Loading the Short Ten by Pete Lester

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Steven Groh

Does the MEC 600 Jr. do an adequate job of resizing a 10 guage?
At very low pressures does the brass even deform?

A single stage MEC with the ring resizer will usually do the job of resizing 10 ga hulls without issue. It is easier to resize Federal hulls as they are made of brass whereas others are made of steel. I have a Lefever G grade 10 which is a great gun but it has tighter chambers than my other 10's and would be hard or impossible to close with some reloads. I bought a 10ga collet for my MEC Supersizer and that solved the problem with that gun.

Keep in mind the resizing ring on a MEC single stage is a wear item and every now and then it will need to be replaced. If you bought a used reloader you might want to change it.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Steven Groh

Does the MEC 600 Jr. do an adequate job of resizing a 10 guage?
At very low pressures does the brass even deform?

I had a 600 JR 10 I bought new and it worked fine . But later I decided I wanted a Sizemaster with the collet resizer and that’s what I use now . I had a PW 375 many years ago set up for 10 gauge 3 1/2” that worked very nicely . But what I’d really like but don’t really need is a PW LS-1000 set up for 10 gauge 2 7/8” .

[24 grams]

With Cheddite hulls being the only current option at BP or PR and Red Dot being out of stock at both places as well, what is a workable 1 1/8 oz 10 gauge load?

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Steven Groh

With Cheddite hulls being the only current option at BP or PR and Red Dot being out of stock at both places as well, what is a workable 1 1/8 oz 10 gauge load?

Look at 12 gauge 1 1/8 ounce load data using Unique , Green Dot , WSF , WSH . I’ve done this without issue just going by the charge weight , however you’ll have to mess around with spacers to make the shell full enough to get a decent crimp . I’ve had good luck with 16 gauge card or filler wads as well as dried red beans you buy in the grocery store . Some folks use Cheerios some have suggested sliced up packing peanuts .

[24 grams]

Good Lord, what have I gotten myself into???

The cheapest 10 gauge hulls (in fact the only 10 gauge hulls available) were $62/100. That's the equivalent of over $15 a box for the just the primed hulls!

Not to mention the 10 gauge reloader, short kit, case trimmer, etc. etc.
...and a chronograph to check the loads, since there are no tested loads for currently available components.

Oh, and there are the two Parker 10 gauges that started this whole journey.

I think I need someone to conduct an intervention

Actually, to be honest, I am really looking forward to experimenting with developing a target load for these guns from the 19th Century, and then perhaps a bismuth load for ducks.

As I do, I will share what data I have with those of who are obviously devoted to this bygone gauge.

Thanks for all of the advice.

[6pt-Sika]

I took a block of oak bored a 10 gauge hole thru it and made myself a little jig sorta thing to trim hulls . At the time I was trimming maybe 300-500 at a time all REM hulls . Then two or three years ago a friend made me a trimmer that works by hand using a box cutter blade , takes a bit of effort with REM hulls but it’s pretty slick with the Cheddar Cheese hulls which I use more of now . Let’s see with 10 gauge stuff I’ve loaded I’ve done in clay targets , dove , quail , pigeons , partridge , pheasants , squirrels and deer .

[Matt Valinsky]

Originally Posted by Craig Larter

The 600jr will resize the brass properly but I found the hulls are difficult to remove from the die. I resize my 10ga hulls on a MEC Super Sizer.

If you remove the resizing die, you can loosen the nut, lengthen the depriming shaft and the hulls will just pop right out. Don't forget to retighten the nut on the depriming shaft when adjusted.