Home Forums Reloading Shotshells Want to reload for 1 shotgun - which gauge or bore?

So like most of you I have several shotguns. I only want to invest in 1 reloading setup.

- Not a trap or skeet shooter

- Waterfowl, upland & small game hunting

- Preparedness for the future

Any advice on which SINGLE setup you’d choose - please be specific. I’ve got experience with the MEC JR. and no others but am a very avid rifle reloader/shooter so am familiar with the effort

12 ga. would be my choice. MEC press of your choice.

I’m thinking same - thanks NV!

Instead of the Mec Jr I'd go with a size master to assure that any pick up hulls will function properly. The Jr only sizes the brass and the Size master will will do the rim also.

You didn't say if you want to reload one or multiple gauges of shotshells. Unlike rifle and pistol reloading, shotgun presses are not easy to change the dies and other parts to reload different gauges. I think that just about everyone that reloads multiple gauges has a reloader for each gauge.

Single stage reloaders, like the Mecs mentioned above, are the least expensive and are fine for most shotgunners that only reload for hunting.

Fifty years ago when I started shotgun reloading I started with a 12 gauge Bair single stage press. That press is still on my bench for reloading hunting shells. When I got into Trap shooting I bought a Pacific 366 progressive reloader for my 12 gauge competition shooting. Then when I got into Skeet shooting I bought 3 additional Hornady 366 reloaders for my 20 and 28 gauge and .410 bore shooting.

for what you're doing a Mec SizeMaster would be my choice.

I have multiple presses, multiple gauges. If I could only have one, it would be the MEC 9000 in 12 gauge with the Steelmaster a close runner up. The taper crimp at the 6th station is worth the extra cost of the 9000. I normally disconnect the linkage on the 9000 and spin the the carriage by hand. You can pull hulls at any of the first three stations to do work that is generally best done on a MEC Jr.

I can load steel and tungsten on the 9000 as easily as I can on the MEC JR.

MEC 9000

Thank you fellas. Looking at Mec 9000 & size master.

Sizemaster or 600 jr , 9000 is great until it ain't then it's a fugging bish. Kiss principle
You said in the. op that you don't need the volume because you don't shoot trap or skeet . I stand on my recommendation. Mb

Roger that M_B. Plus could save a few bucks

Last couple of 600 jr's I bought used for 50 each these days I don't know. A guy can find bars and bushings everywhere for them. I bought about all mine used over the years I keep 1 12 ga.set up all the time with 1 oz loads and 1 for 7/8 oz. and 1 for 1 1/8 oz you buy a 600 jr new and holy tits they are up to $230. Take your time and find a used one. These young guys today all think their time is to valuable to load their own ammo.
Another thing the Ithaca 37 pump gun has a real tight diameter magazine ring in the receiver if I was loading for a 37 I would get the sizemaster and its collet sizer. Mb

MEC is hard to beat, but I would get one that resizes the brass like a Sizemaster, or Grabber, or 9000.
If you go with a Jr, I would get a separate Sizer. If you use any hulls that were not fired in your gun they may or may not chamber very well.

Agree.

Mec Sizemaster. If you shoot 16 gauge that is what I would load for . Not much load variety available in factory shells in that gauge. I load 20,28,16 and short 12's . My 12 and 28 gauge loaders are 650's and Jr's . My 16 is a Sizemaster and I have a 9000 in 20 gauge .

I would reload for 12. Many options in loads to do anything you want. The Mecs` are great. I also invested in a Universal Charging Bar..hell of a lot easier to set up, and no bushings to fool with. I do check both charge & shot weight before loading, tho the guide that comes with the bar is close.
Also, shooting one gun that fits and hits where your looking can`t be under estimated...I`ve done, and am done, with the multiple gun/gauge thing.
Good luck.

Not to derail the original question but what brands of hulls need rim resizing on a regular basis? Just about all my loading is done on 600 jr's. I can't remember in the last10-20 years any hull getting an enlarged rim. Just asking so I know which to avoid.

I'd get a MEC Grabber in the ga of your choice. I have one in 16 ga...love it. Have 4 other presses in the other gauges...all MEC 9000Gs that I have disconnected the auto-advance/gas piston on like Hal4son above mentions. This in essence turns them into a Grabber. If buying new, the Grabber saves you $ or the 9000G.

Good luck with it!

Rim resizing.......Unnecesary. Doesn't happen in a Sizemaster anyway. There is a relief groove in the collet to accomodate the rim which could be mistaken for a sizing feature. I have Grabbers, a 9000, a Junior, and a Hydraulic Hustler. If you like to have toys, get what ever trips your trigger. If you are loading a few boxes of hunting shells, get a Junior from Ebay. Beware the idiots who think they are worth several hundred dollars. You can check condition by looking for worn paint in the areas the shell slides on.


HM

It's not the brand of hull that needs resizing, it is the shotgun that requires it. I have a couple of sxs that need the rim resized on fired hulls or they won't chamber. I believe these were all set up to shoot brass hulls. I run all my hulls through a Mec super sizer then I never have problems