shot gun shell reloading

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

sully (taffy)

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2012
Messages
13
Location
south wales u.k
hi everybody im new to the site today,and new to reloading shotgun shells.can anybody tell me a good low budget press.ive been looking at the mec 600 jr in the 28 gauge, what are your views on these presses? as im from the uk (south wales) you can add another $150 on top of the us price,be very greatful if someone could get back to me,thankyou
 
I have five MEC presses. Two of them are 600 Jrs.. a 12ga. and a .410 bore. They make factory-like ammo. Easy to use and sturdy.
Pete
 
I have four MEC 600jr's, one each in 12, 20, 28 gauges and .410 bore. I like them.

i can load about 100 shells per hour on them.

I have a love/hate arrangement with the Universal charge bar that is available as an aftermarket item. I use one with my .410 loader but stuck with the standard MEC bars for the larger gauges. I find the standard charge bar operates a bit easier but the Universal allows you to dial in your powder and shot charges.

I am not sure the primer feed is available for the 28 gauge but over time, I have trended away from them. It would get out of adjustment over time. I would flip a primer tray over on the bench next to the press and found I pick primers up one at a time as fast as fooling with the feed.
 
Welcome, Sully. My great grandpa came over from Wales in 1881.

If you're planning on doing a lot of loading (which I assume inasmuch as you're going to considerable trouble to order a loader), you might want to put a few extra bucks into the loader and get yourself a MEC 650. I have one in 12-ga that I bought in 1971, and it still works like a charm. Puts out a new shell with every pull of the handle.

Wish everything I had worked as good as that loader! :cool:
 
Here is another big "YES" for the Mec 600 Jr presses. I have one that I bought back in 1980 - ish, and it's works just as good as the day I bought it new. They are not exactly a slow press either, I can knock out 100 - 125 rounds per hour on mine once I get a rythm going. And the quality is factory grade.

GS
 
In that price range, MEC is the only choice. The Lee is a poor excuse for a press, and doesn't even make a good door stop or boat anchor.
 
I agree with drsfmd, the Lee Load-All II is terrible. I'd rather reload with handtools than use that thing.
 
I have an old 761 Grabber from the 70s-80s. I rebuilt it and the thing is like a tank. Easily can do 100-200 shells an hour. Best shotshell reloaders on the market if you ask me.
 
I have the LoadAll and I have a MEC 9000. The LoadAll is slower, but as a single stage I had very little problem with it. It's cheap, super simple, includes every powder bushing and shot bushing...for shotshell loading on a budget it is worth looking at.
 
The MEC 600Jr is a sturdy and reliable press. I have them in 12, 16, 20, 28 ga & 410 bore. Some of them are more than 20 years old.
 
My MEC 600 are like yours - over 20 years old and still going strong - takes longer than a progressive - but I have NEVER had a shot or powder spill, a crooked wad insertion, flipped primer or any of the issues that seem common to all progressives, and with the UCB, dialing in the exact load for my components is great - the downside is 6 strokes per new round as opposed to one on a progressive
 
oneounceload said:
- the downside is 6 strokes per new round as opposed to one on a progressive
Click to expand...

Right, but i got my four MEC 600jr for less than the cost of two MEC 650's. They allowed me to shoot four gauges in skeet.

Even with 6 strokes per shell, i could load more shells than i could afford to shoot at the time. A couple of evenings of reloading would get me two to three weeks of practice rounds.

It did not hurt that I was on TDY at another paper mill with not much to do in the evenings.:)
 
Last edited:
Presses

Had three 600s, as stated earlier, gave one away to a young fellow that I shoot with at the Trap range.
Love that .410 press. Gets the cost per shell down to civilized levels.
For volume, though, as my weekly usage continues to rise, I went to a used Grabber and then to a new 9000.
I can load a box of shells in five minutes without being in a hurry.
As to the Lee press, I own one and can see the attraction cost wise but I have never been able to get nearly the same quality shell as from any of the MECs...and it is slower than the 600.
Pete
 
mec 9000G, i didn,t buy it for top speed,but for loading at my lazy speed,one pull of the handle and out pop,s a shell. i like sticking a case in and inserting a wad and bingo with the pull of the handle one is loaded., when i,m done loading i leave the stations full,then fill the shot hopper and powder hopper and primer tray, then cover it with the pollow case home made cover. when i want to load again in take the cover off and i am ready to go. when i load its about 350 at a time,i shot trap twice a week and five stand and sporting clays once a month on averege. eastbank.
 
hi in answer to your question i use the 28 on most outings i love the little thing pheasant shoot rabits and wood pigoen but when pigeon shootig in the summer it gets very pricey its about £250 1000 28 gauge and an average day you shoot around 150-200 cartridges on a good day you can double that im not saying every one is a kill mind thats why i am getting into reloading . im not new to loading i load my own rifle rounds but i have never bothered with the shot gun cartridge
 
I like the 28 gauge as well in part it was what my dad taught me to shoot shotgun with.

Also, it was the gauge that I won my first class win in skeet.
 
Didn't realize the 28 was as popular over there - it is a great cartridge. That price isn't that bad, similar here for top name brand stuff - but it is still a lot more than 12 or 20 which is why reloading a 28 makes so much sence
 
hi, i have been looking at the lee but every site i have looked at they say they dont do them in a 28 gauge if you know any different could you please let me know but i think i am swaying towards the mec i dont think anybody has had a bad word to say about them and alot of people have had them many years
 
its not that popular over here but in saying that alot of fellow shooters are getting more intrested in them the most popular is the 12 and a close 2nd is the 20
 
hi, i have been looking at the lee but every site i have looked at they say they dont do them in a 28 gauge if you know any different could you please let me know but i think i am swaying towards the mec i dont think anybody has had a bad word to say about them and alot of people have had them many years
Click to expand...

Lee doesn't make the LLA II in 28 gauge nor have they ever made it in that gauge so i have no clue why it was ever even mentioned in the thread. The 600 jr. is the least expensive option you have for the 28 gauge and with the addition of a universal charge bar it's a great option. You will never regret the decision of buying a mec SS press.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top