Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred Lowe
Craig,
Like you, I use an 800 plus, but don't currently load 2 1/2". Hopefully someone will be able to address those. I would have thought the 800 Plus would be an easier loader to shorten than the LS1000. I have a feeling that 2 1/2" shells are in my future. 
I currently own both the 28 ga. and 20 ga. tooling heads and find them very easy to switch between. In my mind the speed of the Ponsness alone is worth the reloader, but I also believe they do produce a superior reloaded shell.
At the time I purchased, I sold my 3 Hornady 366's, and the proceeds covered the cost of the 800 plus. I recently did a pretty good sized run of 20's that I inserted Spred-R's into and that went very smoothly.
I do enjoy reloading due to the substantial savings, and my ability to build most any type of shell I desire. I also enjoy spending less time and getting far more shells per hour. Plus no reloaders elbow.
If one watches eBay, there are deals to be had far below the retail price of a new one. In the past Ponsness has occasionally run sales on their products at reloaders.com. I believe I paid $600 for mine new set up as a 20 gauge just a few years ago. |
When I finally got around to calling PW they told me under no circumstances would they make me a 10 gauge on the 800 style machines . I truly prefer the 800 with the dies keeping the shell the entire trip thru the machine . They did say however they would tweak a LS 1000 10 gauge 3 1/2" machine to 2 7/8" . Guy said all he needed to do was mill one or two things and make a couple small adjustments . All for an additional $30 on a brand new LS 1000 .
At the moment I don't have a PW 800 in my loading room . I do however plan on adding a new 800 Plus and die sets for 12 , 16 , 20 , 28 and 410 .
When I first started loading shotgun shells I started with a pair of used 800B's in 12 and 28 . Shortly there after I bought new 800C's in 20 and 410 . A year or two later I sold the pair of 800B's and replaced them with two more 800C's . At that time I was also loading the 10 gauge 3 1/2" and the 16 gauge on a PW 375C .
I cannot say it to many times I just plain like PW machines . My rifle/pistol loader my entire reloading life has been the same PW Metallic II . I've been using that Metallic II about 35 years I think .