achosenman Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Hi guys, after chronographing some 12g cartridges from the HushPower yesterday, it has reinforced the need for a spot of home loading. The aim is to produce a cartridge that is just subsonic taking into account the peculiarities of the Hush Power barrel using a suitable size shot other that the anaemic offerings from Eley etc. I might as well produce some HV stuff for the Extrema while I'm at it so a fair few to be produced. I load for my centre fire rifles and have done for around 20+ years. I started with Lee, went to RCBS tried Lyman and then settled on Redding. That's kind of an expensive way to learn what's good and what's not. Since I've never loaded for shotgun I have no clue as to what makes "good kit" and I'm keen to buy right the first time around this time. I've had a look at Clay and Game etc and tbh the price difference between presses is staggering. I don't need it to be cheap if I'm going to be buying again in a couple of years, but I don't want to blow silly money on somethingI don't need. I do want a progressive press since the less time at the reloading bench is a big plus for me. Some opinions re bang for buck and longevity etc from some of PW's seasoned re-loaders would be gratefully apreciated. ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Where are you? Maybe someone on here is not too far & can show you their set-up I'd also avoid starting out with a progressive. If you buy right, it's no bad thing to have a decent single stage for smaller batches & load development, then later get a progressive for higher volume work Lots of folk on here use the Lee - not a bad unit - but not my cup of tea My main press is a Ponsness Warren 375C - though I also like my MEC Sizemaster (latter is similar to the cheaper MEC units, but I prefer the sizing method on the Sizemaster) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achosenman Posted April 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Hi saddler thanks for the response, I'm in Alton Hampshire. I too have a bit of thing against Lee. Good value for money and gets the job done in the rifle world but not with any kind of repeatable consistency IMHO. I don't know how important this is with shot shells but I was getting 89fps ES with Eley Hush Power and rubbish primer seating can cause that in the rifle world. Funnily enough the Ponsness press were the most expensive and to my thinking means top flight kit...probably. I take your point re the single stage. I was hoping that a short run of test rounds could be done on the progressive if it's consistent. The only two progressive presses I had was Lee when I first started loading for handguns and RCBS for handguns and rifles. Both went in the bin due to inconsistencies in finished rounds. Is shot shell loading that fussy, or is near enough good enough? ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 (edited) 89 Fps is nothing in the shotshell world a slightly different crimp could could do that ,look at coockoff13 old posts you should find dater for sub sonics. Sitsinhedges might also be able to help don't look for rifle crono figures as they are not req Edited April 18, 2015 by deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 (edited) I started with single stage presses then went on to buy a Mec 650n which can churn out a good number of shells but in hind sight I should have shelled out the extra and got a Mec 8567 Grabber with the resizing collet to save having to do it as a separate operation. PW's are clearly very very good but Mec is plenty good enough once it is set up. Single stage presses are great but I tend to churn out several hundred at a time and they soon lose their shine doing big numbers. I have a 12gauge Texan FW single stage press for sale if you do decide to go down that route PS, I believe the Mec progressives can be used as a single stage press until you find your feet. Edited April 18, 2015 by sitsinhedges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achosenman Posted April 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Thanks guys. This is great info. Just what I'm looking for. I think I'm going to go down the progressive route. Many thanks for your kind offer sitsinhedges, I only have room on the loading bench for one more press so I'm gravitating toward your suggestion of a Mec of some kind. I think the 8567 Grabber or 9000gn would fit the bill. Probably more than I need but once it's done I can cry over the price and move on deershooter thanks for your input. I had a horrible feeling that shotshell loading was going to turn into yet another fruitless hunt for the perfect wonder load. Been down that road before, I don't need to repeat it any time soon. ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biketestace Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 PW progressive press, would be my choice, Unless your pockets are well deep ? But that's another story Bta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Thanks guys. This is great info. Just what I'm looking for. I think I'm going to go down the progressive route. Many thanks for your kind offer sitsinhedges, I only have room on the loading bench for one more press so I'm gravitating toward your suggestion of a Mec of some kind. I think the 8567 Grabber or 9000gn would fit the bill. Probably more than I need but once it's done I can cry over the price and move on deershooter thanks for your input. I had a horrible feeling that shotshell loading was going to turn into yet another fruitless hunt for the perfect wonder load. Been down that road before, I don't need to repeat it any time soon. ATB Where are you? You can press out 100 shells an hour in your sleep with a mec Jr or size master. I have Sm and 9000gn. The throughput of 9000gn is 500 or so an hour. I still buy factory shells. It is no secret The test barrel that produces printed results is tight. If you are local, I can help you set up. Graham and I have done the subsonics t death. Can do 21g 28g 32g sub's. You are not alone. I help a few start up. There is a recipe by me, pm me. The Lee is cheapest. But mec more versatile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10gaugewannabee Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 another vote for the mec systems i also have a lee loader which i still use some times another vote for the mec systems i also have a lee loader which i still use some times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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