Richo85 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Hi all. Looking for some advice/help. I shoot 12g rough and clays and I love the idea of home loading and making my own cartridges. Is there a lot of benefit in doing this or is it just as good buying factory cartridges. I haven't brought anything yet as I wanted to doing all my reccie 1st. All info welcome.. Atb brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Good hobby if you've plenty of time and like tinkering. Unless you want an odd sized load or have a ready supply of lead and Linotype it's cheaper to buy the carts you want. Even 28bore are cheaper to buy in the quantities I shoot than rolling my own. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Hi all. Looking for some advice/help. I shoot 12g rough and clays and I love the idea of home loading and making my own cartridges. Is there a lot of benefit in doing this or is it just as good buying factory cartridges. I haven't brought anything yet as I wanted to doing all my reccie 1st. All info welcome.. Atb brett If you become proficient at home loading it can have some cost benefits. If you need something not readily available it solves that problem. If you shoot a lot you will be very busy in the evenings as it is not a quick game. Find a recipe that you like and stick to it, don't start to play around with pressures. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Good hobby if you've plenty of time and like tinkering. Unless you want an odd sized load or have a ready supply of lead and Linotype it's cheaper to buy the carts you want. +1 cook. Even 28bore are cheaper to buy in the quantities I shoot than rolling my own. ~ i`d say even stevens with this. a decent shell is a decent shell. cook. Figgy If you become proficient at home loading it can have some cost benefits. +1, but not always, some loads i make are really expensive / unavailable. If you need something not readily available it solves that problem. +1, cook. If you shoot a lot you will be very busy in the evenings as it is not a quick game. +1, its alot of work, but the satisfaction is justified. cook. Find a recipe that you like and stick to it, don't start to play around with pressures. +1 to start with. after you are comfortable you can follow data, get more data and load up different shells.! cook. Good luck homeloading does waste money, but sometimes pay off when you have decent shells. you cant compare tesco everyday value shell, to a harrods shell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Shaw Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Interesting hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 When you talk 12 ga, its more about getting a different shell than you can find off the shelf. Perhaps the only exception might be someone using lots of ammo who makes their own shot etc. Remember though in that case there is still a lot of kit to buy / make and time to spend. If you wanted say a 2 1/2" BB shell, for your vintage gun on a fox drive your going to struggle. Then again there is always the "phone a friend" solution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Hi all. Looking for some advice/help. I shoot 12g rough and clays and I love the idea of home loading and making my own cartridges. Is there a lot of benefit in doing this or is it just as good buying factory cartridges. I haven't brought anything yet as I wanted to doing all my reccie 1st. All info welcome.. Atb brett where about"s are you ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richo85 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Located in Derby. Thank every1 for your replies..I gather it's not a cheaper way to shoot but I love tinkering with things and making things..im a joiner so I think I may give it ago. Will be after a lee load all etc and start up bits..wink wink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Reloading can be fun and it also can be a right pain clay loads can be made cheaper than most if you get your powder at the right price. Shot can be bought from Doncaster ( Hatfield woodhouse ) @ £1.30 per kg saving around £2+ per kg. its what i use for clays and light game loads. just run it over a magnet it may have the odd shot corn of steel ( Not that i have yet ) I started off with a lee load-all and now have two single stage presses for 3 and 3-1/2" and a progressive for 2-3/4" so i would say that it is addictive but i would say if you like tinkering give it a go you don"t have to make every cartridge you use :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 It's nice to produce the lead shot and make your own game load cartridge then hit the pheasant and eat it. Never mind the cost is rewarding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richo85 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Pest control..what's the difference between a load all and single stage etc..also where is it best to buy shot, wads and primers from etc.. Also I shoot some steel as the chap I shoot with sells the bird bit they have to be steel shot..is it more or less expensive to home load steel.. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Pest control..what's the difference between a load all and single stage etc..also where is it best to buy shot, wads and primers from etc.. Also I shoot some steel as the chap I shoot with sells the bird bit they have to be steel shot..is it more or less expensive to home load steel.. Thanks A single stage press makes one cartridge at a time whereas a progressive press has a carousel with several cases on which rotates to make one cartridge with each pull of the handle. The Lee is a single stage press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richo85 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Oh I get you. Like I say I shoot a more steel than lead so will be loading more of that than lead.. Has anybody got a starter kit going cheap so I can dip my wick so to speak before going all in..want to make sure it's for me before committing Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Have a look at Folkestone engineering they do a beginners pack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Reloading steel shot is different than lead. The Lee load all 2 will not reload steel shot. You can weigh powder n shot then crimp. The Lee does 2.75" only. Sorry to break your bubble. Mec can reload steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richo85 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 And I bet mec are a lot more expensive.lol..Thanks for the pm cookoff013..will a mec do lead and steel from the same machine ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 And I bet mec are a lot more expensive.lol..Thanks for the pm cookoff013..will a mec do lead and steel from the same machine ? yes a mec will load both from the same press and they do cost a little more than the lee what steel cartridges have you been using ? i presume they are for pigeons to go into bird of pray food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Yeah, but you need steel shot bar. It is the bar that volumetricly measures shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richo85 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Yes that's spot on pest control (name please)..im using express 32 g #4 in steel shot. Seem to be doing well with them so to produce something along those lines would be good. Cheers brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighit1985 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Hi all, looking at this topic I've got a few bits and pieces to start reloading mainly 20g and 410 but interesting in making my own shot, is it fairly easy to do? Where do people get the lead from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 I use a universal charge bar in my mec. This can be adjusted both sides so you can adjust the amount of powder and shot that drops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richo85 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 What mec unit do you use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Steel master Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richo85 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 How much did you pay for that super sharp if you don't mind me asking and where from, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketestace Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Send me pm and il help in some way shape or form Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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