Loading for 2 1/2" 12ga. and 20 ga.

[lee r moege]

I am thinking of loading some short low pressure shells similar to RST's in both gages using their empties of which I am starting to accumulate quite a few. I know that Mec has a kit to convert the low end presses to 2 1/2". Is anyone here doing something like this, and if so do you have a favorite load for 1 oz. 12ga. and 7/8-3/4 oz. in 20 ga.? What kind of equipment are you using for crimping, and are you using a "sizemaster" sizer on the emptys. I may end up just shooting the 2 1/2" guns a little less and stick with RST's. I'm sure I can find a home for the empties with one of you guys. Have a nice day! Lee.

[mc15426378]

I'll be the first out on the limb so here goes. I have MEC sizemasters in 12-16-20. Never used any other brand of machine and never used a progressive. The only 2 1/2" shells I reload are 16s, all Cheddite RST/Polywad once fired, by me. The Cheddites are what is called a straight wall hull as opposed to a Remington which is referred to as a tapered wall hull. Makes a difference in what wad to use. My 16 recipe is IMR PB powder, Gualandi 1621 wad, Rem 209P primer, 7/8 oz shot. Works fine for me. The DR 16 wad is a also a great wad but is too tall for 7/8 oz in the 2 1/2" hulls. Should work perfect with a 3/4 oz shot load but I have not tried this combo.

To make up the hull length difference I glued a penny on top of a quarter (two times to get two spacers) which I place in the pre-crimp and final crimp stations. Works perfect (thanks Mike Campbell). This might not work for 12/20 but a variation should do nicely.

I will add that, to me, the Cheddite hulls are definitely more finicky on the pre-crimp/final crimp than Remington/Winchester hulls are. I have my 16 press set to not gather as much hull on the pre-crimp which of course means a much bigger hole heading into the final crimp station. Other guys may not be doing this but this works for me, the reloads look good, and best of all they shoot great.

The above is not the only answer to your questions just what works for me.

If you'd like Lee send me a PM and I'll share my 12/20 loads with you but mine are all for 2 3/4" hulls.

Mike

[Twice Barrel]

Lee don't give up on the short shells to quickly. I reload 10, 12 and 16 gauge trimmed to 2 7/8th, 2 5/8th and 2 9/16th respectively using a roll crimp which allows me to use published reloading data for the 12 gauge and 16 gauge. You can use your favorite load data because the roll crimped 2 5/8th inch 12 gauge and the 2 9/16th inch 16 gauge have the same interior capacity as the 2 3/4 inch hulls when crimped.

I use a Mec Supersizer to resize my hulls and a single stage Pacific press to de-prime, seat the primer, drop the powder, set the wad and drop the shot. I then use turn of the last century Bridgport Gun Impliment (BGI) roll crimp tools to form the roll crimp.

To trim the hulls to size I use a dowel with a single side safety razor set at a slight angle to parrelled with a round head screw to fine tune the case length.

The whole reloading process can be done using your Sizemaster up to the point of placing the overshot card and forming the roll crimp.

[mc15426378]

Here's a good post, in my opinion, on roll crimping, courtesy of the Smith site.

http://members.boardhost.com/lcsmith/ms ... 16796.html

Mike