doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Recipe for begining 28ga reloader

Hi All,

I just purchased my first 28ga, an AyA. I also just purchased a MEC Sizemaster because I want to take up reloading to offset the expensive cost of 28ga shells. I don't really know where to start. I have never reloaded before. I will be almost entirely using the gun for grouse, woodcock, and non competitive clay shooting.

Any help would be appreciated.

John

I recommend you stick with a good hull and other components, and you will get along fine. I like AA hulls (newer type), Winchester 209 primers, new style AA28 wads. I like 13 grains/Unique powder, with 3/4 oz of shot. Other powders that work well are 20/28 and Universal Clays. Get data from the powder manufacturer in their online reloading sites.

Unless you have a stash or a good supply chain of once fired hulls, I recommend you buy a couple flats of new 28 ga. AA shells, then use those hulls.

Be sure you are acquainted with your machine, and understand what's happening at each station. Crimps are often a source of frustration; MEC's troubleshooting section of the operators manual will be useful in these cases.

I also recommend that you install the loader on a bench or sheet of wood that can be clamped to a table or bench. Bolt the loader with wing nuts in large flat pan, such as a flat cake pan, above the wood to catch spills. On spills, it's not "if", but "when". Definitely don't set it up in a carpeted room.

Yes, I also like Unique for my 28 gauge loads
Also, I stay with 3/4 ounce loads.
If I need more shot, I go to a 20 gauge gun.
Mike

John--you picked the right press to begin loading. I'd suggest you buy a flat of Winchester AA 28's and use these as your hulls for reloading after you use them up. They are the very best hulls to reload. Keep it simple. Use Alliant Unique or 20/28 powder and the standard 3/4 oz. load. I like 8's or 8 1/2's for targets. I'd use Winchester 209 primers and factory or Clay Buster HS wads. Buy a powder scale to periodically weigh your powder charge to know exactly what your press is dropping in the hulls. The bushing chart will give you an estimated powder drop, but the bushings usually throw light charges and you may have to go to a higher number bushing to get the correct charge. Take your time and save a bunch of money!!

One good thing for 28ga reloaders, given the ongoing shortages of some brands of powder: Both Unique and 20/28 are still fairly readily available. Agree with the above posters that the AA HS is the best hull.

I have a Mec 9000 with a universal charge bar installed. I find being able to adjust the drop of both powder and the shot without removing the bar a big plus. I weigh
the powder charge each time I start to reload and adjust if necessary. I find it necessary when changing shot size from 8 1/2 to 7 1/2 to readjust the bar. I load longshot powder 14.7 gr and 3/4 oz shot using AAHS hulls and Claybuster 28HS wads and WW209 primers.
.

I'm using this load and it is working well.

AA hull
Red duster 2834
Cheddite primer
Pro reach 16.4
3/4 oz
1300fps
8540 psi

Right out of the manual
Hope this helps,
Bill
ithaca1

I suggest a good reloading manual. Lyman shotgun book is good, I like the BPI Advantages book as it has data for 2.5" shells and ITX shot but does sell it's products. Loadbook 20, 28, 410 has excerpts from most of the individual manuals plus data from powder companies.

Link to Loadbook.

https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!l=LB&i=00003

http://www.loadbooks.com/Store.html

Congratulations on that 28 gauge. AA hulls a must. Wads I used either clay busters or AA. Powder Theres a lot of choices I used 700x and green dot if I ran out of 700x. Follow the manual and measure everything twice.

700x is very fast for a 28ga, sure you don't mean 800x.