I just got me a Smith & Wesson model 3000 12 ga. with rifle sights and a smoothbore barrel. I'd like to start reloading slugs, because as any of u slug hunters know, they're only sold 5 rounds in a box. Well, I've never reloaded before, so I have no idea where to start. I'd like to get a simple to use, inexpensive, yet good quality press. (I've looked at prices on some of them and already know that Dillon's are expensive.) I'd like one that I can do 12 and 20 ga. loads on. Your reccomendation would be really appreciated. What good 2 & 3/4 inch rifled slug loads can y'all reccomend for 12 and 20 ga? I'll be using those slugs for deer hunting, and maybe wild hog hunting, not home defense. (That's what I've got 00 Buckshot for;). ) Also I'd like to know if any of you know of any places in the Dallas, Texas area that has good deals on reloading equipment. A friend of mine already told me about McClelland's Gun Shop, but I'd like to know of a couple other places so I can kind of shop around before I buy. I'm also not against shopping for equipment on the net, if I can find it cheap enough, but I'd rather find a place where I can just go into the store, and walk out without having to pay shipping. Any other starting advice you could give me would be great, and it'd be a lot more than I have at the moment. (LOL) Pretty much all i know about it now is don't reload while drinking alcohol or smoking, (which I don't do either anyway.) and don't load shells to hot cuz they may blow up yur gun and yur face. I'd really appreciate all of your input.

WF30-06

Hi, Walter:
I don't live in slug country, so you should check out the Shotgun forum. There's quite a few threads on slugs there, and Mr. Gates is genuine expert, not just a hobbyist like most of us.
http://www.shootersforum.com/forumdisplay.htm?f=27

I reload shotshells, and the first thing you buy is the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook, 4th Edition; usually known as Lyman #4. It explains safety, components, equipment and loads. Second choice is Reloading For Shotgunners, 4th Edition. Not bad, but not as good as Lyman #4.

As for a press, I'd recommend a MEC 600 Jr. or Sizemaster. I had a Lee, and it was a happy day when I bought my Sizemaster. Now changing dies to a different gauge is a pain. It's not near as easy as changing them on a metallics (rifle & pistol) press. I'd say 15 minutes on a 600 Jr. and I know its half an hour on a Sizemaster. It might be best to check out eBay for a pair of 600 Jr. for $50 each, as new dies for a different gauge are around $50.

MEC has a good reputation for service. I certainly had good luck with them, and I bought used.
http://www.mecreloaders.com/

Actually a Dillon or one of the other progressives may be your worst choice for loading slugs.

Bye
Jack

Are you planning on doing a lot of reloading or do you just want to make up a bunch of slug loads? If you're not planning on burning through a lot of ammunition you might want to consider just assembling slug rounds with new components. The reason I ask is because you can assemble shotgun shells from new components without using a press. It's a great way to get started and find out if it interests you without spending much money. I have a single stage press that I use for some of my hunting loads and a progressive that I use for trap and skeet loads but I assemble most of my duck loads without using a press. The only thing you really need the press for is sizing the cases (which doesn't apply if you're using new cases) and making the crimp in the end of the shell. On the loads that I really need to make sure everything is right I use a roll crimp instead of a star crimp. They're much more consistent than a star crimp and you don't need a press because they have to be done by hand. It's just an option that you might want to be aware of. I would be happy to help anyone that wants to try it out. First step is always to get hold of some loading manuals and study up on loading. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to reload a shell and why you're doing each step.

I will toss in my opinion for what it is worth. I live in Western NY and we have a split State, the Southern part is shotguns only and the less populated North is either shotgun or rifle. Since you have a smoothbore shotgun, you will find that the sabot rounds will not work well in your gun, they NEED a rifled bore to work well. You are pretty much stuck with the Foster type slugs (rifled slug). I have seen them in 5 packs at Wally World, Bass Pro,Gander Mtn. etc. for as little as $1.50 a box. They are so cheap it is hardly worth loading them much less buying a press just to load them. I load for all guages and I load ALL my Trap, Skeet and Sport Clay shells myself. I have loaded some of the Lee slugs too, but 2 of my guns have a rifled barrel and the Lee and all other sabots work well to different levels of accuracy. Actually the Lee shoots as well as most other sabots made. I have experimented shooting sabots in an unrifled barrel and found that the accuracy was not as good as the Foster type. My OLD Ithaca Deerslayers (smooth bore) a 12 and a 20 guage will shoot Fosters into anywhere from a tight 2" group up to about 4" at most. My rifled barreled Ithaca and Remington will do around 1 1/2" at a 100 yds. That is if I don't flintch a little.As far as a reloader, well, I use 5 MEC's and have found them to work fine. I couldn't afford a Spolar or a PW (the Cadillac and Lincoln of reloaders). There you have it and I was not meaning to step on any toes or offend anyone, just my point of view. Good luck