2 1/2 on a Ponsness Warren

[William Davis]

Standard advice seems to be use a MEC 600 set up for short shells, my loading bench is crowded already, like to avoid separate presses. I load on a PW-375. PW dies index flush with finished shell length.

Seems to me you could load 2 ½ shells with folded crimps on a 375 by turning down the sizing die to suit the shorter finished shell length. Set the Pre Crimp and Crimp station to suit the shorter case. Simple spacer inside the a separate tool head to make the crimp dies protrude further. Size prime and charge dies would not need any changes. Wad seating stop has lots of travel.

Advantage would be quick change from 2 ¾ inch shells and no need to set up a separate press.

Anybody ever try it?

William

[Bill Murphy]

No, I haven't tried it, but I have been loading on my 375 since the year they started making them, and there isn't much you can't do with them. I believe I bought mine when I was still in high school, now I'm 68.

[John Campbell]

If you feel you need 2 1/2 inch cartridges, then by all means find a way to make them.

However, I've shot tens of thousands of standard 2 3/4 inch cartridges in a host of Parker, Fox, and English 2 1/2 inch chamber guns for over three decades with absolutely no ill effects on the gun or the cases. All velocity under 1200 fps.

But if you feel you need 2 1/2, make them up!

[Steve Havener]

Call the folks at PW they will make up a short size die to any specification you want. You can make adjustments to the die head to accommodate the shorter shell case length. There contact information is on their web site.

[William Davis]

You can shoot 2 3/4 in 2 1/2 and I do.

Will give PW a call tomorrow. They list long dies same principal applies to short I guess. I can chuck one up and turn it down in no time too. Just wanted to see if there was any short shell PW experience out there.

William

[Bill Murphy]

I have to admit that I see no need to load 2 1/2" shells. I probably have a dozen or more light 16s that have thrived on light 2 3/4" loads for fifty years. Many of them have 2 1/2" chambers.

[Steve Havener]

Bill from a functional standpoint you are probably correct. The difference in chamber pressure using modern plastic shells is minimal, about 400 psi, but I remain a bit of a purist when it comes to my old guns shooting the loads that they were designed for. Hec I generally shoot paper shells and roll crimp both paper and plastic shells. To each his own I guess.

[William Davis]

I spoke to PW Yesterday, they do alter sizing dies for 2 1/2 inch shells for a small extra charge. This only works on the single station 375's,not recomended for progressives. 3/16 inch difference in the pre crimp and crimp dies can be taken up with the dies adjustment.

Did not ask about roll crimping in the 375. Thats another puzzle to solve later.

William

[Steve Havener]

I don't think there is any way to do a roll crimp using a PW 375. There is a process using what is called a Hartin crimp where by you trim the hull to 2 1/2 (I prefer 2 9/16th) inches run through the normal loading process until you get to the crimp start station. You then put an over shot card on top of the shot, crimp start and crimp in the normal fashion. The end product is a short shell with a partial star crimp with the shot being retained by the overshot card. I personally don't use this process opting for the traditional roll crimp. Do a search on 16ga.com reloading forum and as I remember there are photos posted of the final product.

[William Davis]

Agree it looks to be difficult if not impossable. PW's trademark is shell fully supported by the die, which makes it impossable to get at it to roll crimp. I guess you could cut a PW die short take the die and shell out after charging roll crimp in a drill press then put it back in the press to eject.

Lot of trouble be better to use a Mec.

William

[wayne goerres]

I use mine to load 2 1/2 in with a roll crimp. First run your shell into the sizeing die. Dos"nt matter if it is a 2 1/2 or 2 3/4" seizing die. Next rotate the shell to the priming station and remove the primer and seat a new primer. Then rotate the case back to the sizing station and remove the case from the sizing die. Place the casing under the shot and powder tube and dispense the powder. next seat the wad and dump the shot. Place your over shot card and roll crimp in a drill press. The last four steps are completed with out support from the sleeve. Its much easier than it sounds. One little tip. I use a 45/70 empty case to help remove the primed case from the sizing die. Drop the empty 45/70 case in the empty shotgun hull and lower the handle on the press. The case takes up enough space in the shotgun hull to allow you to press out the empty shotgun hull. I load shells this way all the time.

[Steve Havener]

So essentially you are sizing, de-priming, priming, using the normal steps and then using the shot/powder drop tube to drop the charge, set the wad and drop the shot. Makes good sense. I use an old Pacific DL 155 to do what you are doing with the PW. I firmly believe that using the old hand operated roll crimp tool is much faster and gives you a better feel for what is going on with the crimp than the drill press mounted crimp head. Three turns of the handle and your crimp is complete

[Greg Baehman]

If you decide to use a fold crimp you may want to change your existing 8-point pre-crimp (if that's what it is?) to a 6-point as most factory 2 1/2" hulls have a 6-point crimp.

[William Davis]

Good tips. 375's can do it all !

On your 45/70 knock out trick. I keep a few turned brass rods on my bench, larger than the primer hole small enough to slip inside the case for that job. Scrap bin has dozens of 45/70 cases I could have used easier.

Tip I have for Back Powder paper case loading is leave the P-W's powder tube empty. Prime then throw the charge with a Belding and Mull. Removable B&M measure tube will pour the charge in a 12 G shell without using a funnel or removing the shell Then insert the wad and drop the shot.

Saves cleaning out black powder in the 375's powder and charge tube when going back to smokless powder.

William

[Dennis E. Jones]

I've tried several Mec loaders and just don't care for them. I use PW for everything except the short 12 gauge cases and brass cases.

I use a Lee Load All for my 12 gauge 2 1/2" shells. It's plastic and cheap, but by golly it does make usable shotshells. I size the bases of Federal paper cases with a Mec Super Sizer then I trim the old fold crimp off and load in the usual manner but of course I don't crimp. I put in the overshot wad and then put them aside to roll crimp when I finish loading the cases.

[CraigThompson]

Very few people on the face of this earth hold PW in higher regard then myself . In the past they would pretty much make you anything within reason you asked for .

I however have been after them for a year or two to make me a 800 or 900 series machine for a 2 7/8" 10 gauge and they have yet to agree . Not that it's a big deal etc etc . But I still would like a PW progressive for the short 10 :whistle:

And with that being said PW 800 machines for 2 1/2" 12 , 16 and 20 would also be very nice to add to my accumulation of not really needed items .