Saw these at the pawn shop. Seems too good to be true

[Appalachiannative]

Couple of shot shell presses. One is made by mec and looks like an upgraded version of my 600 Jr. It's attached to a piece of board with a pebbles n bam bam lunch box also attached with bushings and tooling inside. The other is some kinda Hornady I know nothing about the mec is $100 and the Hornady is $60

 

[3cyl]

The mec is an older sizemaster, Go back and buy it!

 

[Appalachiannative]

Yea I think I might tell my wife that it's what I want for Christmas. Sizemaster? Does that mean it is made for big shells? Cause all I really fool with is 2 3/4 inch

 

[Charlie98]

No, the Sizemaster has a sizing collet that resized the brass. Most light- to medium-range loads don't require it, but if you have high brass shells, or run heavy loads, it can help. I had a Sizemaster for many years... it's a good press. $100 is reasonable... as long as it has all it's tools, and it isn't rusted up.

I sold mine some years ago for $125.

 

[Appalachiannative]

No, the Sizemaster has a sizing collet that resized the brass. Most light- to medium-range loads don't require it, but if you have high brass shells, or run heavy loads, it can help. I had a Sizemaster for many years... it's a good press. $100 is reasonable... as long as it has all it's tools, and it isn't rusted up.

I sold mine some years ago for $125.

Well then now I definitely want it. My 600jr won't even work right with high brass shells

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I bought two Mec Grabbers a couple of months ago for $100 each.

 

[Charlie98]

Tell them it looks worn out... you'll give them $80 out the door.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Anyone recognize the Hornady? It looks like it's for shot shells too. I know nothing about Hornady other than they are expensive

 

[Appalachiannative]

Tell them it looks worn out... you'll give them $80 out the door.

I was thinking I'd complain about it being attached to the piece of wood and the kids lunch box and try to imply that it's missing things in an attempt to get that price ,,

 

[Appalachiannative]

I think it will easily still be there this weekend. No body around here but me loads shot shells. At least I'm the only guy I know in person.

 

[Charlie98]

Given how they are mounted, I'd say they were owned by the same person. Going off dim memory, it's an older press, but quite serviceable. Looking at it, though, I don't know if it has all the go-parts or not.

Shotshell presses are usually designed pretty well... the only people that buy them are people who reload in volume, so they have to be made pretty robust.

 

[Rule3]

I think it will easily still be there this weekend. No body around here but me loads shot shells. At least I'm the only guy I know in person.

They probably gave the seller/pawn $20 for it.
Start with a low ball, which is what they do, you can always go up!
As you say it is not a big sales item for a pawn shop

A really close friend of mine ran a shop, they sold a boat load of guns but did not want to mess with reloading stuff.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

A Bam-Bam and Pebbles lunch box?! Get it. That’s probably worth $10 on eBay.

 

[Skgreen]

I'm guessing the lunchbox doesn't come with a Thermos, but if it did,,,,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/325339576316?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=243436&meid=6214d59611a747969bdcee6237dd205d&pid=101195&rk=2&rkt=12&sd=255829323375&itm=325339576316&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2047675&algv=SimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuAspectsV202110NoVariantSeedKnnRecallV5ItemNrtInQuery&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum:3253395763166214d59611a747969bdcee6237dd205d|enc:AQAHAAABIJE7%2BNyUclXdoFXnbx3NvlJX7YMqFr8NJCcyHQud2Z04j2uZxgnHXbb2ZalpwbGsJ4D%2FcbSkMz8IpnsCPJ7ydREm8lqmL0kHB523%2FFCl%2BP6DzVQTjR46KkaMmFl4auAV%2BGtBnC1p%2BLBl6XxvATlQODSMVp1XJNTtaN%2BYt5Hy%2FKnS4cBUj8KglO0mZGTD034GM7TM23M2xq9zmgXmnAYMzO5fqahBAdg1mbstHGGzyqnBTj1UBHo0wceQy3yUxztUT8I0n1rTXMvh9VpzOALM8kh9CxJbwd1uK2D5pDpJaRu%2BhM5BT9%2B61QidHxcP2LDX31V6wpWbAxc9psIwma%2BVuBOPd61YUVh2oQzPjVL2SX0OxaD9XUGJTnYNwEcGH7ehiw%3D%3D|ampidL_CLK|clp:2047675

 

[Skgreen]

'Wait for the weekend,,,"



You'd better hurry!!! If word gets out about the "Vintage" Lunch box, the Shop might triple their price!!!

 

[rfwobbly]

1. People are generally getting out of shotshell loading... not because of the power or primer shortage, but because of the cost of shot. Call around and check what shot is going to cost you before buying. Ten years ago shot was plentiful and under $20 a bag. The last bags of shot I bought were $38 per, and that was unwashed reclaimed ! New shot was approaching $50. Unless you're doing a weekly shooting activity at your GC, then the $50/ flat, imported factory ammo is going to far cheaper.

2. The MECs will advertise doing multiple gauges, but most people leave them set up for only one. Take a shell back with you and make sure those are setup for a gauge you can actually use.

