| Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 04:01 AM |
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1st Post |
smacks
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Do I have to get a separate press for each gauge? I am starting with a 410 because these are the most pricey. Not really sure if I'll do the other 2 or not. I don't shot shoot a lot. smacks
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| Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 04:03 AM |
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2nd Post |
Slingshot
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Only machine I have ever used for Shotgun reloading is MEC and yes you have to buy seperate machines if you buy MEC. Now I know RCBS, Hornady and Lee sell presses I think you can get different caliber kits for them. I am not sure though.
Slingshot
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| Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 06:00 AM |
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3rd Post |
miestro_jerry
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I like my MEC 600 Jr Mk V in 12 Gauge, but if I want to load another gauge it is best to just buy another MEC 600 Jr press. Way too many things to change out and recalibrate especially after all the time and trouble to get it working right for what I shoot.
Currently I don't shoot anything except 12 gauge, but my brother is dangling a Browning in 16 gauge in front of me. So that means another press.
Jerry
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| Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 11:25 AM |
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4th Post |
OldStuffer
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Like many, the only shotshell press I have ever used personally is a MEC (well, 3 of 'em actually).
You CAN change thwem over, it is much simpler to buy a new press.
Crimping especially is a very exacting adjustment, since most presses I have seen keep the hull bare/unsuported, thru reloading, you can wrinkle a shell pretty badly above the brass head if the crimping dies are out of whack.
Once a press is set, I have seldom had to make any adjustments other than possibly wad pressure when changing from one load to another (not counting base powder/shot load adjustments)
I am about to converrt my 20-ga. Versamec over to 10-gauge (used caliber conversion kit found online @ a shotgunning forum, connection made, it's in the mail) but that is because I had it laying around unused, want to load my goose cannon, and have no interest in loading 20-gauge. If that lack of interest changes, I'll own a 4th press.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 12:44 PM |
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5th Post |
.45 COLT
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A MEC Gauge conversion costs as much as a good used press, and, as already noted, is a PITA to change back and forth between Gauges. A one-time conversion is fine, but not something I'd want to dovery often.
I'd suggest that you get yourself a used press in whichever gauge comes along first (probably 12) and be looking out for the others. .410 presses are rather rare - I looked for a couple of years before I found one. I just don't shoot enough .410 to justify going out an buying a new press.
A word of caution - if you buy a used press, make sure that it is a model that is still supported by the manufacturer. I've seen (and bought) obsolete MECs that go up for sale. I have a use for them, but for the reloader who just wants to load up some shells, it could be frustrating to buy a model that just won't do plastics, or one that has a necessary part missing.
DC
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| Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 08:37 PM |
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6th Post |
miestro_jerry
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It's funny I just checked GunBroker.com looking at the prices for current MEC 600 Jr Mk 5, and it's cheaper for me to mail order or go to the box stores for one of these presses.
I was thinking of getting a MEC Steelmaster for when I start loading steel, it's much easier and cheaper for me to set one press up for one gauge that it is to undo, redo and all of that.
I look at it this way for brass cartridge guns, I either run many thousands of rounds, or I buy presses for one caliber and keep them as one caliber. I have a Dillon SDb in 9mm, it is all set up and works well. I need to buy one in 45 ACP. I have 2 550 press to handle the other stuff, they set up until 20mm ammo can is full, or I run out of brass.
So it is easier to just buy another reloading press for shotshells and go from there.
Jerry
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| Posted: Sat Nov 21st, 2009 03:07 PM |
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7th Post |
DM
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I'm with the "miestro", i have several 600jr's, it's just so much easier, and not much more costly, to get one press for each guage.
DM
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| Posted: Sat Dec 5th, 2009 01:00 AM |
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8th Post |
buffybr
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As has been said, shotgun loaders are a pain to change and adjust die sets for different gages.
My first shotgun loader was/is a single stage Pacific honey Bair in 12 ga. It worked fine when I first started shooting shotgun as I'd only shoot a box or two a week. I still use it for field/hunting loads.
After shooting for a couple of years, I got addicted to trap shooting, and with my single stage loader, I was spending more time loading than I was shooting. I then bought a Pacific 366 progressive loader which greatly reduced my reloading time. I later modified this loader with the shot/powder shut off and auto indexing features. It's fairly easy change the bushings in this loader between light 16 yd singles loads and heavy 27 yd handicap loads, and this loader met my shotgun reloading needs until I was introduced to skeet.
With serious skeet shooting, I needed to expand my reloading for 20 and 28 gages and .410 bore. Hornady bought Pacific, and only changed the name on the 366 loaders. I bought 3 more Hornady DL-366 loaders, one in each of the smaller gages. My current loading bench has these 4 Hornady/Pacific 366 loaders, the single stage Pacific, and a Dillon 450 and a Rock Chucker for my pistol and rifle reloading.
I don't compete in trap or skeet any more, but I still crank out 5,000 or so shot shells a year for my casual shooting.
If you're not in a hurry, you might find a loader on Gunbroker for a good price, but like Jerry mentioned, its amazing how many guys there think their old used stuff is worth more than the same thing sells for new from a mail order catalog or discount shore, and its even more amazing of the number of fools that bid this stuff up.
Other good sources for loaders are pawn shops and gun ranges. We have a couple of Mec loaders at our skeet clubhouse with for sale tags on them.
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| Posted: Sat Dec 12th, 2009 08:33 PM |
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9th Post |
Offfhand
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Changing gauges on a MEC reloading tool is like trying to Baptize a cat.
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| Posted: Sat Dec 12th, 2009 09:19 PM |
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smacks
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I can make out the 410 only.
I don't do enough shotgunning to go for 2 more or something in the $400 to $600 range. Might be different if I wanted to turn out 10,20 or 30 thousand rounds a year. smacks
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