20 ga. Handloader

[Ironboolit]

I am looking to load some buckshot for my 20 ga single shot trail shotgun. I am too tight to buy a full size reloader. Does anyone make a cheap simple handloader? Lee makes one for centerfire rifle and pistol. That would be the style I am looking for.

[toallmy]

Lee made them for shot shells as well , you could probably keep a eye out on eBay for a reasonable deal , or start role crimping .

[trapper9260]

Here is a site that have them almost like Lee https://www.thexringusa.com/ they have other others also beside 20 ga

[William Yanda]

I'm sure you can figure out a way to remove the old primer. And insert a new one. Lee 20 Ga sizing rings are available from one of the sponsors. Dippers can be made from old brass. Watch ebay for a 20 Ga crimp starter, and if you want to be fancy, a fold over priming tool. Add a copy of the Lee instructions, and call your uncle Robert.

[farmerjim]

The Lee load all does a good cheep reload for the non production runs. Someone here may have a spare used one.

[richhodg66]

Plus one on the Load All. You can get one for less than the going rate on Lee Loaders and having used both, the Load All is MUCH better and easier to turn out good ammo.

[Shawlerbrook]

Someone here had a couple Lee 20 ga. whack a mole listed in the S&S section. Agree on the load all, but they are not that cheap anymore.

[richhodg66]

Someone here had a couple Lee 20 ga. whack a mole listed in the S&S section. Agree on the load all, but they are not that cheap anymore.

Haven't looked lately, but I have load alls in 12, 20 and 16. Don't remember about the 16, but have about 20 bucks each in the other two used and both work fine. Of course, the going rate for anything ammo related lately has sky rocketed, but I wouldn't use the whack a mole ones when a Load All can be had cheaper. Been using the 12 one quite a bit lately for trap loads and they turn out good ammo pretty easily. I know a lot of guys who use better loaders are critical of them, but I an pretty inexperienced on shotgun loading so I don't have a lot of frame of reference and to me, the Load All is a pretty good tool. This coming from a guy who in general is not much of a Lee fan.

[GhostHawk]

I bought a 20 ga survival loader from the link in post # 3. I'm happy with it, have not played with it a lot. But it is better IMO than my homemade tool set I made for 20ga.

Depriming is not that hard. Piece of broomstick or tough straight branch that fits into a 20 hull. A hardened finishing nail driven half way into the end. Clip the head off. I used a belt sander to smooth the end, give it a nice round profile.

A wood block with a hole big enough to set a 20 ga hull into, below that a smaller deeper hole for punched out primers.

Another broomstick/stick about 5" long to set overpowder or plastic wads. Here I cheat and use my 12 ga lyman easy loader to put a measured amount of pressure on the powder. Slip a plastic wad in, seat it with the stick. Add shot. The easy answer from here is overshot card and roll crimp. If you want fold crimp
you need the crimp starter and crimp tools. Fold crimps are touchy about getting the powder/wad/shot string the exact right height. Too high or too low and you will have problems.

You can punch your own overshot cards out of plastic milk cartons. Not hard to make a powder dipper once you know what load your using.
I like the shot dipper from BPI, inexpensive, adjustable, and it works.

Most of my 20 reloads thus far are brass hull, #4 buckshot or punkin ball loads.
For brass hulls you want bigger than normal 20 ga componants. 11 ga I think fits perfect. And you want a selection of nitro cards, cushion wads and overshot cards.

I have not really tested my reloaded 20's as I really do not have a need for them at this time.
But I sleep better knowing I have the ability.

[dverna]

I got a 20 ga MEC from a guy at the club for $50. Lots of older guys are selling stuff off. The whack-a-mole things will work if that is all you can find, but an old MEC is a better way to go IMO.

[foesgth]

If the hulls were shot in you gun you shouldn't need a resize. Punch out the primers. Put a new primer in by tapping it in on a flat piece of steel. You can trim off the old crimp in several ways. A sharp knife will work. Or find a deep socket that fits the hull and use a tubing cutter if you have one. Add your load and glue in an over shot card with water glass or duco cement. If you have a punch set you can punch out your own over shot cards. There are many videos on Youtube showing how to do this.

[Shawlerbrook]

From what I have seen, the Load Alls( which used to be cheap) are now not that much cheaper than a used MEC if you are patient and there is no comparison in quality.

[farmbif]

a wood dowel with a small finish nail in the end will pop out an old primer and another piece of dowel can be used to knock a new primer in.

I dont know how cheap you want to go but the last 20 ga mec 600 I got was missing just a few parts like the funnel and the bottles and primer seater was like $30 at pawn shop. but to get that price I had to point out to the guys there that the parts were missing and then fibbed a bit and said who knows it might not even work. they were happy to turn it into what cash they could.
just got to keep your eyes open and do some searching and it helps to know what your looking at. if in question of something you find go out of shop take a seat somewhere and do a bunch of google searching

[MOA]

Unless you're shooting lots of them, it seems your better off just buying a box of factory ammo.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Here is a site that have them almost like Lee https://www.thexringusa.com/ they have other others also beside 20 ga

That is the best looking Loader of this type I have seen since Lee. There will be a learning curve so don't expect perfection the first time out. Getting the crimp right is the hardest part.

Randy

[15meter]

From what I have seen, the Load Alls( which used to be cheap) are now not that much cheaper than a used MEC if you are patient and there is no comparison in quality.

I've seen the same thing, used MEC single stage presses are generally under a $100 around here. If you have any gun clubs nearby post a want to buy flier on their bulletin board. There are lots of MEC's in basements and garages that need a new home. A WTB on the local Craigslist might find you one.

The Lee style loaders work well with paper shells, I could never get a good crimp with plastic hulls. To the point I made an arbor press out of wood to get the last little oompf to get to folded crimp to stay folded.

[Old Caster]

I used a Lee back in 1958 for 20 gauge but the loads then were quite different Completely different type of wads and a crimp that rolled over on an over the shot card so be careful what old device you are getting because I imagine they are different.

[TNsailorman]

Only problem with buying a MEC is finding one that the owner is willing to sell at a decent price. Most of the used MEC's that I have seen for sale go for $150.00 plus. While MEC does a better crimp than the Lee Load All, I can't see $75.00 to a $100.00 difference in the price, especially when the Lee price is new and the MEC is used. I have both and they both get the job done. james

[Mk42gunner]

If the hulls were shot in you gun you shouldn't need a resize. Punch out the primers. Put a new primer in by tapping it in on a flat piece of steel. You can trim off the old crimp in several ways. A sharp knife will work. Or find a deep socket that fits the hull and use a tubing cutter if you have one. Add your load and glue in an over shot card with water glass or duco cement. If you have a punch set you can punch out your own over shot cards. There are many videos on Youtube showing how to do this.

Um, NO. I started out loading the .410 and about a year later the twenty gauge with Lee Loaders. If you want decent extraction, not to mention ejection, you will need to resize shotgun shells.

My H&R .410 would put a factory loaded empty over my shoulder. The Lee reloads would barely lift a half inch. The 20 gauge empties came from either my brand new 870 or Dad's Winchester Model 1200. Usually they worked, but quite often they required an extra strong pull on the forearm to clear the chamber.

Lets not even get into the ugly folded crimps on plastic hulls.

Just part of why I recommend saving a few more dollars and buying a MEC.

Robert