Will reloading work for me?

[Uncle Albert]

One thing to point out is that reloaded cartridges tend to pattern far better that massed produced ones. I tried some against my reloads and the difference was remarkable.

 

You won't save much on clay loads but the satisfaction of dusting clays or folding prey that you have reloaded for doesn't compare. The feeling of satisfaction is priceless. Also, it adds to your understanding of your sport as well as letting you get exactly what you want from your ammo.

 

I started off with the Lee Loadall 2 but have progressed to a MEC press with the Universal Charge Bar as the Lee machine does not allow for adjustment. I can now dial in what powder and shot charge I want and it will deliver it. Otherwise I would have to mess about with putting hulls through twice or using dippers. The Lee machine does produce good quality cartridges though and you will get most of your money back when you sell it on.

 

Have a look on Folkestone Engineering's web site and check his prices. Last time I looked shot was £3.00 a kilo, Vectan AS about £36.00 a kilo etc. The main problem will be if you have to get powder or primers by mail order. You will need to pay Hazmat charges of about £30.00 min. Get together with your mates and share the cost. Have a word with John and he will help you out.

Edited March 27, 2016 by Uncle Albert

[Polar Orbit]

Lots of advice, all of of it excellent. I reload 12g for field & clays with a mec grabber. For 12 & 20g in common loads (3/4 to 1-1/4 oz) it will cost you more than buying factory and at 500/month you won't have much spare time. You only break even, maybe in a few years, if you shoot a LOT of really specialist loads like some of the wildfowling stuff.

 

There's masses of load data out there, mostly american and mostly irrelevant or outdated for decent modern loads in UK. American components are expensive (&/or difficult) to get in the UK. My last green dot & blue dot cost me £38 each a pound (without shipping), which make around 220 to 290 carts a tub, depending. Using modern single base powders like Vectan help a bit at around £22 for 0.5kg. When you figure primers at around £40 per thousand on top, without wads or shot, it's clear we're all on a hiding to nothing. It's more hobby than money saver. You'll need to travel to dodge the hazardous shipping costs too.

 

However, loading for 410 is more worthwhile. Factory ammo is a lot more expensive and you use half as much powder & shot reloading. I suggest don't bother in 12 or 20 but do try a used mec 600/650 in 410 (with universal bar) off ebay from USA or somewhere. Use 209's & European powders from as local a supplier as you can find and use recycled shot in plastic wads. Also, watch your pressures in 410.

 

For all you Vectan users out there I have the current Vectan shotgun load data (missing from their website) sent to me by a very nice lady at Nobelsport. I can't upload it here as it's 7Mb so PM me if you want a copy.

 

Have fun. Mark.

[ChrisPCarter]

Thanks for all this advice. I'm away this week and haven't got much access to Internet on my phone but I may take you up on your offers of help when I get back. I'm in Harrogate and haven't worked out the nearest suppliers yet. Cheers, Chris.

[saddler]

Spoiled for choice in your location.

 

Hannams, Swillington, Kranks, Stead Hall, etc....

[pinfireman]

I'm thinking of getting some reloading gear but I've only just started reading up on it since starting to use a 20g and 410 more in the last year or so.

I don't mind spending a bit of money upfront if it's going to make savings in the long run.

 

I'd like to make up:

12g cartridges for clays and pigeons in reasonable quantity - I probably shoot about 500 a month on average, a lot more if I have a few good days pigeon shooting or a special trip out further afield clay shooting where I might get through a slab in a weekend.

 

20g mainly for pigeons and the odd bit of game shooting - At the moment I don't shoot many due to the cost, when it makes sense to use the cheaper 12g.

410 standard and subsonic for a few pigeons and pests - As above I don't shoot that many so costs are high relatively speaking.

At the moment I probably only use a couple of boxes of each per month but I'd like to use a lot more if I can get the cost down to 12g prices or less.

 

What would be the best kit to start out with that can handle all of these sizes but concentrating on 20g and 410 as these are what cost me most.

Am I better off buying something cheap that will do all gauges initially and then get a better press for producing 12 gauge in quantity?

Or is there something that will do them all quickly at a reasonable price?

 

Am I likely to make much of a saving on 20g and 410?

