While I've done lots of varied shotgunning,I never got around to reloading my own shells. For much of the last quarter century, the Govt bought me ammo and paid me to shoot it,and I had some buddies that reloaded 12 ga and we exchanged field and target loads for my shotguns for the Metallics I loaded, including 30-06,303 Brit, 7X57, and handgun ammo. Lately, the friend and neighbor that has been mentoring me at trap has made me lots of reloads, but I've been imposing on him and it's been time to learn how to do this.
Considering that I'm not mechanically gifted nor experienced, I approached this slowly and carefully. Then, a note went up on the Bulletin Board for the clays range I go to for a used MEC 600, at a good price. A little research, and a query on a trap BB convinced me this was a good deal.
A few dollars later,it was mine.It came with a scale,extra bushings, charge bars,references books, and enough components for a case or two of 3 dr, 1 1/8 oz size 8 trap loads of commensurate quality to the ones made by my friend.
Set up took an hour or so, checking the powder and shot drops took a few minutes, and then slow and careful, I started making ammo.
For those that may not know, the MEC 600 is a single stage press, has been around since the early 60s at least, and will turn out ammo as long as you can.
So as of the moment, I've loaded up about 100 rounds, w/o busting into a sweat, a box as a time. Shot some off and scored my average at trap.
Once I shoot up these components, I'll back off to a light practice round for economy, a 1 oz, 2 3/4 gr load of 8s. At this point, payoff period for this equipment I acquired at a very good price is going to be less than two months.
IOW, by getting lucky on used equipment,I'm set up to make my own ammo and save money for the price of two cases of AAs. I'm shooting about a case a week, so do the math(G)....
Questions, comments, donations?
Considering that I'm not mechanically gifted nor experienced, I approached this slowly and carefully. Then, a note went up on the Bulletin Board for the clays range I go to for a used MEC 600, at a good price. A little research, and a query on a trap BB convinced me this was a good deal.
A few dollars later,it was mine.It came with a scale,extra bushings, charge bars,references books, and enough components for a case or two of 3 dr, 1 1/8 oz size 8 trap loads of commensurate quality to the ones made by my friend.
Set up took an hour or so, checking the powder and shot drops took a few minutes, and then slow and careful, I started making ammo.
For those that may not know, the MEC 600 is a single stage press, has been around since the early 60s at least, and will turn out ammo as long as you can.
So as of the moment, I've loaded up about 100 rounds, w/o busting into a sweat, a box as a time. Shot some off and scored my average at trap.
Once I shoot up these components, I'll back off to a light practice round for economy, a 1 oz, 2 3/4 gr load of 8s. At this point, payoff period for this equipment I acquired at a very good price is going to be less than two months.
IOW, by getting lucky on used equipment,I'm set up to make my own ammo and save money for the price of two cases of AAs. I'm shooting about a case a week, so do the math(G)....
Questions, comments, donations?