doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Getting Started Reloading

Reloading 2 1/2" is quite simple to the point I don't even bother with 2 3/4 for those so chambered. Lots of good info here. One thing about roll crimps which I use for waterfowl and predator loads is that they are pretty much a onetime deal as the mouth of the hull is damaged enough that crimping it again is difficult without spending time trying to reform them, which makes usually free (from trap range dumpster) very attractive for roll crimping. Fold crimp shells can be re-used quite often.

Roll crimped waterfowl loads in Euro hulls cut to 2 1/2"


As for brass re-sizing the Mec 600 will re-size the brass part of the hull but not the rim. Numerous reloads will increase the size of the rim especially if you set the sizing ring on the Mec too deep and pancake the rim. A Mec Super Sizer or a Mec 700 with the Super Sizer built in will solve the problem. I will say that it was 50 yrs of reloading shotshells before I invested in a Super Sizer and there were times before the Super Sizer that I bought shot by the ton. My wife and I were shooting leagues five nights a week and tournaments on the weekend.

Short shell kit on a Mec 600, If your handy they can be easily made at home but are cheap enough that I find it easier to buy them. The black plate on the base to the left of the post.

Chantry limited ( I hope) his watching TV while trimming hulls. Watching TV, chatting with a buddy, or listening to a game on the radio while reloading, especially weighing powder, is a surefire way to double load or worse and screw the pooch and pay a bad price. Gil

I too trim hulls for shot shells, even prep brass for my rifles in the living room in front of the TV, having face time with my wife or even sharing a scotch with her. Any par of reloading that I can do outside of the loading room I do. These are idiot jobs that you can hardly screw up but doing them in the presence of my wife keeps her happy as I'm not spending ALL my time in the shop.

I only watch TV when trimming the hulls and double charging on a Lee Load All is difficult to do and very obvious when done (you get powder and shot mixed together).

Hi and welcome to the wonderful world of shotshell reloading! It can be a lot of fun and a lot of trial and error. Couple of suggestions.

First, BPI has some nice products, but stay away from their manuals. The data they published can be very sketchy. Stick to Lymans 5th or the powder manufactures load data. They have been tested. BPI is done using a computer program IIRC.

Second, if you want some great info on reloading here's the place to go to:

https://www.shotgunworld.com/forums/shotshell-reloading.13/

Tons of great info and folks who will help you out.

Third, you can shoot 2 3/4" in a 2 1/2" chamber. Sherman Bell has done extensive testing in his articles, "Finding Out For Myself" published in the DG Journal. Do a search on this forum or Google it.

Good luck, have fun and take your time!

Best Wishes on your success

Greg

Thanks for all of the input gents!