The dreaded "Is shotshell reloading worth it" question

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Daniel Carter

Did you consider moving the glass?

Brilliant! See, This is why you're management. I would, however, have to learn how to sip a whisky with my left hand, and that's never worked in the past.

[Double Lab]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Brilliant! See, This is why you're management. I would, however, have to learn how to sip a whisky with my left hand, and that's never worked in the past.

But you shoot left handed!

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Brilliant! See, This is why you're management. I would, however, have to learn how to sip a whisky with my left hand, and that's never worked in the past.

If one grew up in “The South” in the 60’ or 70’s one was rather adept at drinking two handed ! And that was while driving a vehicle . Fifth of Jack in one hand and a bottle of chaser in the other

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Daniel Carter

Did you consider moving the glass?

Someday I aspire to be as witty and clever!!

[Woodcock survey]

Originally Posted by Andrew Sacco

Someday I aspire to be as witty and clever!!

You are thinking of Edgar, i am playing the straight man to him.

[Big D]

Better be prepared for "elevens" when you are participating in a driven bird shoot in Britain. After one or two rotations, you'll stop for a little snack and tilt back the flask, then back to shooting

[Andy]

Looking at the MEC600 Jr, I don't see a short kit for 12g. Is that able to load 2 1/2" shells? My VHE is 2 5/8" chambers, plus you never know when I might pick up an English gun. Handled a Thomas Wilde a month ago and damn nearly bought it except I didn't have an extra 6 grand laying around. I think i'm just going to order 1 or 2 600's off the MEC website and wait.

[Harold Pickens]

I believe I got my short kit from Precision Reloading for about $30. I ordered one for a 16--and it also works on my 12 and 20 Mec 600 jr.
Now, just my opinion mind you--thru a Parker fluid steel 12 ga, I dont shoot short shells, I have loaded some, then gave all my 2 1/2" hulls away. Most of my 12 ga are 7/8 oz mild pressure about 1150 fps--shoot those also in my Greener sidelever damascus also, I use green Rem Gun Club hulls. I have a few cases of 12 ga game loads with 1 oz shot, I shoot those also in fluid steel guns.
In 20's, I used to load 2 1/2", but now just shhoot a mild 3/4 oz load using 20/28 powder in AA's and Gun Clubs. Makes life simpler. In between guitar playing this morning, I loaded 2 boxes of that 20 ga load--I dont hesitate to hunt grouse with it either.

[edgarspencer]

The principal component of the short kit is the 1/4” spacer plate, so I just move it over to the 12ga. press when I load 12s. If I recall, the kit also has a spacer ring for the primer seating cup, and, there again, I just swap that over. I roll crimp all my 28ga. so, not using the final two stages, I don’t need the short kit on that press. I only load 2 1/2” now.

[Cold Spring]

Originally Posted by Andrew Sacco

Looking at the MEC600 Jr, I don't see a short kit for 12g. Is that able to load 2 1/2" shells? My VHE is 2 5/8" chambers, plus you never know when I might pick up an English gun. Handled a Thomas Wilde a month ago and damn nearly bought it except I didn't have an extra 6 grand laying around. I think i'm just going to order 1 or 2 600's off the MEC website and wait.

Just a thought, if you're likely to be loading for multiple guns in a given gauge you might consider spending the extra scratch for a Sizemaster that's equipped a sizing collet as on the MEC 9000. Hulls that were fired in different chambers will vary in diameter and should be resized to fit the minimum chamber. Same with good hulls picked from buckets or off the ground at shooting places. The Sizemaster also comes with an auto primer feed.