The dreaded "Is shotshell reloading worth it" question

[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.