Anyone reloading their own steel shot? Thinking about buying a press to give me something to do during the off season.

Ive bought a couple of books on reloading steelshot and have read them.

Fixing to bite the bullet on a press and was curious as to what some of ya'll are using or recommend.

Me and my dad reload with MEC reloaders. We have a 6 stage 20ga. and a 6 six stage 12ga. But we have only reloaded lead.

I would like to get into reloading some hot loads in steel shot and hevi shot.

I would say MEC reloaders. Anyone else?

Seeing how most count the shot anyhow, a Mec Jr should be all one really needs from what I understand.

Here's a load I was given a few years back and had a friend load up.

3" Activ hull
Win 209 primer
40grs Steel
3" rsi shot cup
1/8 filler wad
70 BBB by count

Velocity 1640fps


This puffed them snows nicely in Mo. Been thinking of how it might work with 2s or 3s.

Mec 600 jr. loader
1 1/8 oz. steel shot bar #4's or 6's
40A mec powder bushing
Alliant Steel powder
Fed 209A primers
Fed Gold Medal Hulls 2 3/4
Precision reloading TUPRW12 wads

Have been loading this for a couple years now killed everything from teal to big honkers with no problems

This is a good tread topic !!!! I try to pick-up all mines hulls after a shoot ..... don't matr where I'm at !!! It would be nice to re-load ifin' it's cost effective !!!! Long time ago fellers did .... but it finally gots 'bout as cheap to buy yore shotshells.

I agree..... Shells are going to get outrageously expensive. I have heard that reloading your own steel can cut down cost by 2/3's.

Plus you know what your getting in your shells.

For example. I shoot Fiocchi's. Its a good quality shell. Pellets are smooth, round and no burs. Now on the other hand, open up a Winchester Expert..... Wow is all i can say. Out of round pellets, burs like whoa, and it looks like there are about 2 or 3 different shot sizes in one shell.

I think i will buy a reloader for steel just so i know what im getting out of a shell, like i said before. Plus you have choices as to what kind of load you want. There are a bunch of recipes out there for all sorts of loads.

I dont reload shootgun shells but I do roll my own rifle bullets.I will agree it will get expensive in the near future to buy shells or rifle bullets.I just bought 500 rounds of federal gold metal match in 308 just for the cases and have enough componets to build about 3000 rounds.

dont bes hating on them xperts ... i've shot the chit out of some birds with them shells and they cheap too.......

Mitschke why buy another reloader for steal. Id use the loaders you already have.

Well with the new OBAMMA system they are trying to pass, by 2011 you will have to turn in all your unused ammo so no need to stock up and reloading will be illegal I heard. Can only have coded ammo in your possesion from what I understood.
Hope it doesn't happen. I can't see turning in my ammo to be destroyed that I bought with my own money.

You can also buy an adapter kit to turn that 2 3/4" into 3"

Ohhh really???

Hummmmm

Well School me on using that reloader i have to reload steel. What would be required to do it?

I bought me a cheap LEE load all to see if its actually worth my while. Havent loaded anything yet, but figure Ill start with some dove loads, then move up to some duck loads.

Get a MEC, and check eBay, there is a ton of reloading chit on there real reasonable!!

that weldin slag did good enough for me ........

Yea, I reload everything from 9mm, 38, 357, 40 S&W, 44, 45, 243, 270 abd '06 as well as 12 in both lead and steel!

For the 12 I use MEC Sizemaster with the steel conversion for loading steel shot! I get most of my supplies from Ballistic Products and follow thier recipies. Stopped a few years ago tho when Kent came out with 3 inch loads right at the same speed I was pushing mine!

kent, expert, and estate or junk when it comes to the pellets inside, but i aint gonna lie if you can shoot it dont matter.


grew up reloading when family hunted every damn morning of the season got out of it, but now with the price of shells going up bout time to dust of the tools and go back to work.

but what go me the worst was when lead jumped from like 3.50 a box up to around 6.......there was no more going shoot 2-3 cases a week anymore

Always wondered what mixin some of dat lead in wit da steel would do, or ifin you could even do it????