Shotgun reloading?

[quadrafire]

My son and I have shot trap the last couple of weekends, 50rounds each time. He shoots a 20ga, me a 12ga. I don't really know what the math would be on saving money by reloading if we were to continue this on a regular basis.
I now the Lee Loadall is reasonably priced, the MEC more expensive. If I understand right you need a loader for each gauge shell being loaded.
Should I consider it a hobby and not worry about the savings, if any?

[C-Money]

If you pay attention at trap shoots, you can get in on power buying of components. You can still save a few bucks in the long run. I load most of my shells and I shoot a lot of trap. I use a Lee load all, and making a 100 shells takes and hour or so. I enjoy it! Its a good way to relax and clear out my mind. Its a good feeling to me to break a good score with ammo I loaded. I reload cause I like to shoot my shells. So, try it! You wont be out a bunch of money with the Lee, and they make consistant shells. I tend to stock up in the winter when it gets dark out so early.

[quadrafire]

C-Money, that sounds good. I think it will be a fun thing to do with my boy. I have a couple of gift cards that will make the cash outlay minimal.

[C-Money]

Good deal, I think you will have fun. The Lee comes with a ton of bushings and a bushing chart, and re sizer. I am sure you guys will have fun. I try to stick with Remington hulls to reload, the newer Win AA's had some issues with coming apart. Never happend to me, but heard stories around the gun clubs. I load 1 1/8 oz, Rem hulls, gold or green, Rem or Fiocci primers, with Claydot powder and a fig 8 wad. You will have fun sorting threw all the advise you get and you will find a combination of components that works for you. Most of my family is using Promo powder, as it is pretty cheap. Clay dot runs cleaner for me in my 11-87.

[woodswalker]

I have used both the Lee and the MEC, when my son was in the HS trap club we shot about 250 rounds a week apiece and needed to do a lot of loading.

Eventually the Lee gave up under that demand, the MEC is still going after about 4X the round count of the Lee and we are still using it at a lower level.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

Good deal, I think you will have fun. The Lee comes with a ton of bushings and a bushing chart, and re sizer. I am sure you guys will have fun. I try to stick with Remington hulls to reload, the newer Win AA's had some issues with coming apart. Never happend to me, but heard stories around the gun clubs. I load 1 1/8 oz, Rem hulls, gold or green, Rem or Fiocci primers, with Claydot powder and a fig 8 wad. You will have fun sorting threw all the advise you get and you will find a combination of components that works for you. Most of my family is using Promo powder, as it is pretty cheap. Clay dot runs cleaner for me in my 11-87.

Had to have a SKB repaired because of AA's.  Friends dad shoots lot of trap and guys were having similar probs.

I bought a MEC progressive on Ebay a while back.  One of the best investments I made.

[CP]

I have an old MEC but it still gets the job done.  I can load target 12g for about 4 bucks a box which is a little cheaper than I can buy them for.  The real savings comes in loading hunting shells or in loading sub gauge. 

I also stick with Remington hulls only, they are by far the best for reloading.

[C-Money]

In a crunch, I have been known to use my dads Ponsness to crank out a bunch in little time. Mostly I stick with my Lee cause its all I got and it works!

[quadrafire]

Thanks for the input all. I am looking foreward to giving it a whirl.

[uplandhunter870]

give it a shot its quite enjoyable and relaxing, i used to shoot ATA shoots around the state every weekend all summer long and have reloaded somewhere around thousands upon thousands of shotshells and have been through a number of loaders.  i would suggest a MEC, a manual progressive not a 9000G but something like the 650 Grabber, but whatever loader you go with make sure that it has a brass resizer.

follow the suggested loads in the load books, so you dont end up pushing high pressures and do damage.

to answer the AAs question the new AAHS hulls from wincherster require the subsequent AAHS wads, the plastic of the hull is molded differently than the old AAs.

[hookr88]

I have three MEC reloaders in 12 and 20 gauge plus multiple slides and some other components. I'd sell the lot for a reasonable price if you're interested. Just p.m. for more info.

[Jekemi]

Reloading is a blast! Sorry for the pun. I've just started and I also use the Lee Load-All. It works fine. I can see that under heavy reloading demands it might not last as long as a MEC or one of the other high-end brands. Keep in mind, you can get a brand new Lee Load-All for $45. Lee guarantees it for 2 years. If anything breaks within that time under normal use it will be replaced. I can buy 4 or 5 Lee Load-All's for the price of the high end machines. Those machines are great but very spendy.