I have been loading rifle cartridges for about a year and i want to start loading shotgun shells, I was figuring on getting a lee load all for the economy and the fact that i only shoot about 200 to 250 rounds a year, so what else will i need to start.

You will need a reloading manual and I suggest the Lyman shotshell manual which covers all gauges and powder combinations. Read it from cover to cover and you will have a good understanding of the process.

After deciding on the gauge to be reloaded, you will need empty cases, primers, wads, powder and shot. The Lee tool will do the job. You might want to consider a reloader from MEC and they have a website at www.mayvl.com. See what is available and these presses are discounted by dealers.

Hope this helps. All the best...
Gil

jb...

I ordered one of those Lee presses last week too! Did the postal matches drive us to it or what? Actually, since buying my Savage double I've been shooting more and thought I would use the simple Lee product to work my way into it.

Lee's MRII has a pretty good background on using the press and shotgun reloading. The Hodgdon Reloading Annual has a bunch of loads...

Michael

I started loading shotshells with a Lee, but it's long gone and I'm using MECs now. A Lee will give you a good crimp or a bad crimp. If it's a bad crimp, there's no adjustment, except to change to a shell it will crimp. You can adjust a MEC to crimp anything. There's lots of MEC 600 Jrs. on ebay, and if you find a good Sizemaster, grab it.

Get the Lyman manual. The others aren't even close. Reloading For Shotgunners, from the Gun Digest people, is my 2nd choice.

Bye
Jack

I ordered a Lee Load all press from midsouth last night with the primer feeder, i figured for now, i would start with that and if i need to upgrade, i can upgrade. i also ordered the precision reloading,inc shotshell load manual. it is supposed to have a huge selection of loads and components and gives a variety from supersonics to blanks, from midwayusa (also got a can of Kroil for like 3.50). I do have a hodgdon manual and i will probably head to the gun shop and get my components after i get to read the precsion load manual

Agree with Jack, MECs have the best crimp, and sizers, bar none. I've actually got a MEC stand-alone sizer because the sizer on my dad's Apex doesn't work that great. MECs do 'leak' a bit with fine ball powders, though, a problem that my dad's Hornady Apex doesn't have.

Never used a Lee shotshell loader, can't help you there. Let us know how it goes....

Teh Lee Load All will make good ammo if you follow the instructions...is dependent on decent cases for the finished product. Ragged cases that a MEC or other (more expensive) loadere can get crimped right, won't crimp quite right in the Lee.

Long time agao I was given a Texan press...it was old when i was given it. Still set up, stills works fine, and even though it's way out of date, will still use it to load 12ga. on occasion.

With the price of shells (and Fiocchi makes good ammo that is reasoanbly priced by the case) vs. the price of components, it's hard to justify relaoding for just economics....but that's not really the point for some, just being able to talior a load to a specific need is reasopn enough (think I've loaded more spreader loads on that old Texan than anything else).

What kind of components should i be looking for and where do you guys find them online?

Are you reloading steel or lead? If it's steel, Ballistic Products is a good place to start. If it's lead target loads, you should be able to find componets anywhere. Local trap & skeet clubs often have the best price. It costs to ship lead pellets.
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/

Bye
Jack

Mostly lead, What about hulls and wads?