Mec 600 Jr. and Cheddite hulls.

[sbwaters]

Because Cheddite primers were all I could find when I started reloading 12 gauge, I bought 100 Cheddite hulls. I have been reloading Winchester AA and Remington STS successfully with the default settings the MEC arrived set at.

Finally, after about 700 reloads, I got around to trying the Cheddite hulls. The hulls did not like the default settings.

I put on the brass starting crimper recommended for Cheddite hulls and still had problems. The crimp was pushed in and the shoulders below the crimp buckled out.

Went back to the default plastic MEC starting crimper and reset the crimp depth and height of the crimp. Still got buckled shoulders.

With the reset crimp depth and height, went back to the brass starting crimper. Yay! it worked.

Once I use up my Cheddite primers and these hulls, I’ll probably settle on reloading Winchester AAs so I don’t have to switch settings. I like how the Winchester AAs hold up and I can see them in the grass, unlike the Remingon green.

Just wanted to let people getting into shotshell reloading to benefit from my experience. I’m glad I started. It’s easy.

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Oh, BTW, you will spill shot and powder. 1) Mount a small baking tin under the reloader. 2) Never put down on the table the red plug from the shot/powder bottles. If you do, you will forget and dump shot or powder. Take it out and put it back in immediately.

 

[splattergun]

That sounds like the wads may be too short. A spacer wad or 2 might be in order if you are using a wad you normally use with WinAA. The shoulders will collapse and/or the crimp will collapse inside if there is not enough material inside to support the top of the column. What is the complete recipe you are following?


also, for the biggest source of Cheddite loading data, see Ballistic Products' website.

 

[sbwaters]

What is the complete recipe you are following?

Thanks for asking. From the Cheddite Manual 2nd edition:

12 Gauge - 2-3/4" length - Lead shot - Fold Crimp
Load ID: 40816-1158R
Gauge: 12
Hull: Cheddite
Primer: Cheddite 209
Powder: Hodgdon 700x
Grains: 20
Gas Seal: None
Wad: HCD24 (Helix Cushion Driver 24 wad)
Filler wads and loads insert: None
Overshot: None
Shot weight: 1 oz.
Shot size: #7.5
Buffer: None
PSI: 9500
FPS: 1300

 

[sbwaters]

if you are using a wad you normally use with WinAA

I use the WAA12 and WAA12SL for Win AA hulls, Rem Fig. 8 and TGT 12 for Rem STS hulls, and got the HCD24 for the Cheddite hulls.

 

[blarby]

Adjust your pre-ecrimp down tight.

I have found the paper thin cheddite new factor hulls require some serious first crimp...to the point that I obtained the BPI Brass , sharp, precrimp starter specifically for new cheddite hulls....specifically to address the exact problem you are having.

Your pre-fired hulls already have a crimp cut into them- the new cheddites do not, and thin cheddite hulls absolutley require a sharp, deep, precrimp to function and load correctly.

 

[Patocazador]

I have had the same problem with new 20 ga. Cheddite hulls with my MEC 600 JR. I had to lessen the amount of crimp and crimp twice.

 

[sbwaters]

Adjust your pre-ecrimp down tight.

Will do.

BPI Brass , sharp, precrimp starter

Yup. That’s the one I got. Took me about 15 loads to get comfortable with it. We’ll see how they shoot and how they reload. Perhaps there is legitimate reason to use them.

They look cute as hell in clear plastic.

But I am happy with Win AAs.