I usually just buy a slab of each so I guess they cost me about £70 for 410 and £80 for 20g depending on what I get.

Likely savings for 12g?

 

What else will I need regarding kit?

Am I going to need a load of different powders to make these up?

I'm thinking I could probably get by with 6 & 8 shot for most of what I do to start with.

 

What are the rules re buying and storing powder etc?

 

There's probably lots I haven't considered so feel free to fill me in!

 

Chris.

You can make savings, depending on the gauge you shoot, if you buy reclaimed lead, cut offs for primers and powders, and buy wads in bulk.....try Siarm. Google it.

[pinfireman]

I'm thinking of getting some reloading gear but I've only just started reading up on it since starting to use a 20g and 410 more in the last year or so.

I don't mind spending a bit of money upfront if it's going to make savings in the long run.

 

I'd like to make up:

12g cartridges for clays and pigeons in reasonable quantity - I probably shoot about 500 a month on average, a lot more if I have a few good days pigeon shooting or a special trip out further afield clay shooting where I might get through a slab in a weekend.

 

20g mainly for pigeons and the odd bit of game shooting - At the moment I don't shoot many due to the cost, when it makes sense to use the cheaper 12g.

410 standard and subsonic for a few pigeons and pests - As above I don't shoot that many so costs are high relatively speaking.

At the moment I probably only use a couple of boxes of each per month but I'd like to use a lot more if I can get the cost down to 12g prices or less.

 

What would be the best kit to start out with that can handle all of these sizes but concentrating on 20g and 410 as these are what cost me most.

Am I better off buying something cheap that will do all gauges initially and then get a better press for producing 12 gauge in quantity?

Or is there something that will do them all quickly at a reasonable price?

 

Am I likely to make much of a saving on 20g and 410?

I usually just buy a slab of each so I guess they cost me about £70 for 410 and £80 for 20g depending on what I get.

Likely savings for 12g?

 

What else will I need regarding kit?

Am I going to need a load of different powders to make these up?

I'm thinking I could probably get by with 6 & 8 shot for most of what I do to start with.

 

What are the rules re buying and storing powder etc?

 

There's probably lots I haven't considered so feel free to fill me in!

 

Chris.

PM me.....

[ChrisPCarter]

Spoiled for choice in your location.

 

Hannams, Swillington, Kranks, Stead Hall, etc....

 

The only one of those I know is Swillington so I'll have a search for the others, cheers.

PM me.....

 

Done

[ChrisPCarter]

I've been reading "Reloading for Shotgunners" by Rick Sapp and I have a copy of the "Lyman Shotshell Handbook" on it's way to me.

I'm thinking of getting a MEC 600 JR or Sizemaster for 20g and 410 initially.

How long does it take to change die sets and is there a lot of adjustment to do?

I could see it being a pain in the **** having to change the die just to make up a few cartridges.

It's a shame the Lee Load-All doesn't come in 410 as I'd get one of those and a MEC 20g.

I could get the MEC in 410 and a Lee Load-All in 20g which would probably be cheaper than a MEC die set but it's probably the 20g stuff I'd rather be making in quantity and quality.

Even new I could get both of those for about £260 which isn't too bad and would probably pay for themselves in a year or so.

It doesn't sound like there's much point loading 12g stuff right now when I mainly shoot budget clay and pigeon loads with it.

If I keep the 12g gun for that and just use the 20 and 410 for hunting then it might work out cheaper in the long run and I can make up more specialised stuff for them.

Also, I'm going to get very bored churning out box after box of clay loads!

 

Chris.

[Guest cookoff013]

just shoot the gauge you love, reload for that, then make a decision about it later.

it would be easy to chop and change diesets but you`ll have to re tune the loader to produce good crimps again. not fun and you will tear up hulls as you do it.

i reload 12 exclusively, i cost calculated and broke down all economic viabilities, economised and value loaded to get that decision, oh, and the fact i only have 12 gauge guns.

 

if you shoot alot of .410 then thats where some savings come in, but buying a machine dedicated to only that? you may save 30% over factory.. but you need to be shooting alot to make it worth while, it would pay for reloader after 5000 .410 shells.

 

the next thing is 20 gauge... its about for the same 28gram 20 gauge, break even after 5000 shells.

 

its your call.