I have just inherited a bunch of shotgun shell reloading "stuff".

I have a Mec 600 loader for 12 guage shells, about 4000 hulls of all different types, some various powders and wads (AA and Remington).

It has been about 25 years since I reloaded. Has anything really changed a lot - AA are still the prefered hull, stick to one type of hull to minimize changes to the reloader set up, Ponsness Warren still the best shotshell reloader-

Any advice on what to do with this mess is appreicated.

Sort the hulls and discard any junkers. Clean what you have left. How old is the powder and does it smell ok. Yes, quiet a few changes and you will want to verify loads. AA hulls are still good hulls.

AA are still the prefered hull. No. Remington STS/ Nitros are 12 12 and 20 ga.

Stick to one type of hull to minimize changes to the reloader set up: pretty much, though I run AA's, STS's and Gun Clubs through at the same settings, and Fiocchi's and Gold Medals at another.

Ponsness Warren still the best shotshell reloader- No, Spolar is the Caddillac of the day.

The biggest change is the price of inexpensive shotshells, which makes reloading a labor of love, not savings, unless you load 28's or 410's. JMO, Dutch.

Dutch,
Thanks. As I have been studying this, the economics are becoming apparent.

quote:

Originally posted by Dutch:

Stick to one type of hull to minimize changes to the reloader set up: pretty much, though I run AA's, STS's and Gun Clubs through at the same settings, and Fiocchi's and Gold Medals at another.

I agree with that advice.

I use AA wads in 12 ga for both Winchester and Remington hulls, and I use the same settings (primer, powder, wad, shot amount) interchangeably for both. I do tend to use Winchester primers in the Winchester hulls and Remington in the Remington hulls, but even that isn't necessary -- you can use Winchester primers for both.

Federal 12 ga. hulls do require a different wad -- one specifically made for Federal hulls -- in order to get a good crimp.

In smaller gauges -- 20, 28, 410 -- I've found that the best results come from using the wad of the manufacturer of the hull for that given hull.

I load primarily for skeet, so I'm loading for 1200 f.p.s. in 20, 28, and 410. In 12 ga I usually load 1 oz. of shot using WAA12SL wads -- I almost always use the Claybuster clones -- to a velocity of about 1145 f.p.s. That's all you need for skeet.