Interested in starting to reload

[B. Dudley]

I have been thinking about maybe getting into reloading my own shells.
I would mostly be interested in reloading shells to cut down on my skeet shooting expense in the long run.

Wondering what type of shells are best for reloading?
If I were to buy them to shoot once and save them for when I start reloading.

[Autumn Daze]

Brian, You will get alot of feedback here on this subject. But to start it off I like Remington hulls for my 12 gauge loads. Also I use the black Remington game load hull for 16 gauge. For 20 and 28 gauge I like to use Winchester hulls.

As far as reloading machines I use MEC exclusively. They can be found fairly inexpensively on EBay.

[Pa SxS]

I can't speak for the smaller gauges but for the 12, the best hull to reload is the Remington STS/Nitro hulls. I don't reload the Remington Gun Club hulls but they are popular too and less expensive.

[StubTwist]

Brian, ditto what Dave and Chuck have said about the MEC and Remington STS hulls. When I first got into reloading I bought a case of Remington STS to shoot skeet and clays with and save the hulls. Due to the factory loaded pressures, I did not want to risk shooting them my other doubles except for my Ithaca NID that would handle it no problem.

You can find once fired shells on Gunbroker which I go to when my case mouths start to get crispy and get thrown out. Saves me time instead of scrounging in buckets. The green STS are pretty available. The gold Nitros are there too but they go quick. You can get 500 once fired for about $40. This way you can reload low pressure right of the bat and you can use any shotgun you want.

[B. Dudley]

Yeah, I primarily shoot 12g. I will keep an eye out for those or pic up a box to shoot here and there and start collecting hulls before I get a reloading machine. I am interested in reloading low pressure loads as well. I think that might be a better alternative to shooting RST loads. Are teh RST hulls good for reloading?

[Keith Parrish]

Never reloaded RST hulls but have heard great comments about their factory loads. Heck B. Dudley I'd say it's worth a try. I have learned you won't find a favorite until you try. Keep your pressures low and powder drops light and you will be fine.

I too work only with MEC reloaders and might add "look into the Super Sizer" for sizing your hulls.

As Dave said up top. You will get the best most honest info on this site and meet the best of the best in shotgun sports, life, and lessons, you will get info on Parker Doubles and new guns and the whole Shaaabangggg!!!!!! This is by far my favorite go to site for suggestions recommendations and just a nice time...

[Richard Flanders]

The Remington STS hulls are definitely the best place to start... and finish for that matter. They reload easily and crimp well. The plastic is more pliable than the Win AA hulls. I prefer STS over all others for 12ga target loads. For 20ga neither AA's or STS last more than a reload or two before splitting. Sometimes there is an issue with using winchester primers in STS hulls. They back out. You have to ream the primer holes with a tapered reamer. PITA. I think it mostly happens with 28ga hulls for some reason. Not sure it ever happens to me with 12ga.

[Roundsworth]

The hulls used by RST, Polywad and Gamebore are Cheddites. At least, they have the same 'star-number' headstamp. The Cheddite hulls come in many configurations from .410 to 12, including 24 and 32. There is a lot of data out there for them. Maybe someone here can vouch for them. Cheers!

[Michael K. Burnley]

Hello Brian, I pretty much agree with the rest of the guys. I reload Remington STS,Nitro 27 and Gun Club in the 12 and 20ga. I reload Winchester AA in the 28ga and .410. Also for low pressure loads there are some good Federal hull loads. Enjoy and have fun shooting them.

[King Brown]

Some primers fit loosely in Cheddite hulls. I've forgotten which. I vouch for Cheddite hulls.