I was looking for something like the Lee Loader for shotguns...very low volume for Turkey and waterfowl loads. 10, 12, and 20 gauge and maybe 20-100 rounds a year. I have 2 presses that could also be pressed (snicker, pun intended) into use, and Lee CLassic Cast single stage and an old Lyman turret.

Ideas? I'm not having much luck in my research...especially with 10 gauge. Lee makes a LoadAll (nice and cheap) in 12-20, but not 10.

It isn't worth your time if you're loading only a few hundred rounds a year. Go price some components and I think you'll change your mind. If you are dead set on a press, get the MEC and never look back.

Get a mec , Look on ebay. I have a 12 ga set up and was looking for a whole 20 ga set up. And saw several on ebay for a damn good price

For whatever reason, used MECs don't bring much at gunshows. I saw one for just $25 last weekend. Look at your local gun show or on ebay for a 600 or 700 series single stage MEC and you'll have a machine that will load whatever you need.

But I agree that for less than 100 rounds per year, it is not an efficient thing to do. Also, if you shoot only 12 or 20 gauge upland loads, the promo loads available for less than $4 per box are far cheaper than the cost of amortizing even the most economical of reloading set ups.

Another vote for the MEC. I bought a MEC 600 Jr. 32 years ago, mounted it to a 12x18" piece of plywood, varnished the wood, and I still use that same set-up to this day.

Geronimo

I mounted mine on a board about 35 years ago also.

Works great, you can pick it up and load anywhere then put it back in the closet etc.

quote:

Cheapest possible entry equipment for a good shotgun loading?

I added the bold part.....

as others have said.....MEC 600 JR is the one to get.....find one used and go to it!!!

This thing does a fine job....others are toys!

Have you guys priced 10 gauge loads lately?

I shoot a fair amount of $4/box dove loads, and yeah, they are not worth the effort to reload, but I just acquired a 10 gauge I'd like to wring out and would like to customize some light game loads too. Everything commercial for a 10 gauge seems to be #6 or larger, waterfowl or turkey loads...all magnum!

Thnaks for the tips...our gunshows suck but I'll keep my eyes open. The MEC 600 at $100 seems decent enough...

Lee made a classic loader for 10 ga a few years back, and they show up occasionally at gunshows, generally in the $10-20.00 range.
For really easy loading use brass shells, but I have no idea where you'd find 10 ga.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

A used 12ga or 20ga MEC600JR should be relatively easy to find. I bought mine for $25ea at a local gun store about 12yrs ago. Like the guys mentioned in previous posts, I mounted them on 12" square pieces of plywood and clamp them to a bench when I want to use them (which isn't often).

It was interesting at first, but I quickly discovered that I wasn't going to save any money loading 6 boxes of shotshells per year. Also, unlike rifle and pistol cartridges, my reloads were never any better, or even as good, as the factory made shells. For shooting clay targets the local trap & skeet club sold reloads for cheaper than I could buy the components and make them myself. The only shotshell loading I do now is an occasional box of 12ga #5's for pheasant hunting.
.

I used to load quite a bit of shotgun rounds but, I don't hardly do it anymore. Target and Dove/Quial loads are available for less than you can purchase the components. Factory Steel shot loads are available for less than you can buy the components and so are factory Turkey Loads.

It's best to just go and buy factory loads at Wally World.

Lead has gotten ridiculous in the last few years as well.

Good Luck

Reloader

It's even worse here, no economical reason at all to reload shotshells. I still have the MEC, though and figure it might make sense if I'd recycle the shot from the range.

Has anyone ever done this?

My biggest concern would be to get it clean of sand and other abrasive stuff.

hello CDH,
Ebay has lee loaders for the 10 12 and 20. They are going to be the cheapest. If you are only going to be reloading up to 100 rounds than a mec wouldn't be worth it. I bought a used 9000 series MEC for 125. I have only loaded around 1000 rounds so far with this progressive loader, but so far i love it. I was lucky to find this steal. i worked with the guy. With the price of components right now it would be stupid to reload for only 100 rounds a year. And also Ebay has brass 10 guage shells.

My main interest was in reduced loads for an OLD shotgun that would only see limited use in the first place. Not something (low pressure 10 gauge shells) readily available on the market at any price. Everythign I can find in 10 Ga are turkey or waterfowl loads...and Mag loads at that.

Thanks for the input!