Help on a 12ga load

[George P]

As noted a few posts above, initially establish wad height right at fold height
by trial/error -- then MARK the wad-seater tube for that level.



.

But many hulls are of differing lengths which is where the ability to adjust it comes in real handy.

 

[MEHavey]

I've found 2-3/4 (the OP's challenge) to be relatively uniform.
At least enough so to the point that marking a set point works well.

Going to a 3" ? ... different matter.

 

[Bravoman]

Thanks guys think I got it down…

 

[Bravoman]

Now get brave and drop down to 7/8 or even to 3/4!
I love my 3/4oz 12 and 20 gauge loads; I can shoot 3-400 in a day with no fatigue

I would love to know some of your 7/8 and 3/4 loads. Just saying

 

[Bravoman]

The Lee has no adjustments; it's all done by "feel" which is why most folks do not like them.
OP -
It sounds like your stack height isn't all there . Personally, I use Titewad, but with a 3/4oz load - something it excels at

Thanks I don’t mind the leaning curve on the lee load all. I think I got this load worked out though picture above.

 

[entropy]

For a Lee loader, that's not a bad crimp. On a 600 Jr. , I can fix that with the turn of a screwdriver. (and loosening/tightening the locking nut.)

 

[unwashed]

For a Lee loader, that's not a bad crimp. On a 600 Jr. , I can fix that with the turn of a screwdriver. (and loosening/tightening the locking nut.)

I've used a lee load All for 28 years but as I said in my post above I recently bought a 600jr in 12ga. I should do a video on a comparison . I loaded 50, 12ga on the Mec but haven't been to the range yet to test them. Hoping to get out today. At this point I will admit that the Mec does have prettier crimps but the meat will be at/in the range/field. I've been working up a game load and tested the load I made on my Lee,12ga, Win AA hull, 1 1/8 oz shot, with 700X, chrono at 1300 fps. I will take the same load made on the Mec and see the results, I suspect no difference. Also gonna test some 20 ga game loads made on the Lee ( pictured below). For some personal game loads, fun trap/skeet shooting 3-4 times a year and expense of conversion kits, Lee is a good choice but for volume I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[MEHavey]

I would love to know some of your 7/8 and 3/4 loads.

Note Both Rem GunClub & AA take same load, wad, & press settings

 

[entropy]

I wouldn't recommend a MEC 600 Jr. for any real volume reloading, either. You know the saying; they call it the 600 because that's how many pulls on the handle it takes to make a box. If I was going for volume, I'd get a Spolar Gold with the motor on it. But I don't need that kind of volume. I load a couple thousand over the shooting year, I don't need to do it in a day.

 

[Random 8]

Specifically regarding the Lee. I started off on one and loaded many a shell for about 10 years. The OPs crimp pictured above is about par for a "good" crimp on the Lee. I was able to get better ones using once fired hulls and a very tight field load that filled the case completely. This one required significant wad pressure and a heavy hand on the crimp station.

The Lee tends to be at it's best with fast burning powders where having a good, deep, firm crimp is less critical. It is best with a "mushy" load to use zero wad pressure and let the final crimp station finish the compression as the OP seems to have figured out. I'm much happier on my Pacific DL-155 that I picked up at a yard sale 30 years ago for $10.

 

[George P]

I would love to know some of your 7/8 and 3/4 loads. Just saying

3/4oz 8.5 shot in a Nitro Gold hull, Win 209, Claybuster wad and 18.3 gr of Titewad (or 16.5 of ExtraLite

 

[George P]

I wouldn't recommend a MEC 600 Jr. for any real volume reloading, either. You know the saying; they call it the 600 because that's how many pulls on the handle it takes to make a box. If I was going for volume, I'd get a Spolar Gold with the motor on it. But I don't need that kind of volume. I load a couple thousand over the shooting year, I don't need to do it in a day.

I have 2 600s and still use one for 20. With the autoprimer feed it really speeds things up, even though you do use 6 pulls per round.

 

[MEHavey]

Therapy = MEC600




Looking at the videos, it appears the autoprimer feed gives you 3 rnds/min whereas manual feed = 2 rnds/min.
(Did I mention therapy )

 

[unwashed]

Just a FYI, I just got back from the range and tested my games loads that were made on the 600jr. This is the same load I made with the Load All, to see if there was any difference. Ballistically I noticed no difference using #5 and #6 shot. For reference the load is Win AA hulls, Fed 209A primers, CB1118-12 wads, 1 1/8 oz shot and 18.5 grs of 700X.

The Lee made loads chrono at 1300 fps avg.

The 600jr made loads chrono at 1311 fps avg.

Both hit clays at about the same rate of my skill level. So, for me the only way to tell the difference was how the crimp looked.

 

[George P]

Your club allowed the use of shot larger than 7.5? Most clay club limits shot sizes to 7.5 for safety reasons..............
And 1-1/8 oz @1300+ fps = ouch!

 

[unwashed]

Your club allowed the use of shot larger than 7.5? Most clay club limits shot sizes to 7.5 for safety reasons..............
And 1-1/8 oz @1300+ fps = ouch!

No club, those are game loads I was testing. We have a DYI trap range and went there to test and shoot some clays for an unofficial patterning. My clay loads are much more mild.