who makes a shotgun reloading press

May I simply ask why you'd care to stray from Lee and Mec? Just curious!

I paid $62 (I believe) for my Lee Load All II Shotshell reloader and, being that I don't reload entire flats at a time it's an excellent value for the occasional reloader. Can't say I've used any other press to be honest, though. I wouldn't mind a progressive turret shotshell reloader but for the prices of a flat of trap loads in my area it's not economically feasible.
 
Dillon makes a RL-900. but like Trion says, way more economical to buy factory. I do my own buckshot on a Load all 2 cause it has to be done by hand. would not waste the time or money on making birdshot a progressive press cause factory ammo is way cheaper for the amount of them I shoot in a year.
 
I started out loading 20ga on a friend's Lee press for rabbit hunting when I was 14. I now have a Lee Load Alls in 12 and 20ga, and MEC Jrs in 20ga and .410. Only thing I load on the 12ga press is buckshot and slugs. Factory field loads just too cheap to buy to make it work for me.
i have no idea how many rounds we loaded as kids, or since, on my own presses, but there's no danger of wearing them out that I have seen. And the Lee press is way easier to set up and use, as well.
 
Ponsness Warren is indeed a quality press, a step-up from say the MEC 9000.
The Spolar Gold even more so, but double the price as well.

MEC's will do most just fine until you get into high volume loading ... say 3 or 4 flats (or more) per month.

You can load a flat on a MEC 600 Jr. in a bit more than an hour without too much fuss. Refilling the shot & powder reservoirs soaks up a little time, as does refilling the primer tray.
(The add on "auto primer feed is well worth the extra few bucks IMHO )

I still have a couple of 600 Jr.'s and moved my MEC 9000 to get a P-W 950 Elite about 15 years ago. Holds 300 primers and sufficient shot and powder to load a flat at a time without refilling.
Wished I'd gone to the P-W even years before !
 
I'm wanting to load for a 10 gauge 3 1/2
loading for a browning gold stalker 10 gauge semi auto
ive been told by other reloaders to load for a semi I should have a tapered crimp to avoid jamming issues
which mec and lee don't do
for my 16 gauge and 12 gauge I use a mec 12 gauge set up
and for my 16 gauge I use a lee load all 2
I use about 3 flats per season with my 10 gauge and its getting pricey buying factory ammo
 
cant_rope_the_wind01 said:
I'm wanting to load for a 10 gauge 3 1/2
loading for a browning gold stalker 10 gauge semi auto
ive been told by other reloaders to load for a semi I should have a tapered crimp to avoid jamming issues
which mec and lee don't do
for my 16 gauge and 12 gauge I use a mec 12 gauge set up
and for my 16 gauge I use a lee load all 2
I use about 3 flats per season with my 10 gauge and its getting pricey buying factory ammo
Click to expand...

You are reading too much IMO. The biggy on the 10ga reloads is a collet resizer since the hulls being made today get so out of tolerance once fired.The mec will taper the crimp enough if adjusted properly they just are not as fancy about it as PW which indeed does a better job BUT
I have reloaded with a mec for four semi 10ga 2 golds, a ithaca and a sp-10 and doing 10ga reloading well over 20 years first on a mec converted sizemaster and now on the steel master. 1000's of reloads and have no feed issues from the taper
One thing I will say is my two golds hate winchester hulls so I don't use them
I have only talked to maybe 6 or so 10ga reloaders over the years doing steel. All semi guys and all using some form of a MEC and seem to be doing OK.
Cheers
 
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beretta boy said:
Ponsness Warren is indeed a quality press, a step-up from say the MEC 9000.
The Spolar Gold even more so, but double the price as well.

MEC's will do most just fine until you get into high volume loading ... say 3 or 4 flats (or more) per month.

You can load a flat on a MEC 600 Jr. in a bit more than an hour without too much fuss. Refilling the shot & powder reservoirs soaks up a little time, as does refilling the primer tray.
(The add on "auto primer feed is well worth the extra few bucks IMHO )

I still have a couple of 600 Jr.'s and moved my MEC 9000 to get a P-W 950 Elite about 15 years ago. Holds 300 primers and sufficient shot and powder to load a flat at a time without refilling.
Wished I'd gone to the P-W even years before !
Click to expand...

Funny how we are all different. I went the other way got rid of all our PW gear including the 950 and now use an entire set of 9000 for the high volume rounds including one in 16ga which I have not seen another around here. The old man had PW stamped on his ass I think however and loved them would not use a MEC for anything
Some years there was 25,000 rounds going through this set of five 9000 mecs
Cheers
 
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3macs1 said:
You are reading too much IMO. The biggy on the 10ga reloads is a collet resizer since the hulls being made today get so out of tolerance once fired.The mec will taper the crimp enough if adjusted properly they just are not as fancy about it as PW which indeed does a better job BUT
I have reloaded with a mec for four semi 10ga 2 golds, a ithaca and a sp-10 and doing 10ga reloading well over 20 years first on a mec converted sizemaster and now on the steel master. 1000's of reloads and have no feed issues from the taper
One thing I will say is my two golds hate winchester hulls so I don't use them
I have only talked to maybe 6 or so 10ga reloaders over the years doing steel. All semi guys and all using some form of a MEC and seem to be doing OK.
Cheers
Click to expand...

I would agree. I would say a MEC Sizemaster would be where to start. I Use a 600 jr 10ga but have the supersizer to resize the shell.

I also use a GAEP finnishing tool to clean up the crimp its a great tool.

Good luck
 
Rob MacK said:
I would agree. I would say a MEC Sizemaster would be where to start. I Use a 600 jr 10ga but have the supersizer to resize the shell.

I also use a GAEP finnishing tool to clean up the crimp its a great tool.

Good luck
Click to expand...

Cool on the finishing tool. I looked at setting something up some years ago but never had any issues with the taper so didnot.
As you know you are producing better than even factory crimps with that set up.
How are you using it your supersizer mounted to a board which in turn is bolted on a small table top drill press??
Do you have to lube the end of the hull.
Going to try to find a pic so the boys that have never seen what this small item and simple step once set up can do
Cheers

here we go talk about sweet crimps and just look at that taper

 
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The supersizer mounts on an adaptor plate I made up. For the GAEP I use an adapter they make to hold the shell. I do add a dab of oil on the GAEP to lube it every few shells. I have the GAEP for 28,20,12 and 10 gauge. I usually keep the MEC crimping loose and finnish of with the GAEP. It saves times adjusting for different loads. Love those things.

Rob
 
Rob MacK said:
The supersizer mounts on an adaptor plate I made up. For the GAEP I use an adapter they make to hold the shell. I do add a dab of oil on the GAEP to lube it every few shells. I have the GAEP for 28,20,12 and 10 gauge. I usually keep the MEC crimping loose and finnish of with the GAEP. It saves times adjusting for different loads. Love those things.

Rob
Click to expand...

So the adapter in the drill press chuck?? and any special oil??
Also if you don't mind me asking where did you buy them UK?? or US
 
Yep the head in the chuck and the holder on th base of the drill. Just 3 in 1 oil. My is from the UK via Itally of course.

Are you on DHC?

Where in ns are you I am origionally from Airchat Cape Breton.

Rob
 
As others have stated PW and some others still make loaders. I have been using MEC since the beginning
but I have also seen the PW machines in action,they are a nicer machine and seem to make nice sheels.
I only still reload for very specialised hunting shells for upland or waterfowl steel loads. I find
factory ammo for target loads or even small game loads is cheaper to buy than reloadload.
The real high performance loads are where reloading comes into its own since I usually find the factory
ammo lacking or too expensive.
BB
 
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