I've been wanting to get into shotshell reloading for a long time. Picked up two MEC Jr. presses at a silent auction for $25; one 12g and one 20g. Mainly I want cheap, reliable clay busters, dove killers, and turkey whackers. No need for steel or uber-powered goose, hog, or deer loads.

My first question is: How important is the hull type/brand? I've noticed that the recipes are for specific hulls. I have a box of hulls that I have shot and collected over a couple of years in preperation for when I start reloading. Since I buy whatever is on sale, I have about 10 differant brands/types (all in 2 3/4"), (Winchester AA, Remington Heavy Dove, Remington Gun Club, Fiocci Somthin'-Or-Other, ect). Do I need to sort these and just choose one or two and trash the rest to keep things simple?

good question.
this came up on my post, and from what i gather, the answer to your question is yes. they need to be sorted and loaded differently.

i also have several different brand hulls, what i've been looking into is actual volume each different brand hull will hold.
not likely i will throw any away, trying to find out which ones are basically the same inside and load accordingy.

i'am sure it will all be interesting, all i can say for sure is BE SAFE

I'm sure others will chime in differently, but I like Remington hulls..very easy to load, solid basewad and they are durable. Loaded them LOTS of times, they crimp well over and over. Stay away from the Winchester cheapie hulls like what you get at Wal-Mart. They dont crimp well at all, weird plastic in their hulls.

There is a lot more to it then volume they will hold. The pressures are different for each hull type, primer, . If you value yourself and your equipment you will stick with what the manuals tell you.

That is one similarity to it and rifle...stay with the manual.

Hull brand can be a personal choice, mine is Winchester AA and has been for 25 years. I also like the STS but I have drums full of the AA's. Different hulls with different wads and different powder and primers can change pressures drasticly!!!!!!!!!

Go with proven data and advice from guys that have loaded 1000's and 1000's of rounds.

You can pm me questions if you like, so pick your hull, wads by the payload, and thoughts on your powder and I will give you any information I can to keep it safe and fun.

can't pass up an offer like that

I have a 600Jr and a VersaMec and they don't seem to resize dove and quail loads well enough to cycle through my pumps. AA and Remington Premiers both do just fine.

Cowtown...it is probably because the hulls weren't fired out of the gun they are reloaded for and the chambers are different.

I think one of these would fix you...but you can find them cheaper than this: http://www.cabelas.com/shotshell-reloading-mec-super-sizer-3.shtml

I noticed the two machines you have don't have a resizer. I haven't had problems with any of my shells (lead or steel) but all of them get resized.

Hope that helps. Here is another tip for y'all...everyone wants the Remington Nitro/STS's but all Remington hulls load the same and the shurshot's and gun club's are typically easier to find. The Remington hull crips prettier than the new grey AA's too.

Thanks for the help guys and for the offer longone; you will probably be hearing from me at some point.

With rifles, brass is brass as long as it is in good condition. I didn't realize that all shot shells were not created equal.

X2. Remingtons all load just about the same. Stick with published load data as previously mentioned as well.

Thanks for the advice Judd.
And I didn't mean to hijack Sooner's thread.

Cowtown, We both got our answers and I learned something else... Hijack away!

No problem guys...we all started loading at some point and had help along the way. Pay it forward type of deal I guess

That crips should've been crimps...no place for gangs in reloading

google, shotgun world, and go to there reloading section. The guys on there know what they are doing and are willing to elp.