Shotgun Reloading

First, Wife shoots a Single Shot 28 ga. and goes through quite a few boxes of shells a month. She and I both love to shoot.

Shells are expensive and not much in the way of choice.

I've never reloaded, but I just read an article in the magazine "Guns of the old west" about using a nail and a dowel to reload one shell at a time. Of course this was for black powder shooting, but I was wondering if it would work for modern powder.

Don't laugh, but I was wondering if anyone loads their shotgun shells this way?

This might have worked, back in the days of the brass shotgun case, but will not fold the crinp on modern plastic shells.

Your best/cheapest option is to search around and pick up a used single stage 28ga loader (usually $35-$50 is the going rate, but 28 ga might be a little higher).

What you need is one of these
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/396803/...-28-gauge-2-3-4

THe ideal thing would be a Lee Load all which you can buy for $50 but I dont know if they even make one in 28ga....but one phone call to Lee will find out!

You can go the hand loading route if you use a roll crimper. They fit in either a hand drill or a drill press. Otherwise, look for a used MEC.

I'd get an MEC.....

That's what I recommend. Picked up a used MEC 9000 12 guage progressive from Elk Castle years ago for 300.00.

A used 28 gauge reloader would be a tall order as they are not nearly as common.

You can hand load with a roll crimper as stated above but those are better off for doing low volume like slug rounds. You seriously need to consider a better way if you want volume.

I would HIGHLY recommend a class or Mentor before doing this as well.

Yeah, not looking for volume. If I could Sit around and load a box an evening, that would be great. In the article I read, he topped off the trimmed shell with paper and a thin coat of Elmer's glue. I'll try and find the article so I can describe it more accurately.

As for crimping, I've seen the antique roll crimper, but not in 28 ga.

My biggest concern was if the dipper method would work with modern powder.

There are roll crimpers that you use with a drill. Look at Ballistic Products, Precision Reloading, or Midway USA and you will see what they look like.

Thanks, I'll take a quick look.

Contact 3-on-8 reloading. I'd bet Josh can get you a MEC single stage pretty easily and inexpensively....everything else you'll need too!

wellskeet@aol.com

Tell him Hopkins recommended you.....

Thanks, I'll check him out

If you know a Skeet Shooter that competes you will have a much better chance of getting a used loader in any of the four gauges
not 16...Sometimes some of us quit and we all pretty much have
MEC loaders which are about a must if you load a lot. The MEC
progressive loaders I have are about $425 ea new, so you can prob
get one used for around $200..and in 28 you'll never wear it out
Don

My neighbor gave me MEC for 12Gauge after I gave him a Rockchucker to get him rolling in metallic loading. The transition to shots hell loading was pretty easy.

the 28ga is a fun one but expensive with factory loads. Part of that is the shells that are made and sold. Compare the shella used by Winchester nd Remington, the 28 Ga they do not make nearly as many shellas as say 20 or 12 Guages. The hulls used are AA hulls in Winchester and Primier in Remington. Usually the harder shot is used makign the available 28 guage loads basically Target loads that also work great for hunting. Compare Winchester AA 20 Guage and 28 Guage shells and they are not as far off from each other in the target loads. that is also part of why 28ga is so effective (better components).

Reloading shot shells with a MEC is not difficult at all, once it is setup setup.