28 Gauge Lee Loader

I don't know if they did in the past. There is a good chance that Lee did since they use to make one in 410. According to their website, they currently have no plans on making a 10 gauge, 28 gauge or 410 bore Lee Load All press. They only offer it in 12, 16, and 20 gauge.

I've had good luck with the MEC 600 Jr press for reloading 410 shells.

I think you're asking what the diameter of the sized 28 guage brass should be so you can identify the loader. SAAMI says the range is .626" - 0.009"

https://saami.org/wp-content/upload...-Shotshell-2015-R2019-Approved-2019-04-23.pdf

I have MEC 600jr loaders in 12, 20, and 28 gauges plus .410 bore. I used to shoot all four gauges in competitive skeet. At the time, I was on a budget and I could buy 4 600jr's for less than two of MEC's next level progressive press (650?). Time I had, cash not so much and I could keep up with my shooting with the 600jr's.

The 28 gauge 600jr works well.

Of the four, the .410 bore was the only one that was finicky to operate.

MEC 600jr's can be found used although I am sure the 28 gauge loaders are harder to find. MEC sells the parts to convert a 600jr to a different gauge, but after doing it once, you won't want to do it on a regular basis.

The 600jr is lots better than the Lee Loaders.

Can't go wrong with a MEC 600 Jr press. The only thing my 410 reloader is finicky about is shot bridging in the drop tube, it's just nature of the beast due to the small diameter.

And cfullgraf is correct about not changing a MEC press to different gauges. Everything will have to be readjusted even with just changing the press from one length to another.

cfullgraf said:

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The 600jr is lots better than the Lee Loaders.

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By about 10,000%

12Bravo20 said:

The only thing my 410 reloader is finicky about is shot bridging in the drop tube, it's just nature of the beast due to the small diameter.

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I modified a universal charge bar so that powder cavity was in the middle of the drop chute from the powder reservoir. It made the powder charges more uniform. I used the universal charge bar because I could not get the charge of W296 I wanted with the bushing charge bar. Also, I could dial in the shot charge to the exact weight of 1/2 ounce of #9 shot. Every last pellet is desirable in a skeet load particularly when you are limited to 1/2 oz.

As 12Bravo20 said, the small diameter of the .410 bore hulls made loading difficult. I loaded .410-2-1/2" hulls for skeet exclusively and my cyclic rate was always slower than with the large gauges.

P.S., I'd shoot factory ammunition in tournaments and reloads in practice. Using factory ammunition in tournaments made ammunition inspection easy. The tournament ammunition generated the hulls for practice.

Reloading 28 gauge isn't as finicky as 410. OP, unless you all ready have everything that you need to use a Lee Load All, I would seriously look at the MEC 600 Jr. Another helpful tip is to get one setup in the gauge that you primarily reload and also all ready setup for the length that you shoot most. For the 28 gauge, get a press setup for 2 3/4" shells.

For me, I reload hunting and self defense loads so my 410 MEC is setup for 3" hulls. Cfullgraf shoots skeet so his is setup for 2 1/2" 410 hulls.

If a simple loader exists for 28 ga I haven't found it.. and I really tried before going with the MEC 600 Jr. When I wanted to make 12 ga loads I had a block of wood drilled so that a primer could be punched out. Seating a new one was done the Lee Loader way. Powder, wad, and shot is hand weighed and dropped easily enough. I usually topped them off with hand cut poster board from junk mail after hand trimming the star crimp away and secured with glue (seriously, just buy some overshot cards and wads). Not really worth it unless you want a project but it can be done on the cheap. I would recommend a tool for trimming the cases.

Using a 28 ga. Lee Loader would be like like putting Tiger Paw tires on a Ferarri. At least get a MEC.

skidooman603 said:

I have a vintage set..What would the Inside Diameter be on a 28 Gauge die? Why the Hell didn't Lee mark any of the components to these Loaders? Thanks

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Because a plastic shotgun reloader is basically a throwaway item. My MEC was new in '72, still going strong after many years of leagues and duck and pheasant loads. A Lee loader probably wouldn't have stood up to that kind of use. It is a slightly less annoying way of loading than Lee's Whack-a-Mole metallic reloading setups.

The Whack-a-Mole and shotgun Lee Loader are an inexpensive way to get into reloading. If you have a 28 ga., you probably know there is nothing inexpensive about them.

skidooman603 said:

I fear a few of you may be missing the point of my question..I came across a Lee Loader in a collection a bought. I can't figure out if it is a 28 gauge..Too big for a 410 and too small for a 20 gauge..Just trying to figure out what I have..Thanks Gary

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Well, it that is the case, that would leave the 28 since LEE didn't make a 24 or 32 gauge reloader

skidooman603 said:

I fear a few of you may be missing the point of my question..I came across a Lee Loader in a collection a bought. I can't figure out if it is a 28 gauge..Too big for a 410 and too small for a 20 gauge..Just trying to figure out what I have..Thanks Gary

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Sorry for the misunderstanding. I thought that you were looking to get one, not that you have one.

The downside to your Lee Load All is that the existence of spare parts is going to be slim to none. I don't know if Lee would even have any parts left for the 28 gauge or even 410 loaders. Lee hasn't made either one in quite some time.

Personally, I would opt to sell that and get the MEC IF you plan on loading more than a few boxes a year; because as was mentioned, parts are basically made of unobtanium

I think the OP is talking about the Lee Loader that is a mallet ran operation.

Like this one.



And yes, back then they made 110 different sizes of them including 28ga.



The gauge should be stamped into the wad starter. That's the silver tube 2nd from the bottom.

Oh Geez..............................LOL

A Whack-a-Mole in 28 ga? Set it aside as a memento of times past and get a MEC.

Not everyone needs a Spolar gold for everything. Once I get my progressive shotshell presses rolling I don't like to change things. I'll admit I have a Lachmiller and MEC 600jr for a few odd balls; however, I shoot so few 20ga 3" slugs, the Lee Loader makes sense, for me.

In any case, from reading the OP's post, I can't tell if he even has any intentions of loading shotshells at all, in any gauge.

He's not asking where to buy one or even if he should, just asking about one he already has.

From what I gather he bought a bunch of stuff and has something he thinks might be a 28ga Lee Loader but can't identify what he has, maybe even just for resale.

Instead of telling him I have a Hornady 366 in 28ga I'd sell him that would run circles around the Lee, I just showed him they were made and where the gauge was stamped into the tube. As that was the information he seemed to be in search of.

Do you have photos of what you have?