28 ga. shells

longspur rider

I realy enjoy shooting my Red Label 28 on sporting clays but shells are expensive. Anyone have a reasonable sourse for 28's? Been shooting Rio's at around $8/box.

PA Shootist

Why not reload? The 28 gauge is dispropotionately expensive when one buys new loaded shells, I suppose because of scant distribution and market demand. But, reloading components are "normal" prices. It uses a small amount of shot, common powders in relatively small quantities, and wads are priced about the same as any other gauges. Casing life has sometimes seemd to be less than 12 or 20 guage though. I reload routinely the 28 gauge for skeet, and it is a favorite gauge for fun and practice, with light recoil and still enough shot to break birds reliably at skeet ranges.

longspur rider

I checked into reloading once & was dicouraged by the person I talked to. He made it sound very tidious on smaller guages. I reload handgun ammo & that is relatively easy for the pupose I'm using it for. Give me your explaination of what is required & equipment needed for 28ga.

PA Shootist

Equipment needed can vary depending on how many shells you are shooting, etc. Because I shoot skeet with the 28 gauge, I normally needed 100 shells per week on average. I use a MEC 650 unit, which is a progressive press, and easily capable of cranking out 100 rounds in a half-hour or substantially less. If time were not a big factor, something like a MEC 600 Jr. would be OK, I used one of those for many years. Because I shoot the 28 gauge shells from the same gun,an over/under tube set, I haven't had to resize, which the MEC 650 does not normally do (the 600 Jr. does). In 20 and 12 gauge, my shotshells get used in various shotguns, including autoloaders, so I use MEC Grabbers with those, the Grabbers are progressives that resize with a collet at the decapping station. There are of course other press manufacturers, but I have experience with these. Primers are standard size 209 in all gauges; wads are specific for the 28 gauge. Shot is provided by the bar, standard loads I use drop 3/4 ounce #9. Powder is also dispensed from the bar, with various inserts available for different charges of powders. Set-up isn't very difficult. You can download a manual from MEC's web-site for free, and it explains all the adjustments. Used presses are relatively cheap, often seen here and on Flea-Bay; parts are easily obtained from MEC and are inexpensive, if needed. The 28 gauge has no special reloading foibles excepting perhaps shorter case life than typical with 12's and 20's, and is far easier and faster than metallic cartridge reloading.

longspur rider

Thanks I will check into that a little more.

geeguy

PA is right. The Mec 600 Jr. can be had used for $25-50 (>$125 new).

If you can reload pistol, this is easier. It does take a little more time to load 28 ga vs. 12 ga, but I load about 100/hr in a Jr., for over 35 years. If you love 28ga, reloading is the only answer unless you've got lots of money.

Low investment to start up and would pay for itself in about 20 boxes. If you don't like it resell the components and machine and only lose a few $.

Best of luck