The dreaded "Is shotshell reloading worth it" question

[charlie cleveland]

no 9 s are being the new turkey load...I got me a box of 5 shells hope to use them this spring....charlie

[Mike of the Mountain]

Andy, next time you are here I’ll show you my set up. 650 Jr presses for specialty length shells in 10, 12,16,20,28 and .410 along with a Lee press for black powder and a Spolar progressive for standard length 12,20,28 and .410 if I need volume. I can load anything from large ITX and TSS non-tox right up through #10 and #12 lead. Spreaders in every gauge. I am set up to roll crimp too. If that’s not enough take three steps over and we load metallic cartridges too. 😁😎

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

Andy, next time you are here I’ll show you my set up. 650 Jr presses for specialty length shells in 10, 12,16,20,28 and .410 along with a Lee press for black powder and a Spolar progressive for standard length 12,20,28 and .410 if I need volume. I can load anything from large ITX and TSS non-tox right up through #10 and #12 lead. Spreaders in every gauge. I am set up to roll crimp too. If that’s not enough take three steps over and we load metallic cartridges too. 😁😎

I want to see it Mike! Holy cow, you act like you own a clays course or something.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I have that je ne sais quoi, just ask Jeff Stegmeier !!

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

I have that je ne sais quoi, just ask Jeff Stegmeier !!

Is that what they call it these days?

[Tom Flanigan]

I bought a MEC 600 Jr. when I was sixteen. Cheaper shells had nothing to do with my decision to reload. Back in the early 60’s it was getting hard to find shells without shot protectors. The shots I took at paper indicated that they tightened patterns in my VH 20 bore. The only way I could get enough shells without shot protectors was to load my own. The coverts I hunted were especially thick with fox grapes, overgrown apple orchards and bayberry bushes. I needed as open a pattern as I could get.

I’ve reloaded ever since. I’ve moved on from the MEC 600 Jr. because I went to progressive machines for volume loading. But it is one great loader for someone beginning to reload. The biggest plus to reloading is that you can get exactly the load you want. Try finding the 12 bore old pigeon and trap load of 1 ¼ oz. of shot at 1200 fps. The 12 bore shines with this load for turkeys, late season pheasants, ducks and geese. I now use 12 bore load of 1 1/8 oz. at 1200 fps with Bismuth for ducks and it does a wonderful job. I would be lost if I didn’t reload.

[Bill Murphy]

For years, I hadn't loaded a shell because I was buying 12 and 20 for about four bucks a box and had enough .410s and 28 loaded to last a lifetime. However, when I relocated (only four miles), four years ago, rather than store my loaders, I lined them up in my new loading room and I've been reloading ever since. I have PW 800Bs in 2 3/4" 12, 20, and 28, a 2 1/2" PW 375 12, and PW 375s in 16 and 10 and a MEC Versamec in ten. I load 8 gauge without a press. Not a bad setup for a guy who doesn't reload and is almost out of shot anyway.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

Andy, next time you are here I’ll show you my set up. 650 Jr presses for specialty length shells in 10, 12,16,20,28 and .410 along with a Lee press for black powder and a Spolar progressive for standard length 12,20,28 and .410 if I need volume. I can load anything from large ITX and TSS non-tox right up through #10 and #12 lead. Spreaders in every gauge. I am set up to roll crimp too. If that’s not enough take three steps over and we load metallic cartridges too. 😁😎

Your infection with this disease may be worse than my own

I've not been the Spolar route but I was and still am eaten up with the PW is the Rolls Royce of loaders . Sadly my only PW loader anymore is my main rifle loader .

I kinda did this ass backwards from most folks ! I started with PW 800's then sold them when I quit competing . Later when i wanted to get back into shotgun loading I started buying MEC stuff . A lot was used but some was new it's kinda hard finding a used 9000 in 16 gauge LOL's !