12 gauge buckshot reloading questions

[DIRTYCLEAN]

so i bougth an used mec reloading press and it came whit lots of empty 2-3/4 shells mainly activ brand which are all made of plastic externelly but have metal inserts in them.

1-can i reload buckshots whit those
2-where can i get buckshot pellets
3-what type of wad, powder and recepy should i use
4-is it worth it money wise?

thanks!

oh also, it came with two powderbars
one is a 112, the other is 138
what can i reload whit those and what mixture can i use for it (whit the activ shotshells)

thanks!!

 

[stovepipe699]

I haven't started loading shotshells yet, but I'm researching it. I don't think a lot of guys here load shotshell, but I found an excellent site devoted to shotguns, and plenty of reloading info. Shotgunworld.com

 

[ben hunchak]

Those charge bars are for loading 1 3/8 and 1 1/2oz. of shot, the other part of the charge bar has a bushing for powder. Mec puts out a sheet with the charges for each bushing as you can buy whatever bushing you want depending on the charge of your particular powder. You must use a reloading manual to determine your buckshot load, both for amount of pellets and charge of powder. It will give you the wad to use in your Activ. cases, the powder charge, and amount of pellets. Buck shot is avail. at good gunshops as are rd. balls from Hornady you can use once you figure out the size you need to make it work. You can use your mec for all stages except throwing shot, as you won't be able to use the reloader to throw shot and you'll have to count out the shot by hand. Let me know if you have any questions because you have to know what you're about as it would be easy to overload and wake up with a crowd around you.

 

[RePete]

so i bougth an used mec reloading press and it came whit lots of empty 2-3/4 shells mainly activ brand which are all made of plastic externelly but have metal inserts in them.

1-can i reload buckshots whit those
2-where can i get buckshot pellets
3-what type of wad, powder and recepy should i use
4-is it worth it money wise?

thanks!

oh also, it came with two powderbars
one is a 112, the other is 138
what can i reload whit those and what mixture can i use for it (whit the activ shotshells)

thanks!!

Activ hulls are a bugger to load on a MEC, but it can be done.

Buckshot is made by Hornady and I believe that Hummason is still making it.

Recipes - get the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual.

It's only moneywise if you think so.

The charge bars are for 1 1/2oz shot payload and 1 3/8oz payload. If they are marked 302 then you need to buy powder bushing for them.

I think that MEC have the bushing charts on their web site in pdf form for downloading. Also the recipe tables, but I don't think that Activ are listed - not really a popular hull. Get the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual.