KCSO]

12 16 and 20 B/P loads and a lot of brass cases. Smokless as needed but not a lot as dove loads are what I shoot the most and they are still almost as cheap to buy.

[WRideout]

I acquired a used 12 ga. Savage reloader (probably made by someone else) while I was in collge, too many years ago to mention. I still use it, and occasionally have to buy new wad guides. It's a workhorse.

I also have used a Lee Loader in 20 ga. I actually like the Lee for one or two boxes at a time; it was cheap as dirt to buy and I have more than amortized the cost. I had trouble getting the crimps tight until I starting using my 12 ga. press to squeeze the plunger into the die. It happens there are two opposed flat spots on the press where the Lee loader will just fit. When I raise the handle it squeezes the crimp down tight.

WRideout

[kaiser]

I load 28 and 12ga (2 3/4) with MEC 600 JR's and 20 and 16ga with Lee "Load-alls". While I no longer shoot skeet or trap, these presses have loaded a lot of rounds over the years. While the MEC's are the easiest to adjust and produce the best looking rounds, the Lee's work well enough for a "week-end outing". (I've had some problems with the "Lee" crimps coming undone after months of storage, even though I seal the ends with candle wax.)
Lately, myself and a friend have been experimenting with a Lee 7/8oz slug in a 2 3/4" 12ga shell and are nudging 1400fps out of a 870 Remington (smooth bore) with fairly good accuracy at 50 yards. We started with using Lee's data with Red Dot and Blue Dot powder under a standard AA wad and 8 segment crimp. They are fun to shoot, but sure eats up your lead supply quickly! His "modified" barrel seems to shoot about as well as my I.C.

[1874Sharps]

I used a 12 gauge MEC for years until I ran into a good deal on a used Ponsness- Warren reloader. That P-W is quite a fine reloader!

[TGM]

12 ga. on a MEC 650

[desteve811]

20 and 12 gauge lee load all. load for skeet, trap, bird huntings and also load slugs for big game hunting. suits me well.

[Rockydog]

MEC 600JR in 12, 16, and 410. And a 12 ga. MEC Grabber. MEC is handsdown the best outdoor company you could ever deal with. If you have trouble and call them on the phone they'll talk you through adjustments, parts replacements and trouble shooting. They've sent me screws and small parts at no charge and bigger parts with an invoice for payment. Try getting that service anywhere else. RD

[257 Shooter]

MEC Grabber for 12 Ga.

[Muddy Creek Sam]

I reload 12 ga in Brass shells by hand for SASS.

Sam :D

[steg]

12 ga 2 3/4 for an old N.R. Davis & sons Damascus, and .410 in a Ducktown, both with Lee Loaders, Had a mec 600 Jr a while back, good tool, but I didn't use it that much and a friend talked me out of it..........................steg

[hammerhead357]

12 ga. on a Hornady progressive. Used to do 20 ga. on a mec sizemaster but some sorry SOB stole that one...Wes

[cajun shooter]

Mec Sizemaster for some stages. I shoot a lot of 12 ga BP shells and use paper hulls. I cut off the old crimp and after placing a overshot card I roll crimp the new loaded round on my drill press. Looks just like factory. The Federal paper hulls work good but the black Fiocchi 's work the best as they have more room inside the hull. But I have heard that Fiocchi is or already has discontinued that hull. I hope it's replaced with another paper hull that is better. The sizemaster is one of the best mec's for the average shooter to use as you are able to use range pick up's and resize them on your press. On any Mec that you buy please include the adjustable bar as it makes life so much easier.

[gnoahhh]

Spolar progressive for volume target loads, 12 gauge. Mec 650's for 20 and 28 target loads, Mec 600 Jr. with Univeral charge Bar for specialty 12 gauge loads (spreader loads that require addition of spreader appliance into shot cup, waterfowl loads with Nice Shot, ITX, Bismuth, etc.), Lee Loadall for 16gauge (because I only fire about 20 boxes of 16's a year), and, Lee handloader for .410 (because I fire maybe 2 boxes of that a year.)

Still working off of a ton of #8's I split with a buddy a couple of years ago. Dreading having to go back out in the market place to buy more.

[AZ-Stew]

Lee Load Fast progressive for 12ga, Lee Load All II for 20ga. In my experience, the Load Fast should only be used with WW-AA hulls, and DON'T make any mistakes because there's no way to back it up or remove a shell once you get it in the machine until it falls out the "finished" chute.

Regards,

Stew

[Rick N Bama]

MEC 600JR for 12ga. Gotta get one for 20 one of these days.

Rick

[timkelley]

12 Guage/MEC 650.

[SPRINGFIELDM141972]

12 ga. - Polar Bair
20 ga - Pacific
16 ga - Lee Load All 2
410 ga - MEC 600 jr.

I guess I can't make up my mind or maybe I just don't worry if my reloading room is color coordinated.:roll:

Regards,
Everett

[nonferrous]

I am sure that it would work the same with most brands of loaders, but it seems as though you can buy a used Mec 650 in good condition, use it as long as you want and sell it for at least as much as you paid for it.
I have used mine for decades and I do not think it will ever wear out. The only thing with a 650 is that it works best to have a separate sizer.

[orangezuk]

12,20,28,.410. (2)poness waren, pacific, (6)assorted mecs.
Mainly load for trap, skeet, sporties.
I have a fondness for 7/8oz. 12ga loads. 18gr of Promo(red dot) in a AA or Rem. gunclub hull. Fast, nice recoiling, and pattern like a dream for trap.

[taminsong]

12gauge only, using Pacific DL366.

[missionary5155]

Good evening
Down here in Peru I reload my 12 guage carcases with a Lee Hand Loader. I di Round Bal and shot with the same tool and a bathroom scale for pressure regulating.