Thread: just bought an MEC shotshell reloader

At an antique shop of all places for $80.
Needs a bit of a cleanup and is a bit rusty but is all there.
Looks like its set up for 12 gauge which is what i want.
Model is an SM77.
Wish I could find a source of remington hulls in NZ, might have to import some or else go with winchester AA hulls.
Wouldn't mind getting the dies to to roll crimp too at some point.

Win aa hulls are the bees knees. The never aa-hs not so much.

Originally Posted by Kiwilad2021

Win aa hulls are the bees knees. The never aa-hs not so much.

They are all the HS type from what i understand now, but I believe that they have improved them slightly but not as good as the original AA hulls that are compression formed.
Apparently the base wads can blow out and get lodged down your barrel, not something you want to happen!

Cheddites are cheap as chips,found everywhere and load data is dead easy to find...
unless you really pushing things or demanding competition grade patterns its actually rather hard to make shit ammunition in .12ga... find a recipe and follow it as best as you can do with what you have got.

Sm77 is a size master .pretty sire they have a collet resizer unlike the mec 600jnr .

Bdt401 on trademe should be able to help ypubwith hulls .and most reloading supplies

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Cheddites are cheap as chips,found everywhere and load data is dead easy to find...
unless you really pushing things or demanding competition grade patterns its actually rather hard to make shit ammunition in .12ga... find a recipe and follow it as best as you can do with what you have got.

Been going through lots of load data, want to load blackpowder for an older hammergun and might load some target rounds too.
I dont know if there is an awful amount of cost savings hand loading shotgun, but i can customize my loads better depending on what I want.
I mostly just shoot possums with it.

Originally Posted by Old_School

At an antique shop of all places for $80.
Needs a bit of a cleanup and is a bit rusty but is all there.
Looks like its set up for 12 gauge which is what i want.
Model is an SM77.
Wish I could find a source of remington hulls in NZ, might have to import some or else go with winchester AA hulls.
Wouldn't mind getting the dies to to roll crimp too at some point.

If any one else wants one I have some available starting at a similar price in good nick for age, I.e. complete and cleaned and working. PM me if interested. Shipping can be done but up around $25 plus depending where you are.

Originally Posted by Jhon

If any one else wants one I have some available starting at a similar price in good nick for age, I.e. complete and cleaned and working. PM me if interested. Shipping can be done but up around $25 plus depending where you are.

You talking about a set of dies?

Originally Posted by Old_School

want to load blackpowder for an older hammergun and might load some target rounds too.

I mostly just shoot possums with it.

@Marty Henry will correct me if Im offtrack here
same VOLUME of black powder and shot..wad material is adjusted to make that a snug fit inside the case
more powder =faster and more spread....
less powder=tighter pattern and less speed
for possums up tree and general just going bang and snotting stuff yo ucan get away with all sorts of things
dont over think it..as long as you dont over charge it it will work.

@Micky Duck is correct the volume of shot and black powder should match but never do that with smokeless. Also don't use plastic wads, they melt with the heat of BP and coat the inside of the barrel with melted plastic that's almost impossible to remove. Use card, pinex or felt wads lightly greased star crimps are fine for closure but roll crimps and a thin card wad are more traditional. (a special tool is needed though)
Wadding isn't that critical actually in my muzzle loader where your not so constrained by a case length I've used rolled up paper towel, raw wool, pinex, greased felt and even rolled oats, all worked.