I have a mec steelmaster. I hand weigh my powder and my goose loads I use a empty primer tray just tape over half the amount of the holes for the right amount of shot. On my duck loads I use the shot bar. If you load any hevishot you HAVE to weigh each shot charge. Ballistic Products has good reloading manuals and components. Bit of advise<do not use any information unless you see it directly out of a reloading manual and do not try to tweak any loads as it could cost you or your buddys life>steel shot and hevishot are very sensitive to small changes in the load and you could send the pressures through the roof.
Which Reloader should I buy
Hi, I need some help in buying a 10 Gauge reloader for Waterfowl hunting. I have reloaded a few shells but only have a limited amount of knowledge about it. I am also interested in reloading some of the alternative non toxic shot thats out. Even loads that most of you use are welcome. Just the idea of making your own loads, for hunting especially, is rewarding. Any help is appreciated
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tengoose I have a few questions for ya. First, do you have problems crimping your 10 Gauge loads with your steelmaster? I think somebody said something to the extent of that a while back. Also, what do you mean when you say, hand weigh your powder. Also the primer tray. How do you figure this? I'm probably being an idiot I just don't understand. How do you weigh your shot charges too? Last but definitely not least, I should have been more specific when I said "most of the loads everyone uses". I agree with ya 110% when ya say if it ain't in the book, don't use it. I reload my own rifle ammo, and thats a bit different in many ways than shotshells. But, most of the basics are the same. Thanks, and sorry for machine gunnin' ya all those questions. Now that I said that, what kind of 10 you got?
Ok here goes. No I dont have any problems crimping, I bought a solid brass crimp starter from Ballistic Products, works like a charm. I use alliant powder called steel, it does not meter through any bushing so it has to be hand weighed for accuracy as it is very sensitive and you dont want to blow up your gun. The primer tray is for big sized shot BB's and bigger. They also do not meter through a shot bar all that well and if you know the exact amount of pellets per weight of the shot charge you get exact amount of pellets in the load. For example 1.5oz of BBB, 90 pellets, a primer tray has 100 holes so you cover up 55 of them with tape and voila, each time you dip it into the bag of shot you have 90 pellets.(two pellets per hole). Hevishot is a whole different ball game. The pellets are not consistently the same size or weight so you have to weigh each load. Any time that your shot charge or powder charge are not in specifications it will change the velocity of your load, which will in turn have you shooting in front of or behind your target. I have 2 powder scales. 500 grain and a 1000 grain. I have a Browning bps 10, I have had the forcing cone lengthend and the bore polished to enhance my patterns. Good luck and I hope that I helped you out.
also Ballistic Products has a manual called statistics and pellet balllistics. it has a lot of interesting things like oz to grain conversian and pellets per oz for lead and steel, loads per pound of shot and that sort of thing.
man thanks alot. I have my grandpas reloading equipment that should pretty much weigh shot and powder charges alright I think. I usually load one bullet at a time using the powder trickler at the very last step of each load to be as precise as possible. My baby should be mine just before fall. Browning Gold Light 10 w/28" Dura Touch camo(shadowgrass so I loase it when I set it down). I guess I've heard good and bad things about Dura Touch so I'm willing to chance it. Top it off with a Wad Wizard, Patternmaster or Strangler with a Limbsaver pad and look out geese, and ducks. Here is a website for ya tengoose. You and this guy would get along well I should think. http://shotshell.drundel.com/patterns/10ga.htm
thanks again
thanks again
I have a ponsness warren 10 gauge loader and really like it. I bought a used one and the only thing I needed to replace was the wad guide (little plastic thing). The one thing I like about it is that it holds the whole shell up to the crimp. Keeps the shells from buckling when you go to crimp.
I have two mec presses too, one 12 and one 20 gauge. They both work very well. I think both companies make a good product.
I too use the primer tray method to count out the shot for sizes BB and larger. Go with the STEEL powder it works very well and there are a large variety of recipes from many different wad manufacturers for this powder.
I have two mec presses too, one 12 and one 20 gauge. They both work very well. I think both companies make a good product.
I too use the primer tray method to count out the shot for sizes BB and larger. Go with the STEEL powder it works very well and there are a large variety of recipes from many different wad manufacturers for this powder.
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