From: scot@hpfiseh.fc.hp.com (Scot E. Heath)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: 12 gauge reloading (fwd)reply
Date: 29 Jul 92 16:42:16 GMT

In reply to: tiger@vipunen.hut.fi

I reload alot of shells, about 20,000 - 30,000 / year.  As far as equipment
goes, I recommend buying the fastest and most reliable you can afford.

There are three main shot shell reloading equipment manufacturers in the
USA.  They are: MEC, Hornady, and Posness-Warren.  These are listed in
ascending order of cost and quality.

MEC makes the most complete line of loaders.  Posness is high end only and
Hornady currently lists only 2 models, the DL-366 and the APEX-91.

I load with a DL-366 and a MEC-650.  I really like the DL-366, I dislike
the MEC but I only use it for 28 ga. and the volumes are low.  I am very
interested in the APEX-91 as it can be purchased for approx $100.00 new in a
manual advance, bare-bones configuration and then upgraded or can be
purchased new for approx $225.00 in a fully auto advance much like the 366
($225.00 also) with some additional features.

The Posness loaders start in price around $300.00 and go to > $800.00.
There is no doubt that they are the finest loaders made but I have adjusted
them for some of my mechanically challenged friends and the 366 is alot
more user friendly.

The MEC loaders are all stamped sheet metal and in my opinion are not
constructed with as much integrity as the Hornady or the Posness.  They do
offer a wide selection (~$80.00 to $400.00).  My particular dislike with the
650 ($150.00) I have is that the shot drop tube is poorly designed and the
shot will wedge in the tube at a diameter reduction area.  The 12 gauge
loaders will not have this problem.  The physical force require to load with
the 650 is approximately 3X as high as the Hornady.

Ask yourself this when selecting that loader: Including purchasing 500 once
fired hulls at $.04 each, loading 3000 shells will cost around $400.00.  In
only 5 years, the cost of a good loader compared to a cheap loader will be
completely masked by the cost of the components.  Do I want to put up with
a cheap loader? 

The quality of the shells produced is not an issue.  All the loaders will
do approximately the same job.  I have loaded many, many rounds with an old
DL-105 that I bought used for $35.00 and you couldn't tell a shell loaded
with that loader from one loaded with the DL-366.

Now, as far as the hulls go.  Choose only one piece, compression formed
plastic shells.  These are: Winchester AA and Super-X, Remington Peters RXP
or the current equivelant, Federal Gold Medal.  These are the big three in
the US and there may be some others, I just don't know about them.  The
reason a one piece hull is important is to prevent hull/base separation.

I load only AA shells because I have a zillion of them.  I have loaded
Remingtons and Federals and have been satisfied with them but I like
shooting Winchester factory loads and therefore accumulate AA hulls.  I
load 19.5 grains of Winchester Super Target powder, a Windjammer wad, a
Winchester 209 primer and 1-1/8 oz. of either 8 shot (for trap singles) or
7-1/2 shot (for trap handicap).  This load is between the Winchester
published data for a 2-3/4 and 3 dram load and I have chronographed these
shells out of a back bored (.745 diameter) barrel and found them to be
approximately 1240 fps.  The felt recoil is very low compared to a factory
Winchester AA 3 dram load.

This is alot of sketchy info to digest.  If you have any more detailed
questions, blast me some email or post them.

-Scot