shotshell reloading book?

[BullRunBear]

I haven't reloaded any shotshells for a LONG time and that was on a Lee Load-All. I now have a Mec jr as well but never set it up. Any suggestions for a good handbook on shotshell reloading starting with the basics? I think I had an old Lyman book from 20-plus years ago but lost it to water damage.

Thanks for any help.

Jeff

 

[ReloaderFred]

I consider the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual to be one of the best. It has just about any load recipe you'd want.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[HOWARD J]

I have a number of reload shotshell books
RCBS has a fine book
Lyman
Ballistic products

 

[John3921]

The lyman manual is really good for the "how to's" and basics of reloading and even some help with how to adjust certain presses. I've always relied on the powder mfg.'s load data for actual loads though.

 

[Magnum Shooter]

I consider the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual to be one of the best. It has just about any load recipe you'd want.

And it has step by step instructions for the MEC 600jr.

 

[oneounceload]

There is a Lyman, an ABC and the MEC manual should all give you the basics. It isn't too hard. Deprime in station 1, reprime in station 2, drop powder in 3, insert wad and drop shot in 3, precrimp in 4, final crimp and rolled edge in 5 - on a MEC Jr. it is 6 pulls to make one shell.

The issue becomes finding all of the components for your recipe. With the lack of supplies, you need to be prepared to have several possible loads to make as powder and primers are hard to find. Hulls are readily available, shot is expensive but available and clone wads are everywhere

 

[blarby]

The lyman shotshell book is the primer, for sure.

I recently got a copy of Don Zutz's "handloading for hunters" which would work really well, too. A bunch of OLDE recipes, as well as an explanation of the Berlin- Wannsee method of pattern reading- which every shotgunner should know. I sought out the book specifically for his explanation of it. The book gives a great primer on reloading for the smoothbore, and I cannot stress obtaining a copy of it enough.

His take on shotgun loading is a good one, and the entire book is a great read.

Goes to show that some of the "new" arguments truly are just the "old" arguments given fresh tinder.

 

[MILLERTIME]

The Lyman manual is a must have. As stated above it has a section on MEC reloaders and a wealth of other information.

 

[BullRunBear]

Many thanks for the suggestions. I've ordered the Lyman book, 5th edition, and will keep an eye open for the others. I still have a good supply of primers and powder. Fortunately, the pro shop at our club has plenty of the other components or can get them.

I know I can buy 12 ga target loads cheaper than reloading them but I hate losing the knowledge and skills to roll my own. And if I start hunting again, small game and upland birds, it would be nice to tailor the shells to suit the game. I only use commercial shells in the HD shotgun (liability) and that box will hopefully last a very long time.

Jeff

 

[oneounceload]

I know I can buy 12 ga target loads cheaper than reloading them

I can't. My reloads cost me $3.50 per box. The cheap crap from wally world runs $7.50. Buy components in bulk, powder in 8# jugs, primers by the sleeve of 5000, wads by the case of 5000 and shot by the ton, or at least the hundredweight and reclaimed is even better

 

[plmitch]

My reloads cost me $3.50 per box.

Thats a good price. I'm down to $4.00 a box reloading my own or $6.00 for cheap Big5 junk on sale.

 

[Vol46]

Powder and wad company web sites also are good sources of Shotshell reloading data. Shotgunworld.com has a reloading forum that is a good info source as well.

 

[gamestalker]

I have a few books, but an inexpensive one, and pretty good one, is the "One Book, One Caliber" book. It covers just about everything out there, just make sure you are getting a fairly recent edition.

GS

 

[HOWARD J]

I have a number of old books I still use---checking my skeet/trap shells I still have about 2000 reloaded.
one of my old favorites:
Win AA HS OR ORIGINAL red/grey hull
Win 209 primer
Win WAA 12 wad
18 GR RED DOT POWDER
1 1/8 OZ # 8 SHOT

 

[oneounceload]

With the price of lead today, try dropping down to 7/8oz with the same recipe - your shoulder and wallet will thank you. @ 1-1/8, you get 355 per bag, @ 1, you get 400, @ 7/8 you get 457. @3/4 - which is what I load for practice, I get 533, or over 7 boxes more shells to shoot. It pays to drop that heavy shot charge down to a lesser one.

 

[BullRunBear]

Managed to find a copy of "Handloading for Hunters" for a few bucks. Another good source that covers the basics. It's helping to jog my old memories.

Jeff

 

[oldreloader]

With the price of lead today, try dropping down to 7/8oz with the same recipe - your shoulder and wallet will thank you. @ 1-1/8, you get 355 per bag, @ 1, you get 400, @ 7/8 you get 457. @3/4 - which is what I load for practice, I get 533, or over 7 boxes more shells to shoot. It pays to drop that heavy shot charge down to a lesser one.

what he said!!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Many thanks for the suggestions. I've ordered the Lyman book, 5th edition, and will keep an eye open for the others. I still have a good supply of primers and powder. Fortunately, the pro shop at our club has plenty of the other components or can get them.

I know I can buy 12 ga target loads cheaper than reloading them but I hate losing the knowledge and skills to roll my own. And if I start hunting again, small game and upland birds, it would be nice to tailor the shells to suit the game. I only use commercial shells in the HD shotgun (liability) and that box will hopefully last a very long time.

Jeff

Jeff,
Lyman 5th Edition is a very good choice. I was going to suggest it but I see you already have it coming...

 

[gamestalker]

THE FOLLOWING RECIPE MAY NOT BE A PUBLISHED LOAD AND IS ALSO LIKELY PRODUCING WELL ABOVE RECOMMENDED PUBLISHED PRESSURES.

Howard J's recipe is also one of my longest used loads for both clays, dove and quail, since 1980. But with one small exception. I use Red Dot & #36 powder bushing, which produces some very stout 1-1/8 oz. high velocity bird shot loads. This is the only recipe I use that isn't likely a published recipe, which isn't recommended unless you have experience tweaking shot shell recipe's.

As for setting up and using a 600 Jr. I don't think any other loader is easier to master than the 600 Jr is. I'm sure there is a You Tube video that shows you how to get things going.

GS

 

[oneounceload]

Without a scale, using a bushing is meaningless as MEC bushings are NEVER accurate for powder drops. There are too many factors like using a baffle or not, temp and humidity, how you work the machine and the vibration you get, etc.

 

[blarby]

Managed to find a copy of "Handloading for Hunters" for a few bucks.

Enjoy !