Why reload ?

[Paul Harm]

There's a couple of reasons. It's fun. I can make better shells than cheap factory ammo. And it's cheaper. I run the shotgun venue at my club and the wife and I shoot three times a week. At one time a few years back my daughter and granddaughter also shot and I was reloading about 30 boxes of shells a week. Now I'm down to under 20 a week. The wife and I at times shoot a 28ga and I also shoot a couple of 10 bores. Normally it's 12ga. A lot can be saved with the 10 or 28. That, and 2 7/8 10ga shells aren't made. At times I'll load up a box or two of 2, 2 1/4, or 2 1/2" shells with fiber wads and a roll crimp. Those short ones with a roll crimp look cool. Plus, I hate recoil. 12ga 3/4oz and 10ga 1oz loads are fun to shoot. I also like to make black powder shells for the 12 and 10. At times I slip a BP shell in a friends shell pocket when shooting SCs and watch the look on their face when they shoot it. No one " borrows " a shell from me anymore if they're short a shell. I also keep a number of nitro and BP hunting loads on the shelf. I even found a 40 cal barrel rifle liner for my 1882 Remington hammer gun - now I'm waiting to shoot a deer with it - either the 40 cal 425 grain bullet or some 10ga buckshot in the other barrel if it's real close. Anyways, I find it very satisfying to make my own of just about any load and not have to try any find it. And it's easy on the shoulder and wallet.

[Craig Larter]

Paul I am like you and enjoy reloading . I have reloaded bismuth for many years . 3/4 Oz 12ga loads are another favorite thanks to my good friend Daryl. My greatest reward has been reloading the short ten for targets and ducks. This year a limit of mallards with a Parker AH and my handloaded 10's was a joy I will never forget.

[Kirk Mckinney]

Count me in. Just getting started. To have the load u want is going to be great.

[Daniel Carter]

I reload for all the same reasons plus i have found it a good idea to start off kids and my grand daughters with half ounce 20 ga. go to 3/4 then 7/8 without telling them and they never mention recoil. I am a fan of low recoil also and the commercial offerings do not come close. Paul did my PM reach you? I may not have done it properly.

[charlie cleveland]

i too reload the 8 ga the 10 ga and the 12 ga sometimes..i like yall enjoy making these shells and taking game with them..taking a deer with a ten ga or the 8 ga is is really a hoot...charlie

[Rick Losey]

I have reloaded for decades - originally to save money so I could shoot more often

but now days - i enjoy the freedom to chose my load for different guns - and how else would I get a steady supply of 1 1/2 12ga bismuth or nice shot not to mention to feed the short tens (including an extra short British 10) either lead or non-tox

after lucking into a box of the old Alcan FBS 16ga wads - i loaded up enough of the Sherman Bell very light (4800 PSI) 1 1/8 loads to give a try at clays with a light weight short ten.

where in the world would you buy a load like that.

[Paul Harm]

I don't always look for messages - yes I got it. I think I almost enjoy making up different loads as I do shooting. The guys like 2" or 2 1/4" roll crimp shells.

[Daniel Carter]

Thank you for your reply. Another PM sent. Reloading lets you explore more options than are commercially available. Years ago a skeet shooter told me he was not crazy about skeet but loved to reload and skeet was the best way to empty the shells

[John Dallas]

A friend of mine says "I shoot high velocity shells, so I can miss faster"

[William Davis]

Paul, like you it's something I like to do. I have tailored loads to specific guns in 4 gauges, Multiple loads for some, each in a different color hull to make sure I put the right one in. New load, the collective,experience on this forum, very valuable.

Be simple to only shoot 12 G and buy factory B&Ps . But a lot less fun.

William

[Paul Harm]

The days my great grand children stay over, the four year old boy likes to help me reload 10ga shells. The two year old girl likes to play with used primers, fiber wads, and used shells. She just makes a mess I have to clean up later. My wife or daughter don't reload [ just shoot em up ] but the granddaughter will reload her own.

[William Davis]

This summer my Grandson, 8 yrs old helped me load a flat of 12's then we took them out to the Clays Course. He pulled and kept score. Let him shoot a couple.

