Shotshell Reloading

[Zombie1978]

What kind of reloafing setup does everyone use? I reload for rifle now and am thinking of getting into reloading for my shotgun. Thinking of trying the Lee Load All to see if I like it.

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[deadbuck]

Are you going to load lead and steel, or TSS? I have A Load all and it works fine in a low volume setting. If loading tss a load all is useless.

[Zombie1978]

Mostly just lead and steel for now.

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[S.C.C]

Mec jr's is what I use for 12 and 20ga. 2 3/4" tried the load all at first but it didn't impress!

[BandedSpur]

MEC Jr for lead and steel. No press needed for TSS. You will tire of using the Lee very quickly. Get a MEC.

[wvmntnhick]

My buddy still uses a Lee loadall and pumps out some pretty good volume. I've not used it and when I'd considered buying one, found a used mec for less than the Lee unit. I've got 4 of them now (410, 2-20's and a 12) and love them. Well, haven't used the 410 yet but impressed with the others so far.

[2gbl]

I don't reload shotgun but like everyone else I am considering it.  Is the reason you don't need a press due to the fact that you are starting with new primed hulls and roll crimping? Also, I see that some loads are finished with roll crimping.  Could this same load be crimped if I had a press?

Thanks
2gbl

[BandedSpur]

I don't reload shotgun but like everyone else I am considering it.  Is the reason you don't need a press due to the fact that you are starting with new primed hulls and roll crimping? Also, I see that some loads are finished with roll crimping.  Could this same load be crimped if I had a press?

Thanks
2gbl

You are correct about why you don't need a press to load TSS. The answer to your second question is, it depends. To roll crimp a shell, you need 1/4" of hull above the OSC. To fold crimp a shell, you need at  least 5/16". Some loads that end up with more than 1/4" of hull above the OSC that are roll crimped are trimmed so that there is only 1/4". Those loads are good candidates for fold crimping; just don't trim. Other loads are slap full, leaving only 1/4" above the OSC; those could not be fold crimped. The thickness of the OSC comes into play as well. Some 12 ga loads use clear plastic frangible OSCs that are a lot thicker than the thin cardboard OSCs used in all other gauges.

[turkeyinstrut]

I don't reload shotgun but like everyone else I am considering it.  Is the reason you don't need a press due to the fact that you are starting with new primed hulls and roll crimping? Also, I see that some loads are finished with roll crimping.  Could this same load be crimped if I had a press?

Thanks
2gbl

When loading TSS if the recipe calls for a roll crimp then that is what you really should use, fold crimps raises pressures and a lot of the recipes are near maximum on PSI anyway and roll crimping is very easy to do and looks great and feeds well in pumps or semi's.

[Bowguy]

Imo the Mec is a better system. As guys stated if you're looking to load tss for Turks and the recipe calls for roll crimps or something do what it says same as rifle.