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Newbie looking to get into reloading.


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I've been researching reloading advice for a few weeks now, I recently acquired a 20G ATA for a bit of game shooting also I acquired a 410 Jr Yildiz for my grandaughter. The price of the 20G and 410 shells are not the cheapest, so hence the research into reloading. 

I've never done reloading of any gauge but most of my research linked me to this forum, so I've now joined to do some more research. I'm not looking to reload 1000's of shells but not sure which way to go.

Do I go MEC 600Jr 20G with a 410 conversion set at around £500-£550 or the Lee Load-all II 20G and hand load the 410 for around £80-£100. 

Any advice would be very grateful thank you.

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A difficult one.  I  suspect that's why you haven't had any replies and I've seen several people who have bought guns and equipment with the ideas of shooting with a woman or child. I  think that if I were you I would shoot factories for a while until I was sure that one or both of you had a lasting interest and ability. In the meantime I would collect up the fired empty cases in readiness of reloading. It is quite an undertaking to set up for reloading.  It's not just the buying of the kit, it's like a hobby in itself.  Not impossible but it is complex and time consuming. It can be very rewarding to load your own cartridges and take game or clays.  In the meantime you can see how you go with it.  Ps.  most reloaders need to be be fed with 70mm cases so buy 70,s and collect 70mm cases. This is just one thing to be considered. 65s can be discarded. I have had to think about this to even reply.  

Edited by Minky
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On 24/04/2024 at 05:25, Ian2037 said:

I've been researching reloading advice for a few weeks now, I recently acquired a 20G ATA for a bit of game shooting also I acquired a 410 Jr Yildiz for my grandaughter. The price of the 20G and 410 shells are not the cheapest, so hence the research into reloading. 

I've never done reloading of any gauge but most of my research linked me to this forum, so I've now joined to do some more research. I'm not looking to reload 1000's of shells but not sure which way to go.

Do I go MEC 600Jr 20G with a 410 conversion set at around £500-£550 or the Lee Load-all II 20G and hand load the 410 for around £80-£100. 

Any advice would be very grateful thank you.

I am in the same boat, with the potential lead ban thing coming in, I want to future proof the .410 and load steel and lead. Separately of course!

And I’m also looking at getting a dedicated .410 MEC 600jr and just sitting down for hours and reloading!

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On 24/04/2024 at 03:25, Ian2037 said:

I've been researching reloading advice for a few weeks now, I recently acquired a 20G ATA for a bit of game shooting also I acquired a 410 Jr Yildiz for my grandaughter. The price of the 20G and 410 shells are not the cheapest, so hence the research into reloading. 

I've never done reloading of any gauge but most of my research linked me to this forum, so I've now joined to do some more research. I'm not looking to reload 1000's of shells but not sure which way to go.

Do I go MEC 600Jr 20G with a 410 conversion set at around £500-£550 or the Lee Load-all II 20G and hand load the 410 for around £80-£100. 

Any advice would be very grateful thank you.

It would be cheaper in your set up costs to get a 410 MEC and a 20 ga Lee load all 2. The Lee is cheaper than the calibre change tool set for the MEc and there’s a reasonable chance that you’ll be able to pick up a used 20ga Lee.

i load 410 and 28 on MEC600s and 12ga on a Lee. I  completely satisfied with the loads my Lee produces. I’m not looking to load in volume for 12 bore because the savings aren’t there. I’m just loading decent wildfowl cartridges for it. The savings are tight in 20ga so you might be in the same boat of just loading specialist carts with it and using factory lead for clay / high volume shooting.

410 is a totally different story if you want to shoot anything other than lead. Component prices have gone up so much that loading lead is very similar. You can definitely make your investment back on non toxic loading because it costs an arm and a leg for factory bismuth. When factory steel is available from the US it is genuinely obscenely priced so savings are available. None of it matters if you’re only shooting a handful of 410 every now and then though.

Edited by Bernard
Maths
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i bought a lee load all 2  for reloading buckshot and slug cartridges for practical,  ive loaded a hand full of 6 shot  cartridges and they work ok in  O/U but they do leave a lot to be desired in a pump or semi auto.

the lee load all is a canny bit of kit but ive found that the crimp just isnt that good on once fired or new cases. i had to invest in a Geap crimp finishing tool to clean them up to what id class as factory standard. if you plan on role turn over then youve not got anything to worry about.  on a plus side i found the size bushings did throw very accurate and consistent charges of shot and powder. (i was using maxam CSB 5)

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22 minutes ago, Sweet11-87 said:

i bought a lee load all 2  for reloading buckshot and slug cartridges for practical,  ive loaded a hand full of 6 shot  cartridges and they work ok in  O/U but they do leave a lot to be desired in a pump or semi auto.

the lee load all is a canny bit of kit but ive found that the crimp just isnt that good on once fired or new cases. i had to invest in a Geap crimp finishing tool to clean them up to what id class as factory standard. if you plan on role turn over then youve not got anything to worry about.  on a plus side i found the size bushings did throw very accurate and consistent charges of shot and powder. (i was using maxam CSB 5)

I can understand the semi auto bit, but how do they work differently in a pump action to an OU?

