Used shotgun Shells???

I have 2 MEC Jr's - of it wasn't for the progressives I have had (and have) through the years, the 12 gauge would have almost 250,000 through it

In actuality, it has about 50K and nothing has been replaced.

Used, these are 50-75 bucks on your local internet "for sale " ads or Craig's List.

Shoot 4 boxes a week, they pay for themselves in less than 6 months
 
reloading

If you want to try reloading - just to get a sense of how things go together and how they work, go to Ebay and buy an old "Lee Loader" kit in 12 gauge.
Cost...anywhere from $10 to $40. Load data from various manufacturers of powder is available online.
Pete
 
I've been reloading metallic cartridges since the '80s but only started reloading shotshells about a year ago.

Almost everyone uses the MEC. Occasionally you see a deal on a used one but a new MEC Jr. is less than $160 from Midway USA. You can pay more but unless you are going through lots of shells the MEC Jr. is fine.

For metallics, you have to buy the press and dies separately. You might have to add a shellholder or shellplate as well. With the MEC, you buy the press in the desired gauge and it is ready to go right out of the box.

The savings depends on the type of shell you load. I don't know if I'd save much money trying to duplicate the bulk pack sport loads. I use my MEC mostly to load very light target loads (similar to the low noise-low recoil factory loads that are pretty pricey) and I save a good bit of money.

When I do buy factory shells I usually buy Winchester AAs. Good quality hulls for reloading. When I shoot the cheaper stuff with ridged hulls I just throw those away.
 
The savings depends on the type of shell you load. I don't know if I'd save much money trying to duplicate the bulk pack sport loads. I use my MEC mostly to load very light target loads (similar to the low noise-low recoil factory loads that are pretty pricey) and I save a good bit of money.
Click to expand...

Lead becomes the deciding factor lately.

I can reload 12 gauge for right at $3.50 per box. The bulk promo stuff is $5.50, and the Federal target loads at wally world are $4.77 (go figure).

If I shot sporting clays 1/month, then the time and equipment would not be worth the cost; but depending on the weather, I can shoot 2-3X/week - THAT makes it worthwhile
 
I personally made a belt out of my shells. I also made necklaces for my two kids. However, they are two years and twelve years, so they thought that was the coolest thing ever. I like the idea of using them for Christmas decorations.
 
As soon as I get some time between work and school...il get started on that table and try to figure out how to post pictures online.

Reloadin sounds pretty fun even if it dont save me money...would just seem pretty cool so i might look into them MEC presses yall are talkin about.
 
I also like jcHigginsgrl's idea...I got some tangled up fishin line in my truck so il take some of that and make somthin for my little sister. Shes 9 so not sure if she will like it, but we will see
 
An Idea i got from here, Kraigwy, I think, Is to drill out the primer and you have a muzzle cleaning rod guide....that's a use for one or two LOL
 
Well i ended up riggin up some lights with the shells that I had, since its close to the christmas n all.
Dont have time right now for the table but i still plan on doing that, anyway, here are some pics of what i did.. sorry bout the poor pic quality, i have a crappy phone


IMG00608-20111202-1649.jpg


IMG00611-20111205-0046.jpg


IMG00613-20111205-0048.jpg

It looks way cooler in person, trust me..
 
Well i ended up riggin up some lights with the shells that I had, since its close to the christmas n all.
Dont have time right now for the table but i still plan on doing that, anyway, here are some pics of what i did.. sorry bout the poor pic quality, i have a crappy phone







It looks way cooler in person, trust me..
Click to expand...

that is hella kewl... just had to throw that in, sorry...
as far as re-loads, I think it's just a mental thing with me but I'd be scared poo-less shooting re-loads in my shotgun, IDK why, I haven't heard good or bad of it but it's just the thought in my mind. brass... no worries but plastic shells and I'm un-easy...
 
thanks TX_Q

I saw that chair too, and my dad wants somthin like it to put in his garage so might have to do that for em. Pretty easy as well, just need to find the right diam. drill bit
 
Heh, I woulda if i had a 28 gauge... i have 12 and 20 gauge shotguns, and our 20 gauge shells are yellow so didnt go with christmas very good.. the red are winchester and the green were remington
 
I can reload 12 gauge for right at $3.50 per box.
Click to expand...

Tell me more about that. I can do that only because I am making my own shot.
How much shot are you buying - gotta be bulk - to get the lead costs down.
Nowadays for the small user....costs for components are about:
Primers - bought 5K at a time - .04 each
Powder - Alliant Promo @ 18 grs per shell ($90 for eight pounds) - .03 each.
Wads - (where to buy bulk) buy a bag of 500 = .02 each
Lead shot - best price I have found for the casual loader is $39 for 25lbs. That is 400 one ounce loads per bag = 10 cents each.
Totals up to .19 each or $4.75 per box.
And your time. And equipment.
Pete
 
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