He goes back to school and first assignment was what did you do this summer. Of course he writes his on loading shotgun shells. Good thing he lives in Texas ! would have been a problem some states

William

[Paul Harm]

Know what you mean. About 12 years ago when the granddaughter lived with us she took a toy gun and knife to school. Back then, we got a call to come and get them and have a talk with her. Oh, we had told her not to do it - but you know how that goes. Later when she was in high school I did a science project with her on the magic of steel. We showed how steel would harden when heated to critical and quenched in oil. That time we used a knife blank we made [ I called ahead and ask permission for her to bring the blank in glued to a poster board ] - she got a A.

[Daryl Corona]

I started reloading 40+ years ago strictly for economic reasons. Now like Paul, Craig and others, I reload because I can't buy the loads I like to shoot in my vintage guns. I reload 3/4oz. loads in 12,16,20 and 28ga. not only because they are low pressure and minimal recoil but because I believe that my reloads are equal to any RST or similar factory loads. I call them my "custom" loads and they work very well for me. Bigger is'nt always better.

[Daniel Carter]

I have been unable to find a published load for 3/4 oz. 28 gauge. Please point me in the right direction.

[Daniel Carter]

Brain lock. I meant 5/8 oz. Old age ain't for sissies.

[Kevin McCormack]

I reloaded for 46 years and found the experience very similar to owning a boat - two of the happiest days of my life were when I got everything all set up to load all 4 gauges, then again when I hauled all that crap to my local gun show and sold it all.

[Daryl Corona]

Daniel;
If you are currently loading a 3/4oz. load all you have to do is to reduce your shot charge 1/8oz. and it will be fine. No worries as pressure will be lower with a slight increase in velocity. You'll have to experiment to find the right combination of wad and hull but if you are lucky the 1/8oz. will not make much of a difference in your crimp. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[Paul Harm]

Kevin, if you feel that way, what are you doing on this forum ? We enjoy what we're doing and don't really need comments like yours.

[Paul Harm]

Daniel, maybe leave everything as is, reduce the shot to 5/8, and throw a navy bean in the bottom of the plastic wad if needed for a good crimp.

[Daniel Carter]

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.

[Daryl Corona]

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.

[Daniel Carter]

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.

[Greg Baehman]

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.:rolleyes:

[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

[Daniel Carter]

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.

[Jerry Harlow]

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.

[wayne goerres]

I have one of the PW 375 in 12ga. Give me a MEC anytime.

[Paul Harm]

Jerry, you have quite a collection. I started in the 70's, got out of shotgun reloading till about 16 years ago. All mine are Mec's - two 600s, two 650s, a Grabber, and a 9000H. I had a PW 800, but it was so different I sold it. Everything is in a room in the basement. I'll go down there for hours. The wife is always saying " what do you do down there ?" Just having fun.

[Jerry Harlow]

Jerry, you have quite a collection. I started in the 70's, got out of shotgun reloading till about 16 years ago. All mine are Mec's - two 600s, two 650s, a Grabber, and a 9000H. I had a PW 800, but it was so different I sold it. Everything is in a room in the basement. I'll go down there for hours. The wife is always saying " what do you do down there ?" Just having fun.

Paul,

I have only purchased one new one, a MEC 10 gauge Sizemaster. All the rest I picked up used, usually with components worth more than what I paid for the loader. I just got the 9000G for $225, with $50 of shot, powder, primers, and a new in the box powder scale. Three loaders are on a bench bolted down and the rest have wooden bases and I just clamp them to a table with a carpenters clamp and load whatever I feel like loading. Then hang them up on a nail through a hole I drilled in the base. I keep the four 12 set up for 3.5 inch goose/deer, 1 ounce loads, 24 gram (.85 oz.) super low 3500 psi pressures for questionable barrels, and the 9000G for whatever I want in quantity.

Wife asks me the same thing. Either looking at gun porn or loading shells. I find it relaxing until the 9000 screws up (when I forget a primer or wad) and make a mess.

One would be surprised how many MECs show up on Craigslist.