I have been given a lee shotgun reloader with I beleive most everyhting that I will need to reload except wadding and shells. I have some powder and appoximately 50 lbs of shot. I have reloaded rifle rounds but never any shotgun shells. Any suggestions on reading material or information that will give me directions on how to do this? Thanks

Might get more info if you ask the question in Shotgun Reloading. While I've reloaded shotgun ammo for years I'm sorry I don't have a direction to point you.

http://data.hodgdon.com/shotshell_load.asp

Follow the loads as writen. Alliant also has data if you are useing their powders.

thanks Ol'Joe I believe some of the powder I have is Alliant. I will also list the question in Shotgun Reloading. Sorry for the confusion.
Thanks

I strongly believe anyone that is a beginner at shotshell reloading should invest a few bucks for a MEC 600 Jr or similar MEC press and merely follow the instructions.....

Shotshell reloading with a MEC is foolproof and simple.....but follow the instructions.

Vapodog that I believe is the model reloader that was given to me but there are no instruction or information with it.

what gauge?

BTW....LEE is not MEC....MEC is maysville engineering company.....and a very fine press

I know when you wrote the MEC600 I remembered that it was that model and not the lee. Included with the press was some lee products and that's what I had remembered. The reloading equipment was given to me along with some other accessories. Do they have a site that I would be able to get instructions from?

if the press is handy now.....I'll lead you through it.....do you have wads, primers, shot and powder?

vapodog I am actually at work out of town and do not have it with me. iwent to the MEC site and printed out some information. I am leaving right now head back home and will give it a go when I get back. I may send you an email with questions. Thanks for the help.

Happy to help

BTW....I'll be murdering deer in Wisconsin the next several days and won't be available until about Monday of next week.....

but there's a lot of folks here that can help as well

quote:

I know when you wrote the MEC600 I remembered that it was that model and not the lee. Included with the press was some lee products and that's what I had remembered. The reloading equipment was given to me along with some other accessories. Do they have a site that I would be able to get instructions from?

Go to the Mec sight you can download owners manual as well as shotshell reloading instructions.

http://www.mecreloaders.com/Ow...als/OwnerManuals.asp

I checked the reloader and it is a MEC Sizmaster model SM82 not the 600. I did not see a manual for this reloader.

quote:

Originally posted by Robe763:
I checked the reloader and it is a MEC Sizmaster model SM82 not the 600. I did not see a manual for this reloader.

What you have is the collet type sizer called a SizeMaster. It normally has an automatic primer tray. The rest of it operates like the 600s and 700s. MEC should have the users manual on their site. I consider the SizeMaster a significantly better loader than the 600 or 700.
There are a number of things about shot shell loading that make everything go well or make it a PIA.

1. Choose an easy to get, easy to load popular hull. AAs are a good place to start but many others will work given attention to the right details.
2. Pick the right wad for the weight of shot you need. The wad needs match the inside diameter of the hull at the base of the wad.
To start out use the exact wad recommended for the hulls you are using.
A wad made for a straight wall hull will bulge a tapered hull.
3. Pick a powder that is the right burn rate
AND this is a biggy...one that had the right bulk for the hull, wad and shot weight. This helps the entire load stack to the right height in the hull so it will compress the wad just right and allow the hull to close and crimp well.
4. Generally all of the above means find a known good recipe in the Alliant manual and stick with it.

5 . Learn to pay attention because shot shell loading is boring after a while. If you are not careful you will forget to put a wad in a charged hull. Then you will drop shot into the loose powder.

If you need help before Vapo gets back drop me a PM and I will send you my phone number.

quote:

If you need help before Vapo gets back drop me a PM and I will send you my phone number.

Good man....these wisconsin deer are armor plated and hard to kill.....I see you're in good hands!

SR4759
Here is what i have along with the press:
I have several different charge bars from 1 oz up to 1 1/2 oz. I have only one bushing which is number 33. I have the following powder 1 lb of Herco, 2 lb of Red Dot, 1 lb Blue Dot, 2 lbs of Win 452AA, 1 lb of Win 473AA and 1 lb of HI-Score 800-X, 1 lb of H4227, Winchester and Remington primers

What I need to know is what Powder above, hull and wad combination is the best for heavy field load? Or should I try a different powder?

The reloader has a six point crimp. Is this ok or is the 8 point the better way to go?

Where is the best place to buy the hulls and wads?

quote:

Originally posted by Robe763:
SR4759
Here is what i have along with the press:
I have several different charge bars from 1 oz up to 1 1/2 oz. I have only one bushing which is number 33. I have the following powder 1 lb of Herco, 2 lb of Red Dot, 1 lb Blue Dot, 2 lbs of Win 452AA, 1 lb of Win 473AA and 1 lb of HI-Score 800-X, 1 lb of H4227, Winchester and Remington primers

What I need to know is what Powder above, hull and wad combination is the best for heavy field load? Or should I try a different powder?

The reloader has a six point crimp. Is this ok or is the 8 point the better way to go?

Where is the best place to buy the hulls and wads?

You need to be very specific about a heavy field load. I have been assuming 12 ga. If you want a fast 1 1/8 load it will take one powder. If you want a 1 1/4 load it make take something a little slower burning.
Let me know exactly what weight shot and speed you are looking for and I will still probably send you to the Alliant pages for Green Dot or Herco. Red Dot is good for skeet loads. Blue Dot is for very heavy loads. H4227 is good for handguns and maybe a .410.
Do not use any of them without matching a loading manuals recommendations...exactly.

The crimp starter needs to match your hulls original folds. Most target load hulls use 8 point and field hulls use 6 point but it is not a big deal just get the right hulls to start with and set up for it. The MEC crimp starters are easy to find. Hulls can be bought at a skeet and trap range or just shoot up some shells.
The trick is to use a single brand of good hull and stick with it. I would highly recommend a compression molded hull like the Win AA. It will require an 8 point crimp. There are other good hulls and you might find some of them at a much better price than Win AAs though.

I have used a large number of the straight walled cases with the paper base wad but they can cause problems if you are not familiar with them and I do not recommend them for a beginner or even a nonchalant old timer. That being said I have used thousands of them but

1. I got them free at the skeet range because they were considered worthless. They normally burned them.
2. I never used any that had been wet...the paper base wad can come out and lodge in your barrel. Then your barrel may bulge when the next sot is fired.
3. I only loaded the free cheap hulls one time to avoid the loose base wads.

What weight shot load does the bar in your loader have? It will be marked on the end.

When you determine the load you are going to use you buy a powder bushing to match. Never try pick a powder to match the bushing. Bushings are dirt - cheap powder isn't.

I would like to load 1 1/4 oz. I checked the charge bars that I have and they start at 3/4 and go up to 1 7/8. I do not have a range that I go to or a place to pick up wads so I will probably have to buy some for now. If I use the Remington STS or Winchester AA's which wad would I use?