whats a good shotshell reloading press?

S

skidooracer_99

New member
now that i feel ive mastered rifle reloading, im gonna take up shotshell reloading. what would be a good shotshell press to start out with. price not being an issue, i just wanna buy the best product thats out there and get it done right the first time. what have you found to be the easiest to work with, sturdiest, most user friendly, just all around best press? and what are some of the better shot shell reloading manuals to grab too? i'll prob get 2 different ones.
 
Hate to jerk ya to reality but mastering reloading....lol maybe a firm understanding but master is a strong word....ps just messin with you
 
Have ran a lot of hulls through my MEC 650 Grabber. never have regretted it (may have yearned for a Posness or Pacific, but that was so long ago). It will turn out a lot of shells in a very limited amount of time. If you do decide on a MEC Progressive stay away from the universal charge bar(TROUBLE) stick to the sized bars and bushings. Lyman has a good shotshell manual, also look to the powder manufacturers for free data on their websites.
 
Last edited:
If you are reloading shotgun shells for hunting a Mec Sizemaster is all you need.

I have a Mec 600 Jr that I use for my hunting loads. I also have a Mec Grabber that I use for my target loads.
 
If you want the best that's easy you need a Spolar Gold. I have 2 Ponsness Warren 800 Plus's they are very nice and about half the price of a
Spolar. I like the PW but if you want the best spend the money and get the Spolar.
 
Once set up and ready to load I can do about 100rds an hour on my Sizemaster.
A buddy of mine has a air operated I think Posness sure cranks out the rds per hr.
I only shoot about 200rds a month so the Sizemaster fits my needs if I shot more I would like something a little faster and automatic.
The Sizemaster resizes the hulls other Mecs do not do it without a seperate step on another machine, Might or mightnot be a issue if you shoot an autoloader or reload hulls from the trap range etc.
Mec also makes a universal chargebar which is probably better in the longrun if your going to load alot of different loads instead of buying seperate bushings.
 
After rereading some of the other post I see someone else posted to stay away from the universal charge bar, I dont know if that is specific to there autmoatic machines or in general.
I have not had issue with the universal in mine you might want to research further to see if others have had problems.
The one issue I have had with my Sizemaster is the auto primer feed I know its a issue so I just keep an eye on it and watch to make sure a primer has been dropped in the primer station.
 
Seeing as money is not a issue for you I would go for the Gold and spend $3000 get the hydraulic.

I spent around $90 on my Sizemaster at the time which is about what I could afford.
 
I have a hornady 386 (I think? :/) that I picked up used. It was all ready set up for the load I shoot so I didn't have to make any adjustments. Thus, I can't comment on that. It is a decent progressive press and puts out rounds pretty quickly. The only downside is it is very sensitive to having shot spilled. If you bump it and spill shot anywhere you have to pull the plate off and clean every little hole out.
 
I own 3 different MECs and have never had a complaint from the Jr. To the progressive. The RCBS Grand looks nice but have never used one.
 
Unless you are going to have a NEED for 1000's of rounds weekly, save yourself some $$$ and get a MEC 600Jr. It will load most anything that you're going to need, is sturdy, gives little problems, is easily adjusted, and parts are readily available from the mfgr. (although you'll probably never need them) My son is shooting over 15,000 rounds/yr and I am loading on 3 different 600s. I load 20ga, 28ga, and 410. None are a problem. I do spend some time at the reloading table, but I enjoy it and have never had to "hurry" to keep my son in ammo. Actually, at 100 rounds/hr that's only 3 hours a week ... and that's for 15,000 rounds a year.
wink.gif


As for adjust-ability, I am using the adjustable charge bars on all 3 presses, and have had zero problems. They adjust easily, and are FAR easier than stocking charge bars & bushings, and you can dial them in for the exact weight you want. I highly recommend them.

Originally Posted By: 3807patriot
The Sizemaster resizes the hulls other Mecs do not do it without a seperate step on another machine, Might or mightnot be a issue if you shoot an autoloader or reload hulls from the trap range etc.

Bad info. The 600Jr sizes. It isn't the collet sizer found on the Sizemaster, but it does the job very well. Never had a FTF problem with rounds from the 600.
wink.gif

 
Maybe the universal charge bar has improved. But I know when I gave it a try back in the early 90's, all it did was hang up. It actually became a burden watching it and forcing it. I will say that it may function better with a ball or cylinder grain powder. I use flake and it was always getting between it and the machine. Also had the ocassional shot shear / hang-up. The bars with bushings have functioned flawlessly for me. Just have to listen for the bar to function.

Changing the bars and bushing is not a difficult process, fact is once your set up it is unlikely you do a lot of changing. The bar determines the volume of the shot loadand the bushings determine the powder volume.
Example - I like 1 1/4 oz of shot (4 for pheasent, 6 for quail, 7 1/2 for dove) so I do not change bars and unless I am forced to change powders (due to availibity) I do not change bushings.
 
No, they haven't improved. Still the same old bar. Some reloaders have a little "hang" with them initially. Nothing that a little sandpaper or SctothBrite pad won't fix. It's worth the initial "adjustment" to have them on my machines.

One of the MAIN things that I like about the UCB is the fact that MEC bars usually throw a lighter shot charge than what is marked on the bar. Especially with mid-size to larger shot.

I'm not saying that the UCB is the way for everyone to go. They're like everything else ... to each his own.
wink.gif
thumbup1.gif

 
Originally Posted By: bigwheelerPonsness Warren http://www.reloaders.com/


I bought a used one years ago. The new ones are even better. Just about
commercial.

I had the same brand and it was a great solid press and easy to use. One thing I really liked about it were the shot and powder bushings and how easy they were to change.

DAB
 
Hornady 366 Auto, great press. Loaded a bazillion rounds over the years for dove and quail. Trying to sell it now, just don't shoot much shotgun anymore.
 
I would go with any of the MEC presses.

Have been using them for years and I am currently setup with 2 9000s. I too use a UCB and have yet to run into a problem.

If you're only going to load a few hundred shells a year, go with a single stage. If you're going to be competing and going through several hundred a week, go progressive.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top