i plan to buy a Lee Load ALL 12ga reloader...will that reloader load 3 inch magnums and high brass 2 3/4 loads with the 24 bushings that come with it? also what other things do i need to start reloading shotshells besides shot, wads, hulls, and primers? do i need to tumble them or anything to prep them to be loaded? is that reloader good for a beginner reloader that doesnt shoot a ton of ammo but would like to get some diffrent loads and save some money? im not a complete beginner...i used my friends dads hydrolice loader that all i had to do ya put in a wad a new hull and a take off the finished shell and keep going...for 750+$ i cant see why i need something like that...maybe if i shot 10000 rds a year...
thanx alot...

You dont need to tumble your empties, as long as they dont have mud and rocks in them they will load fine. As far as the lee loader goes, I dont have any experience with it, but it must work ok, they have been selling them for a long time I think. You should at least take a look at the MEC loaders though, I have one and its a fine machine, I doubt that it costs much more than the Lee.

I'm with Larry338, check out the Mec 600 Jr loaders. They are pretty
reasonably priced (probably still less that $100) easy to use,
and durable. I use one that's over 20 years old and has had
10's of thousands of rounds loaded on it.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms... who's bringing the chips?

the load all is 32 bux...and i dont need much because i wont load 1000s of shells a year...maybe 2000-3000 at the most...and i dont want to spend alot of money to get started..and someone recomended the load all to me in another post...if it will load 3 inch mags i am probally going to buy it..so will it load 3 inch mags and do i need anything other than the machine..bushings(24 included thats another reson its good for me) shot, was hulls, and primers?

thanx
mauser06

Mauser06 , Do yourself a favor and get a used Mec for around fifty bucks . I tried the Lee loader and gave it away . They do work ,but the difference from a Mec to a Lee loadall is like night is to day. Mec has a much better crimping system in my opinion.

i was kinda thinking it has to be pretty crappy for 30 bux....and i plan to get a part time job soon so i can afford better i suppose...which mec would be good for me? i looked on ebay and i know i can find one used that probally comes with stuff to start with alot cheaper than i can brand new...and i read a shotshell reloading book that a used reloader is just as good as new..and if anything is broke its from where and the parts are readily available..my friends dad moved out and left his wads and hulls at my friends house and i can probally get them to start(all for light target loads so it will be perfect)..and my friend can help set me up because i know he knows the stuff..and i will get the book i looked at for future....so what Mec should i get???
thanx
mauser06

mauser06 the 600 jr is a good one to start .You will need additional powder bushings for it and maybe a shot charge bar . If you get one email me I have a few extra ones I will give you to help you get started .Halcon

At a sporting goods store that I visited this weekend, they had the MEC 600 jr for $89. It came with a charge bar, but extras were about $20. One other helful thing to get is a larger shot bottle, as your shot bottle will run empty long before your powder bottle.

I'm not sure how the Lee loader works, I use alot of Lee products and have been quite pleased with them, though I've never used any of their shotshell loading equipment. In the long run if you do reload alot of rounds, the price of the equipment becomes pretty insignificant compared to the price of powder, shot, and primers.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms... who's bringing the chips?

i know how much everything runs escept for shot...so whats a 25lb bag(i think thats what hte normal bag is) in say 7.5 shot run? thanx....

mauser06

Around here the shot runs from 12 to 15 dollars depending on sales for the better prices ,the size of shot makes no difference its sold by weight.There are different types of shot that could affect the price some . You can load 14 boxes of 1 1/8 ounce loads with a sack of shot plus a few extra .