Why reload ?

[Woodcock survey]

Daryl and Paul Thank you. The solution is obvious now!!! Will drop powder 1 bushing to start and go from there. Got to find my old dipper measure then try to find a Mec bar, don't know if they make 5/8.Have been lowering powder charges with no discernible difference, still miss.

[Double Lab]

Daniel:
If you are loading on a MEC, get yourself an adjustable charge bar. It's just the ticket for those of us who like to tweak our own loads.
Also, you should'nt have to change your powder drop to go down to a 5/8oz. load from a 3/4oz. load.

[Woodcock survey]

Just ordered one. My current 3/4 load is down 2 gr. from standard [ unique] load will go with that. The adj. bar will make things easier for my constant tinkering. Thanks.

[Wild Skies]

I do all my reloading on two P-W 375 single stage machines. I look at reloading shotgun shells much the same way as tying trout flies . . . there is a lot of love that goes into creating each and every one of them. They're my little babies.

I have free and total access to my father's three P-W 800B progressive machines and when his shooting days are over they're mine for the taking, but I'm not looking forward to that day, as I choose and prefer things just the way they are. My shooting buds just shake their heads and call me crazy.

[William Davis]

I've owned two progressives Mec Grabber and a PW 600 sold the Grabber and the 600 is broken with no parts available. Never wanted to replace them, only have one load that is shot in enough volume to justify a progressive machine . I use two PW 375's mounted Side by Side. One dedicated to 12 G and 10 G size and prime Other 16 & 20 Also have a Mec 600 10 G with a short kit.thats C Clamped to the bench when needed to crimp 10s

If I shot the same gauge and load might be usefull having a progressive way I load it's not worth the set up time switching.

Side note both my PWs bought used off eBay and needed some work. 375 has been made so long many parts don't easily interchange. Have refurbished a lot of old machinery and like to do it. If you are not handy with old stuff better to buy a new on.

William

[Paul Harm]

William, I'll bet any 600 could be put back in working order. I've got some pretty old ones that I've had to buy parts for. I have two of them, one next to my 9000H to fix screw ups or load 2" shells or BP, one for 10ga, two 650s for 20 and 28ga, and a old Grabber 761 for Federal paper shells. I have adjustable bars for the 9000, the 10ga 600, and the Grabber. The other 12ga 600 I leave the bar in because when I want to load BP a 46 bushing is used for 75grs, one cut in half gives me 84grs, and no bushing is 94 grs. I got lucky, the two old 600s, the Grabber, and a Super Sizer were given to me. I also picked up a old Mec410. Boy is it different. Saving it because it will load 12, 16, or 20. Just might get a 16 someday.

[James L. Martin]

I started to reload 50 years ago to save money, now I reload ammo that's hard to come by like 12ga 7/8 oz & 3/4 oz, 20ga 3/4 oz . I still reload 28 ga & 410 to save money . I also reload many rifle cartridges , smokeless and black. If all you shoot are 12ga 1 or 1 1/8 loads or 20ga 7/8 loads you can save money by not buying any reloading stuff and shooting new ammo.

[William Davis]

Paul I mean a PW 600 progressive first one that came out. Bought it from a fellow at the gun club cheap, got it to work but it had a crack in the frame & PW won't support them anymore

William

[Woodcock survey]

Daryl and Paul: Loaded A A28 with 5/8 o. [weighed] usual powder charge and one Cheerio.There is a discernible difference in recoil [5 1/2 lb. gun]. Crimp is good. Thank you for the advice.

[J. A. EARLY]

I started out loading my favorite dove/quail load 3 1/4-1 1/4-7 1/2 hard shot which was hard to find. That was forty years ago on a Lyman Easy loader I purchased second hand. Still have it but converted to 20. Now I load 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, .410. I have 10 loaders that I don't have to change the lengths on or the charge bars. One 10, four 12s, one 16, two 20s, one 28, one .410. Just moved up to a MEC 9000G in 12.

My favorites are custom buckshot where I load nickel plated 1s with 27 pellets or a hybrid with the 1s and smaller shot in 12 or 10, which you cannot buy anymore. They devastate a deer. Also loading 3.5 inch with Heavy Weight 13 for geese. Still about $3 a shell reloads but cheaper than Hevi-Shot factory loads, over $4.50 a pop.