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Newbie reloading question.

catdog21catdog21 Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
edited April 2004 in Ask the Experts
Hello gents.

My first post so be gentle with me.[;)] If you were new to skeet shooting and wanted to reload 12 and 20 gauge for a Remington 11-87 Magnum which reloading machine would you buy ? Where do you buy components as the UPS shipping rules for powder etc are so restrictive ? Thanks for the help.

Comments

  • hasbeenhasbeen Member Posts: 32 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    hello, catdog21. unless you are reloading for the hole club, i would go with a mec. loader. i have used almost all brands and like mec best. (midsouth shooters supply has best price) as far as supplies (www.ballisticproductsinc.com)0r (midsouth shooters supply) are good people to do bussiness with.

    hope this helps you, (hasbeen.)
  • catdog21catdog21 Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you hasbeen. I appreciate whatever advice I can get.[B)]
  • ibffsteveibffsteve Member Posts: 582 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Try http://www.midwayusa.com for supplies
    Unless you can find a GREAT deal and buy in large quanties on powder and primers so your better off buying locally, you would have to add $20 haz-mat fee for mail orders.
  • ThrockmortonThrockmorton Member Posts: 814 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Shotshell loading is not a big moneysaver,generally speaking.Have you figured out the cost difference?
    Or maybe you just like to be able to roll your own loads?That's fine too.
    The mec machines are good machines.Thgere are better ones,but we need to know how many shells,and maybe how fast you want to be able to crank 'em out...that sort of thing.
    Buying loading supplies online is gonna cost ya more than it's worth to reload,IMHO.Buy locally if AT ALL possible,even if it's a tad more money.Again,IMHO here.
    I have a Hornady 366 and would not buy another one.Too finicky.
    A friend has the big Dillon machine and his reloads are BEE YOU TEE FULL! But the price is there too.
    Good luck,and have fun.

    Throckmortons' the alias,cas is the game.
  • deadeye46deadeye46 Member Posts: 550 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello catdog and welcome to this forum.If you are going to shoot and reload a lot of shells,let me suggest a progressive loader.In case you're interested,I have a Mec 9000G on ebay that goes off tomorrow under my same user id.But if you're just loading occasionally,I'd purchase a single-stage loader.Just my .02,Bob
  • allechalleyallechalley Member Posts: 888 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    All the above are good advice. A progressive is fine, like the MEC 9000, but I guess I feel you might want to get the hang of things with a MEC 600jr. Foolproof, easy to learn, pretty much idiot proof, and will last a lifetime. Should be able to find new for around $100 and used as low as $35 to $50 at gun shows, internet, ect. Ask around at the range where everybody buys components. Usually club or the members, some gun shops, bulk order in spring or early summer. Ask also if someone has a press and would show you how easy it is to start. If you buy components, you'll have to decide which hulls you're going to reload, as you do need different wads for different hulls. I would recommend either Winchester AA's or Remington STS as they reload the best and longest. When you decide this is something you like doing and are shooting a lot, then it would be time to step up to a progressive, either a MEC 9000 or a Dillon.
  • warcrobwarcrob Member Posts: 358 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Any of the Mec presses are good. It just depends on how much money your budget will allow. My advice is you check wiyh club members at you local range, see if anyone has a used one for sale.

    If you ain't got a sense of humor you got no business bein here!
  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    catdog, first off - welcome to the zoo!

    You gotta shoot a *LOT* of shotshells to make it worth the effort to reload! Between promotional ammo and sales, you can do pretty well simply buying factory loads. Where it seems you are new to skeet, my personal advice would be to spend a few extra bucks on ammo before investing in reloading gear and supplies. If, after a year or so, you are still active, or even more active, then - and only then - invest in reloading shotshell. I have a beautiful MEC machine sitting on my bench, virtually (perhaps actually) a virgin after 20 plus years because I lost interest in clays pretty quickly - and reloading for them even faster.

    After the year, you will have a good idea of how many shells you will consume, and what rate, which will guide you in the selection of the equipment if you decide to go that route. Using the MEC is plenty fast enough for a few rounds a week. Only if you have money or a heavy rate of use will you need a progressive.

    While you are buying the shells, settle on a single maker / load which performs for you and buy *only* those shells. Unlike metallics, you (usually) have to change the components and settings going from one sort of hull to another. Trust me, that gets old *REAL* fast!! Not to mention, it results in you having a huge pile of various wads to fit the various hulls!

    With all the advances in technology and loads over the past forty years, there is virtually no need for the handloader to produce hunting loads. The only area where I will do this, once I have enough hulls to bother, is on the super premium waterfowl loads. Even though the percentage savings is far less than with metallics, the gross amount realized at even a 30% discount is well worth the effort.

    Buy components in bulk as part of an organization, or at least through the local dealer. Sometimes you can score some bargains on the HazMat items at a gun show; don't even think of buying them on line unless you enjoy paying excessive amounts of money.

    Bottom line: (a) at least in my experience, in reloading one doesn't see the cost savings on shotshells that one does with metallics, although there are some; (b) one must be shooting a *lot* of target shotgun to justify traveling this path.

    Good luck!

    "There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain) ". . . And DemoCraps" (me)
  • dakotashooter2dakotashooter2 Member Posts: 6,186
    edited November -1
    Something no one has mentioned is to check with the local club you intend on shooting at to see if the members "get together" and place orders for supplies through the club. Many clubs do this and save the members money by buying in bulk.
  • catdog21catdog21 Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you all very much for your input on this. I think the wait and see if I am still a (clays) fanatic in another six months is a good idea.[:D]
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