 

[kalielkslayer]

1. People are generally getting out of shotshell loading... not because of the power or primer shortage, but because of the cost of shot. Call around and check what shot is going to cost you before buying. Ten years ago shot was plentiful and under $20 a bag. The last bags of shot I bought were $38 per, and that was unwashed reclaimed ! New shot was approaching $50. Unless you're doing a weekly shooting activity at your GC, then the $50/ flat imported is way cheaper.

2. The MECs will advertise doing multiple gauges, but most people leave them set up for only one. Take a shell back with you and make sure those are setup for a gauge you can actually use.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, the Northwest Shot Company near Grants Pass, Or sells the shot he drops for $40 a bag, no sales taxes in Or.

I got 20 bags from him in September. Our club members bought a total of 108 bags. But you’re right, traditionally it was always $18-$25 a bag.

 

[Charlie98]

1. People are generally getting out of shotshell loading... not because of the power or primer shortage, but because of the cost of shot.

That's why I sold mine.

 

[kalielkslayer]

Well then now I definitely want it. My 600jr won't even work right with high brass shells

MEC used to sell a collet press. It was a stand alone unit. Simply put the hull in, pull the lever, it had 8 fingers that closed around the brass. Quick and easy.

I don’t know if it’s still offered, or the current cost. I think I paid $49 for mine 20-25 years ago. I think I saw it for sale in the last few years for $79.

If you have a ton of high brass, it pays for itself.

For me, I had a couple 1,000 Win Super Xs at the time. Now it sits dormant because I usually avoid high brass.

 

[Howa 9700]

Hornady / Pacific is probably a DL 155. Very nice loader from the day.

There were a lot of very nice loaders from back in the day, but finding parts for them today can be a challenge. Have never used or even seen a 155, so would want to know more about shot and powder bushings. One of the few wear items is the wad guide fingers. If that press uses same as modern Hornady presses and shot and powder bushings available, it is a very good single stage loader. Other things to look for are 6 and 8 point crimp starters and due to the way most were built, the spring loaded cup used to install primers are often missing, and may be tough to source.

The way I remember it, MEC was not the best loader you could buy from back in the day, but they survived, they load a very nice shell.....and you can still get parts for them. Can't say that about most of the others.

 

[Appalachiannative]

A Bam-Bam and Pebbles lunch box?! Get it. That’s probably worth $10 on eBay.

I had the same thought. I didn't notice if it was glued or screwed to the board but either way it's collectors value is diminished

 

[Appalachiannative]

Hornady / Pacific is probably a DL 155. Very nice loader from the day.

There were a lot of very nice loaders from back in the day, but finding parts for them today can be a challenge. Have never used or even seen a 155, so would want to know more about shot and powder bushings. One of the few wear items is the wad guide fingers. If that press uses same as modern Hornady presses and shot and powder bushings available, it is a very good single stage loader. Other things to look for are 6 and 8 point crimp starters and due to the way most were built, the spring loaded cup used to install primers are often missing, and may be tough to source.

The way I remember it, MEC was not the best loader you could buy from back in the day, but they survived, they load a very nice shell.....and you can still get parts for them. Can't say that about most of the others.

That's what I was worried about. It seemed to be missing the cup that holds the new primer on that particular station (if that station is what I think it is) I'll do some research. I don't want something I can't get parts for. It's bad enough that mec went to hard plastic tools, I like the shiny metal ones the older ones have, I sure ain't getting some discontinued model for which are no parts

 

[Appalachiannative]

That's why I sold mine.

I've got this crazy plan to make my own shot by melting down any lead I can find then pouring it out into an old fryer basket that has holes about #7 1/2 size and letting it drip into a bucket of performance motorcycle coolent from my work. The idea is that as the liquid lead is falling it becomes a perfect sphere mid flight then when it hits the liquid it harden. The faster it cools the faster it hardens hence the fancy coolent instead of water. In the mean time I've got a good supply of BPI'S "value shot" left over from before they discontinued it

 

[12Bravo20]

I've got this crazy plan to make my own shot by melting down any lead I can find then pouring it out into an old fryer basket that has holes about #7 1/2 size and letting it drip into a bucket of performance motorcycle coolent from my work. The idea is that as the liquid lead is falling it becomes a perfect sphere mid flight then when it hits the liquid it harden. The faster it cools the faster it hardens hence the fancy coolent instead of water. In the mean time I've got a good supply of BPI'S "value shot" left over from before they discontinued it

There is one major problem with your idea. You better make darn sure that NO molten lead hits the coolant. Molten metal and water soluble liquids do NOT mix at all. you will get an explosive reaction if any molten lead hits the coolant.

 

[Bill M.]

I know nothing about the Hornady. The MEC Sizemaster its a great reloading press and that is a very good good price. If...you want to reload 12 gauge. Right now the components are expensive and difficult to find for sale. I think prices and supply will improve in 6 months or so. I would buy the reloader if I thought I would be interested in loading.