doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Reloading 16 ga.

I've loaded rifle ammo for a long time, but never loaded shotgun shells. Any advice on how/where/what to get started would be appreciated.

MEC is supposed to be kinda the standard reloader, right? Which model is better for a beginner?

You will stay out of trouble with a MEC 600 Jr. It's cheap, does a good job, simple to run, but a bit slow.
bill

The Mec 600 junior is the most recommended loader for a beginner.
It's easy to use and the directions that come with it are easy to follow.
You can get the recipies you need from the Alliant website www.alliant.com or the Hogdgdon websit www.hodgdon.com. The recipe I use for 16 gauge is 1 ounce of shot with the Winchester 209 primer Winchester AA hull, the Claybuster AA clone and 19 grains of Universal Clays powder. The AA hull would be hard to find but other hulls work with the printed recipe for your selected hull.
Pete

You didn't mention whether you were reloading for 2 3/4" hulls or 2 9/16" hulls.
If you get the Mec 600 jr. you will like it, easy to use and the ones made now are fool proof, meaning that the slide bar can only be pushed one way. There is a metal bar that prevents the charge bar to move except when it is called for.

If you join the 16 Ga. Reloaders Society and then join the 16 Ga. Reloaders Group the cost was $40.00 for both and that is a one time deal. There are so many loads to pick from and great information as well. http://www.16ga.com/home/home.html

Finding hulls is another story, forget the Winchester AA, not around any more. You could use the Remington Gun Clubs, black hull or I was using Ballistics Products , their 16 ga. Cheddite hulls that are 2 9/16" and already primed with Cheddite primers, but I see that they don't carry them anymore.
Either Grafs or Ballistics Products carry 2 3/4" hulls and Ballistics Products has one 16 ga. 8mm brass that is 2 9/16". These are red in color, the others were yellow and a decent shell to reload. I use a Mec 600 Jr. for the 2 9/16" hulls but I roll crimp them, so the last two stages, start crimp and final crimp are left out.

Gene,
If you have one 16 gauge to load for, you need not be concerned with case resizing. With one gun, the chamber of the shotgun does all the re-sizing you need. The Mec 600-650 Jr. series are fine for all your reloading needs. You won't need progressive shell loading or case resizing capabilities. 16 and 28 are the most economical gauges to reload because of the dearth and expense of 16 and 28 gauge factory loads.

Google 16 gauge society and sign up at the site; a bunch of friendly folks with plenty of reloading information. If you have a short-chambered shotgun, you might want low pressure loads. There is a group that tests those loads and info on joining it is at the 16 gauge society forum. PM will be sent to you soon.
Gil

I've got both short chambers and long chamber 16 ga. I was hoping the press would accomodate both, but seems like it won't.

Actually the MEC 600 Jr can be pretty easily set up to switch between 2-1/2" and 2-3/4" in 16 ga. (or 12 or 20, for that matter). MEC sells what they call a "short kit" which is basically a spacer that fits under the shell plate. I've been doing this for years and I'd be happy to advise, as I'm sure would most of the folks a in the 16 ga loaders group mentioned above.

I use a MEC 600 Jr. machine. I reload the old compression formed Winchester/Western hulls with a Winchester 209 primer, 20.5 grains of WSF, nowadays the CB-16 clone of the old WAA-16 wad, and one ounce of shot. I load the purple Federal hulls with a Winchester 209 primer, American Select powder, the DR-16 wad and 7/8 ounce of shot. I don't remember the exact amount of American Select as I'm at our place in Kodiak for a while and away from my reloading materials. I really love the 7/8 ounce load, and I'm amazed how long thos Federal purple hulls last. For short chamber guns I use RST factory loads.

Gene I have a similar Versa-Mec set up for Short 16 Gauge Shells, and I use them in both my Short Chambered and Long Chambered guns, for Upland Game and Targets I don't believe I give up anything with Short Shells.

Set the press up for 2 3/4 inch hulls.

THEN

You can use the 600 JR with out die adjustment for 2 1/2 inch hulls
if you will take a penny and epoxy it in the middle of a quarter.
Use the 26 cents, penny down in the crimp starter and final crimp stations under the hull.
Only thing needing change is the shot and powder stuff.
Done.

Mike