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So when do I get my statue?

Member Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 138 Location: Parma, OH

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

Do they make a short kit for progressive reloaders? I thought they were only available for single stage loaders....

Jeff

Member Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 138 Location: Parma, OH

Doh! You're right Jeff. I guess that leaves the shell holders, which may be a pain in the arse on a progressive. It was worth a shot.

Mike Doerner

The shell holders will work best on the older 761 and 762 series Grabbers. These older models had no shell retaining fence until station 4. This makes it easy to remove the shell from station 2 and put a holder on it at station 3, the first station you will need one.

The new series have a riveted on hoop shaped plate to retain the shells. Its tougher to remove a shell and reinsert it with a shell holder in place over this plate. It can still be done though. You need four shell holders and can rotate them as the come off station 6. So yes, they will work on a Grabber.

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 1338

Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 1338

Dave,
we were posting at the same time. What is the source of your 2 1/2 and 2 9/16 hulls? Factory originals or did you trim?

thanks, Mike

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

So, Guys.......suppose I wanted to set up a new single stage press dedicated to short shells......what would you recommend?

Mike, I would go with the MEC Sizemaster. Great machine, I have 2 of them.

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

Mike,

My 2-9/16" hulls are from ARMUSA, I have about 2000 of these hulls.
My 2-1/2" hulls are the new Cheddite hulls from BP.
I have not trimmed any 16 gauge hulls yet, because I have a good supply. I do however trim 10 gauge 3-1/2" hulls down to 2-7/8" for my 10 bore Parker.

I'd go with the Sizemaster today fitted with a short kit. Two reasons why:

1. A short kit will make it very easy to swap back and forth from 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 specialty loads no problem.

2. Today's 16 ga ammo has steel rims. Brass is not used anymore. the adjustable collet sizer is manditory to adequately squeeze these steel rims back to factory spec. Ring sizers won't do it well.

You are right about the over skiving Remington does. I think its so, because they do not forsee these hulls being reloaded much, and it speeds up production. Time is money to them. They used to not skive them as much several years ago. I have several hundred green express shells I've saved for hunting loads. These hulls are thicker at the mouth and last a long time. I use them up for fun stuff after they are retired from hunting loads.

I get about 4 or so reloads out of my once fired black empties. I just ignore any minor splits until they get past the crimp rolled edge much. This is of course on recreational ammo. I only use once fired hulls for any and all hunting ammo. Its not worth it to risk wounding a bird rather than killing it clean due to a questionable load. Clay targets don't feel a thing.

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

When you cut back a Remington black hull and get that stiff thick wall up into the crimp, the crimp memory can make it real hard to fig the G wads. I give them a gutck skive/mouth stretch with a rounded grinding stone in my hand drill. I can skive about 10 a minute so it goes fast.

any favorite recipes for 2 1/2" remington black hulls? I find the loads in the low pressure group can work well but are a bit light to cycle this 85 year old repeater...

Jeff