? for Shotgun Reloaders

[denton]

The short answer to your question is, no.

Shotshell reloading is quite a bit different, financially, from metallic cartridge reloading. For my casual target 12 ga. shooting, I save maybe $.02 per cartridge, but, it's theraputic, and I get a better grade of shell.

When you get into some of the less common gauges, and into steel or magnum loads, the math changes.

The hassle of setting up and adjusting for different gauges drives most shotshell reloaders to have a different setup for each gauge.

I've got a Lee Loadmaster. It's a basic piece of junk, but it does make very nice shells. The primer feeder doesn't work worth a dang, so I hand feed. And the powder measure is all over the map on powder loads, so I use my Perfect Powder Measure, which does a lot better. $38, and it does work. At that rate, let the kids make their own 20 gauge!

I've been eyeing the MEC's. They start out under $100 for a single stage, and Midway has the progressive on sale for $345 or so. The cost of the conversion kit, and the hassle, almost dictate that you'll get one for each gauge.

One experienced shotshell reloader indicated that the powder measure on the MEC's is not very repeatable, either, but, apparently, neither are the loads in a lot of commercial ammo.