Lee Load All II

[BigAl52]

Just curious if anyone here is using one of these to reload shotgun shells. If you are let me here how you like or dislike it.

[Headhog]

Al, I had one many years ago and got rid of it in less than 6 months. I does work but it has a lot of quirks and can be frustrating to use. Check out the 3 star negative review on MidwayUSA: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013166090/ This guy sums up the pro's and con's of the loader.

Paul

[runnin n gunnin]

Al, take a strong look at the MEC for shotgun, specifically the sizeall. I absolutely love mine, it is glitch free including the auto primer. I just pumped out 50 rounds last night to shoot clays this weekend.

[BigAl52]

Thanks RnG and Paul. I have had a Mec in the past. Just didnt know if I wanted to spend the money for the Mec when Skeet shooting when I get home is minimal. No one to go with and the nearest range isnt all that skeet friendly. Right now primers are the key I have all the rest of the stuff.

[runnin n gunnin]

Federal 209a have been fairly available, I just picked up 2 bricks. I actually had a hard time getting lead shot for a while, but that seems to have loosened up as well.

[BigAl52]

RnG
Whats your current cost per round. I’m shooting 20ga

[runnin n gunnin]

you know Al, I haven't broken it down. I am loading only 12 gauge now, but may start 20 gauge when I get my grandson started.

[BigAl52]

No problem I was thinking its got to be around 22 to 25 cents a round. Isnt shot about 45 a bag

[runnin n gunnin]

No, I just picked up a 25 pound bag of Magnum chilled lead shot for 61.00, like everything else it s gone up. I get roughly 350/375 loads per pound of red dot or green dot powder, around 18 boxes per 25 pounds of shot, depending on what I am throwing. (I load 1 1/8 for clays).

[Rifletom]

Al and r-n-g; if/when I pick up either a Tristar G2 Viper or a Cz Bobwhite SxS, 20 ga either, we may be doing some more talking, as I/m thinking exactly in the same as Al. Floating the idea of 28ga IF I can find components. 20ga I have LOTS of.

[BigAl52]

The local club here in Corpus has powder wads and shot. The only thing they dont have is primers like everyone else. Im not sure what 28 ga is cost wise but looking at RnG loads and doing some math he is well into the 20's cost wise per round. Primers are 10 cents a piece by themselves and the shot is right there to or a little more. Im thinking with the wads his per shell price is about .28 a piece. I have been able to buy target loads from 7.99 to 9.99 a box. At best you save 3.00 a box on 20ga. If I was to buy a Mec right now they want 250.00 for a 600 Jr. Im not sure its worth it if Im only shooting at certain times during the year. I looked at those Vipers before I bought my O/U I liked them but I want the O/U

[runnin n gunnin]

Al/Tom , I did some public school math this morning and it looks like it is costing me about 35 to 39 cents per round.

[runnin n gunnin]

Just read your post Al, I can only speak to 12 gauge. I use Claybuster wads, they run around 13.00 per 500 so about 2 cents per wad. As for powder and shot, if you are loading 20 gauge you will get more rounds out of powder and shot (smaller loads). My 209a primers are running me about 6 cents each.

You are correct, unlike metal reloading, shotgun savings margin is not as big, and you would save as you said 3 to 4 dollars per box for low end rounds. The advantage is loading is quick and effortless with the sizemaster, you load what you want to use, no sales tax, shipping or limit to 2 or three boxes of ammo, and if you get into hunting loads, the cost of a box of ammo goes up substantially compared to the Walmart target loads.

Its not for everyone, or worth their time, but personally I like shooting shotgun and upland game, although I do not do much hunting these days, but love shooting the clays. I like the freedom of being able to knock out 100 rounds in an hour to go shooting the next day, oh, by the way which I am doing Sunday ! ! !

[BigAl52]

I forgot to throw in the powder when I was doing my first grade math. But primers I have seen lately are .10 a piece when ordering online time you pay the haz and freight. You must be getting some locally. I read about the sizemaster and if I was to get into a regular thing with shooting clays I would probably go that route. For now I think I will just look around while out at Walmart. Bass Pro, Cabelas has sales with free ship for cases quite often

[BigAl52]

Al and r-n-g; if/when I pick up either a Tristar G2 Viper or a Cz Bobwhite SxS, 20 ga either, we may be doing some more talking, as I/m thinking exactly in the same as Al. Floating the idea of 28ga IF I can find components. 20ga I have LOTS of.

Tom is 28 ga something you just want or are you going to use it for competition? The cost of 28ga shells is quite a bit higher than 20 and 12. Im sure you probably are aware of that already. If I was to go that gauge reloading would save a bunch.

[Jdl447]

My cost for 28 ga. reloads is at about $8.00 a box of 25. Before all the craziness it was about $5.00.

[Rifletom]

Al and r-n-g; if/when I pick up either a Tristar G2 Viper or a Cz Bobwhite SxS, 20 ga either, we may be doing some more talking, as I/m thinking exactly in the same as Al. Floating the idea of 28ga IF I can find components. 20ga I have LOTS of.

Tom is 28 ga something you just want or are you going to use it for competition? The cost of 28ga shells is quite a bit higher than 20 and 12. Im sure you probably are aware of that already. If I was to go that gauge reloading would save a bunch.

Al, after looking at my 20ga inventory, I'll likely stay with 20ga. I was thinking of the 28 for no real reason, but, looks to be a bit costlier for components, when you can find them. Sooo, 20ga it will be. A search continues!

[Pitchman1968]

Hey Big Al, Hope you are having a good day!
The Load All II is like all Lee reloading tools - good enough, durable, and reasonably priced. Mine is 21 years old and I have reloaded about 4,000 12 ga and about 1,200 16 ga hulls with it, and it is still producing good loads. I have only 2 complaints with it, it is slow to use, and occasionally with #8 lead shot, the crimps open up a bit and some bb's leak out. This does not happen with #6 shot. Now, if you shoot trap in a league and compete weekly, the Load all will be too slow for your needs. But, if you shoot trap or skeet like I do, i.e., about 15 - 20 times a year, the Load All will do you fine.

[BigAl52]

Thanks for the input Pitchman. Do you think the crimp issue is hull selection or a Loader problem. The slow I dont care about when I winter in Texas I got all week to load 50 rounds we only go about once a week. #8 shot is what I would be using. But I need to look at prices at the club on components again. I can buy shells at the club for 799 to 10.00 a box. If the components are at about 30. cents a round the savings arent that great.

[Pitchman1968]

Hi Big Al, I think the crimping issue might be due to hull selection, probably because I often try to "squeeze" one additional reload from a hull that I should have tossed. A couple of years ago I planned on ordering some 'once fired' hulls, but Covid 19 was already upon us and they were not available.