Lee Load All II

[megasupermagnum]

The problem with the 16 gauge is the only loads you can find commonly are #8 shot, fine for doves, but not much else.

I cleared out an estate sale of an avid shotgunner and got enough 16 gauge stuff to last the rest of my life. Quite a bit of #5 and 6 loads. Worked well on squirrels though my old Savage 94 that has rapidly become my favorite shotgun.

You would be surprised at the availability recently, at least here in MN. It's no 12 or 20 gauge, but it's close to .410. You can get both #8 and #6 lead shot almost anywhere, along with #4 steel shot. For whatever reason, people only want 1 ounce or 1 1/8 oz, so no company bothers with anything else. I personally prefer 1 1/4 oz, and can see where a 1 3/8 oz load would come in handy. There are at least 3 brands of slugs, a number of hevishot loads, bismuth loads.

[gpidaho]

I've had a 12ga. Load All II for a lot of years. It works just fine for me. That said It hasn't been used to the full capacity that it's capable of. I've never loaded it up with shot and powder and just use it for special tasks. I will load a few test loads of this or that and when I find something that works for whatever task is at hand I set up the Mec. and load a couple hundred or so. Someone said they had trouble loading new hulls with theirs. New hulls have worked just fine for me. I just loaded some new Fiocchi hulls today with .678 RBs and like the fact that I can choose to use either a six or eight star crimp without changing anything around. I bought a primer feeder for it when I bought the press and have never got that to work properly so don't waste money on that. When only loading ten or twenty rounds it's not hard to add the primers one at a time. It's not a Dillon or a 9000 but I feel I've got my moneys worth. Gp

[TNsailorman]

Thanks for the info and opinions guys. I will have to mull this over and then I will make a decision. james

[oldsalt444]

I have the Load-All II in 12 & 20. They're fine for occasional reloading. Yeah, I wished they made them in 410 and 10 ga. They don't think it's cost effective to make in those sizes. I've loaded 12 ga. slugs no problem, but I get better accuracy from factory slug loads. For my 10 ga. and 410 I use hand tools from Lanes.

http://www.lanesreloading.com/410.html

I only reload for hunting season, low quantity. If you're a serious shotgunner or competitor, I'd go with MEC.

[mdatlanta]

I am curious to know what reloaders who own the Load All II think of them. I have been thinking about one in 16 gauge. Just wish they made it in 410. What I would like to hear is first hand experience, not what someone had heard from another source. Any short comings, strengths, etc.. Thanks in advance, james

I have LEE Load All IIs in 12 & 20 and like them a lot. There is something very satisfying about producing really good shells with such a modest investment. As someone else said, the bushing set that comes with the press is all I've ever needed, and I've never really had a problem emptying the shot and powder hoppers. I have not tried loading virgin hulls.

Check out the series of Load All videos by "314299" over on the "Tube". He is objective and does a good job describing the pros/cons.

[Hogtamer]

I started with one in the 70's and have loaded thousands of various loads with one. Yes, I've got 2 MECS also. To crank out standard birdshot loads by the hundreds with standard wads and charges the mec is usually the choice. But I enjoy the process so it's not a chore for me. The folks that complain about the crimps have just not figured out that perfect wad height is the key to any really good reloaded shotshell. For slugs and buckshot the load all is a great, inexpensive way to create loads since you have to hand drop the buckshot anyway and I hand weigh all my slug loads with an electronic scale. Always though the load has to be the right height and on a short load I use the clear plastic overshot cards. If it is too tall nothing is gonna crimp it, so refigure your load. 2 cautions: Longshot powder eats the plastic on a load all and fine grained powder tends to leak between the hopper and the charge bar. Also, with any loader you need to weigh the powder and shot that the bushings actually drop, not just assume that when it says it's dropping say, 23 grns of 700x it actually doing so. On the load all I typically have to use the next larger bushing or two to get the desired weight. Good luck and read directions! It's amazing I see people who can't figure out how to unload the hoppers!

[lead-1]

I have four MEC loaders but I use a LEE Load All to load my home built 12 ga. slug rounds. It does what it is supposed to do without any problems and I'm in no hurry using it, I also have one in 20 ga.

[sharps4590]

16 bore has always been my first choice. Back 25 years ago 16 bore ammo was scarce and expensive and I bought Lee Load-All to feed my 16's. It's always worked fine for me even when I got into the old German guns and started loading 2 1/2 in. hulls. Obviously I had to roll crimp them but what the heck, it's kind of a labor of love anyway. As others have mentioned I am not a high volume loader/shooter so speed is of no consequence. I'd recommend it.

[TNsailorman]

Thanks for the input fellows. I am seriously considering getting the Lee in 16 gauge. james

[Rcmaveric]

You wont be sorry.

[three50seven]

I have one in 16ga. I haven't used it in a few years, but it always worked just fine for target/game loads. It's a small investment considering the price of 16ga ammo, when you can find it.

[toallmy]

Make sure you order the little box of bushings if it doesn't come with them .