2 1/2" Reloading

[Harry Collins]

What do you use to reload 2 1/2" shells? I asked the same question on the 16 Gauge Reloaders forum. I'll take all the opinions I can get.

Thanks, Harry

[Dave Miles]

Harry,

I'm assuming you mean what press.

I use single stage MECS. Some can be adjusted to load 2-1/2" hulls without the use of the riser plate (short kit). I have not been able to get enough adjustment out of a progressive MEC to load the short hulls. I load short 12, 16, and 20 gauge.

[Harry Collins]

Dave,

Thanks, that is what I wanted. I use a 600 Jr for short 10's with the "short kit". I have a few 600 Jr's in 12, 20, 28 & 410 that were Papa's and mine before we got into Grabbers and the 9000's. Does MEC make a conversion kit to 16 gauge? I think I saw something like that on ebay. I'm using a Lee Loadall and had forgotten how slow they are.

Harry

[Dave Miles]

Harry,

MEC does make a 16 gauge short kit. The plate is the same for all gauges.
The only difference between the gauges is the thin metal piece that holds the shell in position. You can use the riser plate from your 10 gauge, and manually hold the hull in place while you do the pre-crimp and crimp portions.

[Harry Collins]

I just received a few replies to this question on the 16 gauge reloaders forum. The easiest solution offered was to cut the hulls to 2 9/16" leaving a little crimp memory, load on the progressive reloader as you would a 2 3/4" shell and insert an overshot card before indexing to the crimp station. Not as pretty as a roll crimp, but works just as well I'm told.

Harry

[Dave Miles]

Harry,

That option works well, but the shells are ugly as hell looking.
I prefer to load the 2-1/2" hulls. They look correct and shoot well.

[Harry Collins]

Thanks Dave,

They also mentioned that they were no beauty contest winners....

In one of Sherman Bell's "Finding Out for Myself" articals in DGJ he shot 2 3/4" shells in 2 1/2" chambers and as I remember there was only about a 300 psi jump in pressure. I can't help but think that doing so might be hard on the gun as well as the shoulder.

Harry

[Harry Collins]

Dave,

I loaded a few SpredR loads after cutting the hull down to 2 9/16". You are right, they look like a mangy dog. I am loading WWCF hulls, WW 209 primer, WW 16 wad, and 1 oz of shot. What is your 2 1/2" load?

Harry

[Dave Miles]

Harry,

I use the Cheddite hull
Win. 209 primer
20.5 grains SR-7625
SG-16 wad
1 oz. shot,with 6 fold crimp
1150 fps @ 7400 psi

For 7/8 oz load drop powder down to 19.5 grains
Will give you 1200 fps @ 7400 psi


The 1 oz. load fits better in a 2-9/16" hull, but you can get it into a 2-1/2" hull with a little pressure on the wad.

[Harry Collins]

Dave,

Thanks, that is just what I am looking for. I was loading Unique and have switched over to 20 grains on 7625. I have been using a 32 gauge card inside my wad to take up space.

Harry