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I am just looking into loading my own shotgun shells, and wanted advise on which economical loader I should by. the Lee is around £75.00 but looks very plastic and the MEC is £245.00 but looks like a life time investment. I would only expect to fire about 100 shells a month.

your comments and experiances will be welcome.

just purchased a set of Winchesters: 1 x 1887 made in 1887 and a 1897 made in 1920, both proofed for Nitro.

If you are loading birdshot, I don't think I'd bother!
For slug or bb maybe it is worth it.
I used to use an old Lyman loadall

I just like to idea of loading my own, and can used other peoples spent cartridges to keep costs down even further. I only use about 4 boxes a month so not a real cost issue, but more of a fun thing to do. I also need to Roll top crimp the shells as well.

I've only ever used a Lee Loadall and in a very limited capacity but have had no issues with it. I bought mine secondhand and the guy who had it before me had used it for 10 years or so too.

It may shock you the price of a roll crimp attachment for a drill! Some could be 50-60% the cost of the Lee Loadall! And thats before you've bought a drill press (and drill if you haven't already got a suitable one!). You can buy hand crank ones on Ebay for around £45-50 which eliminate the need for the drill, press and crimp tool.

there is a russian guy on ebay selling shotgun reloading stuff might be worth a look

greenshoots

qws wrote: I also need to Roll top crimp the shells as well.

why?

I have an older 97 than yours and I can use 67 eley's in mine

can't imagine the chambers are that different on the 87, although I thought 87's were black powder? 1901's in 10g were nitro.