Need help getting started with shotshell reloading

brickmaster1248

I recently acquired 3 MEC 600 loaders at yard sale for 30 bucks. Up to that point i really had no desire to load shotshells or even know how to do it. Each one is set up for a different guage.(12,20,.410)

So now i have a few questions before i start to purchase components;

1) Are all hulls reloadable and if they are not how can i tell the difference?

2) Are there any savings reloading shotshells?

3) Is a Universal charge bar worth having?

4) will i be able to load 3 1/2 12 guage with this setup? (waterfowl,turkey loads)

5) the crimping spot on the press is a 8 point crimp set up. If need be can i change it to a six?

thanks for any and all help, i walking into this blind.

20gabob

You asked a lot of questions but i will try to help you out. Most all shotshell hulls are reloadable to a degree. The better ones to reload seem to be win aa and rem sts type hulls. Some like the fed hulls and they are also reloadable. As for saving money reloading shotshells it is fairly hard to do right now with the cost of componenents in the 12 or 20 ga. You would save money reloading 28 or 410 shells because of their cost and availability new. Most likely you will not be able to load 3 1/2 12 ga shells without adding the cost of additional die sets to what you have now, plus waterfowl loads need to be of steel or bismuth or other nontoxics that are higher in cost and require other specialty products to be reloaded. As for the adjustable bars, in the long run you could possibly save some money by not having to buy additional bars or bushings to reload with, but it would sure take some time to pay off. Most will not work woth nontoxic shot either. Shotshell reloading is a fun prospect but not nearly as much savings realized as there used to be.

336marlin

First of all buy you a new version of a shotshell manual.
1) All hulls are reloadable pending condition but as you will see in the manual require different components. These presses are not ment for brass hulls but can decap, prime, and charge the plastic hulls with the special end plugs. I don't think you'll run in to many of these anyway they're antiquish.
2) There is a substantial savings in reloading. You can figure this out by comparing the cost of store bought shells with the cost of the components you've bought.
3) The universal charge bars are useful if you plan to produce different loads for a particular gage but are sorta expensive. If you are going to develop a specific load and stick with it just go with the standard bar and bushing set-up.
4)These presses will load 2 3/4" & are adjustable to load 3" shells with special dies. They will not load 3 1/2" shells. MEC makes a special press for that.
5) The .410 & 28 are 6-point crimp only. The 20, 16, & 12 can have a 6-point or 8-point crimp.
Shotshell reloading can be fun producing loads and then/than harvesting game with them. It can become a job for the target shooter firing 3k to 5k rounds a year. Have fun.

bobski

if the dies in the 12ga are for 2 3/4" hulls, youll need to buy a set for 3 1/2"($$$). and youd have to change them out. this is why people buy 4 or 5 mec 600's and keep them set up for particular sizes and leave them putt.
the mec will adjust for 3", but not 3 1/2". look on the main stem. yoll see a bolt with 2 adjustment holes. for 3" , you take out the bolt and slip it up for 3".

because of crimp memory in hulls, you can close a 6 point crimp with an 8 point crimper. i do it all the time.

you got a great deal for those 600's. they are rock solid and the easiest press out there. they are for the most part idiot proof and safe... except for a few diehard idiots.[:D]

BGHillbilly

quote:Originally posted by brickmaster1248
I recently acquired 3 MEC 600 loaders at yard sale for 30 bucks. Up to that point i really had no desire to load shotshells or even know how to do it. Each one is set up for a different guage.(12,20,.410)

So now i have a few questions before i start to purchase components;

1) Are all hulls reloadable and if they are not how can i tell the difference?

2) Are there any savings reloading shotshells?

3) Is a Universal charge bar worth having?

4) will i be able to load 3 1/2 12 guage with this setup? (waterfowl,turkey loads)

5) the crimping spot on the press is a 8 point crimp set up. If need be can i change it to a six?

thanks for any and all help, i walking into this blind.

1) All are reloadable, big thing is to sort hulls by brand, type, lot and anything else you can sort by. Reloading data is very specific for type of wads and charge wts. It's easier than metalic reloading once you get started but making sure you have the right componets for each hull type is a chore. Works best if you have the empty boxes those hulls came out of, both to put loaded rounds in and for information in determining load data. Remington was the worst about having identical looking hulls with different size primers and capacities for shot.

2)Savings come when you load premium/magnum rounds. Dad bought me an 1100 20ga with 3" chamber to deer hunt with. Shot slug,buck,3" and 2 3/4" Magnum rounds flawlessly. Would not function with dove,quail, rabbit, or squirrel loads. Field loads were 2.50 a box magnum loads were around $10 a box. I could reload field loads for about 2.15 a box and 3" magnums for 2.67 a box. Suspect something similar holds true today.

3) I never got around to buying a universal bar. Probably worth it, for 20ga I think I used 3 bars,don't know how many powder bushings and my loads were limited, could have used more.

4)Don't know, they were unheard of when I loaded, 336Marlin has your answer there.

5)There is a little brass part that goes in the crimper, easy to change.

Know I duplicated some other's answers, hopefully did not contradict anyone. I got lucky, a now out of business discount store (Gibsons)would have a factory rep come in every fall and do a seminar. Mom drove me into town (I was about 14)and the gentleman showed me everything I needed to know. Hands on reloading training in the sporting goods department. Left with everyting I needed and no extra crap that would never be used.