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3 minutes ago, London Best said:

I can understand the semi auto bit, but how do they work differently in a pump action to an OU?

feed issues, most factory ammo has a slight taper, ive found when reloading using the lee load all they tend to be allot more straight wall and the harsh angle at the crimp can cause hangups and mis-feeds.

https://www.claygame.co.uk/gaep-crimp-finishing-tool-pd275

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Just now, Sweet11-87 said:

feed issues, most factory ammo has a slight taper, ive found when reloading using the lee load all they tend to be allot more straight wall and the harsh angle at the crimp can cause hangups and mis-feeds.

https://www.claygame.co.uk/gaep-crimp-finishing-tool-pd275

Ah! Got you now. I never considered feed issues in the pump. I thought (stupidly) that you were meaning the cartridges were less effective through the pump.

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And now something completely different. People mention the fact that steel potentially damages barrels but does it really matter.  With the collapse of gun ownership and the minimal value of second hand guns does it really matter.   Guns can be picked up at stupidly low prices so does it really matter if the bores get a bit scored up. As long as the gun doesn't get unsafe, what does it matter.  If it does get unsafe go and buy another one. With the long term cost of non toxic in comparison to steel buying another gun could be a consideration.  As my wet day gun I have an old AyA #4 and both barrels are pretty pittedand have been for many years.  It still shoots well and takes  any really good bird.

Ps. As it stands the vast majority of guns have a very low value and even if you have something  very nice.  As an experiment ask your gunshop if they would consider BUYING IN your gun. Almost certainly the answer will be No.  Or you won't be offered much.  Go look at the amount of guns for sale on here and how many takers there are.  Lots of views but no reply questions. 

Edited by Minky
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On 27/04/2024 at 14:43, Minky said:

And now something completely different. People mention the fact that steel potentially damages barrels but does it really matter.  With the collapse of gun ownership and the minimal value of second hand guns does it really matter.   Guns can be picked up at stupidly low prices so does it really matter if the bores get a bit scored up. As long as the gun doesn't get unsafe, what does it matter.  If it does get unsafe go and buy another one. With the long term cost of non toxic in comparison to steel buying another gun could be a consideration.  As my wet day gun I have an old AyA #4 and both barrels are pretty pittedand have been for many years.  It still shoots well and takes  any really good bird.

Ps. As it stands the vast majority of guns have a very low value and even if you have something  very nice.  As an experiment ask your gunshop if they would consider BUYING IN your gun. Almost certainly the answer will be No.  Or you won't be offered much.  Go look at the amount of guns for sale on here and how many takers there are.  Lots of views but no reply questions. 

Thats a very good way of looking at it!! Never really thought of it like that!

I have thought of all of my guns as supreme, precision bits of kit, but in the end, they are cheap tools that can be replaced!

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Cheap guns....Recently one of the son in laws sent a Laurona o/u up to Holts auctions.  Now this gun wasn't  anything special but it was a  gun that was tight and  mechanically ok. It sold for a basic amount which covered the auction costs so he didn't get anything back for it.  He just got it off his ticket.

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Thank you guys for the replies, some very helpful advice and opinions. I'm going to have ride over to Henry Krank's at Leeds and Clay&Game at Hull they are both within 45 minutes from me, listen to what they both suggest on options and your suggestions then workout where to go with it.

As some of you have pointed out the would some sort of satisfaction and enjoyment, from shooting game with loads that you've loaded yourself.  

 

Once again thank you guys.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 03/05/2024 at 13:36, Ian2037 said:

Thank you guys for the replies, some very helpful advice and opinions. I'm going to have ride over to Henry Krank's at Leeds and Clay&Game at Hull they are both within 45 minutes from me, listen to what they both suggest on options and your suggestions then workout where to go with it.

As some of you have pointed out the would some sort of satisfaction and enjoyment, from shooting game with loads that you've loaded yourself.  

 

Once again thank you guys.

 

How did you get on buddy??

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