Shotshell Reloading - Is this really it ?

[rfwobbly]

The used MEC 9000 shot shell loader purchased on Ebay arrived Thursday. I thought it was a reasonable deal, but in explaining to the seller that I was new to shot shell reloading he threw in about 300 Remington hulls and 6 or 7 shot shell reloading manuals. The machine was clean and appears to be unused. It came with the adjustable powder bar and a bunch of other upgrades. So as deals go, I can't complain.

So I got this monster setup in my reloading room. In reading about shot shell reloading I kept seeing where people mounted their machines in plastic bins to contain all the shot. I thought, Jezz that can never happen to me, I'm a competent reloader. WRONG !!

MEC must own stock in the shot and powder companies. Between tilting the the uncapped canisters and metering out shot and powder to hulls that weren't present, within 30 minutes I had covered my reloading bench in Clays and the floor in #8 shot. This is unbelievable! I spilled more powder last night in one session than I have in the previous 30 years!

I fully realize that there is a learning curve, but this is ridiculous. Is this really what MEC users put up with to reload shot shells? I'm paying so much attention to make sure a hull is in every station that the safety aspects are being over-looked. I'm almost afraid to shoot the first rounds.

Please tell me I'm not alone! WalMart 100 packs are starting to look better.

 

[Blue68f100]

Sounds like your missing the seals that go between the load bar and bottles. There is a rubber/brass washer that seals off so you don't leak powder. Look at your paper work for your press for these parts.

I have been using a Mec 600 for 35+ years. They make a good press and no not spill powder or shot if your setup right. Where the shot is spilled is that it gets hung up in the drop tube. You learn to listen for the drop, if it hangs you just tap the tube.

Yes a little tray does help keep things in check....

 

[oneounceload]

IF you have a hangup or other snag, the 9000 will continue to do what it is designed to do - drop powder and shot. If you forget to put the red caps in the bottles and tilt them back, you're hosed. As a previous owner of a 9000, I now prefer the RCBS Grand as it has a way that will not drop powder or shot unless a hull is present in their stations.

One thing that will help - a cookie sheet or plastic tray from Burger King or similar under the press is helpful. If you use a metal sheet, ground the press and tray.

(you should also go to shotgunworld.com, to the reloading section, and contact the poster named Curly - he is the MEC guru when it comes to solving problems)

 

[oldreloader]

+1 on ask Curly no-hair. He IS the Mec Q&A man!

 

[rcmodel]

Heck, I'm still picking up BB's in the basement from when my kids were 10 years old.

And that was 30 years ago!!

rc

 

[dickttx]

When I got a MEC loader about 40 years ago I mounted it on a 12x18 piece of 3/4" plywood sink cutout with the formica on it. I then glued and nailed quarter round around it. Deep enough to catch those darn little BB's but not so deep as to be uncomfortable working over it. It is not like a brass press. You don't need to clamp it down. Still on the same piece.

 

[esheato]

Haha...When I had a MEC, my shop vac had a permanent home next to the press.

 

[rfwobbly]

Well, as of this afternoon I'm starting to calm down. I can report that 98 of my first 100 reloads fired good and there were no issues there. Of the bad eggs, 1 was over size and wouldn't chamber, the other still had the fired primer in it.

And my shooting percentage jumped up from about 50% to well over 85% busted clays. I'm not exactly sure if it was the new loads, but I'm very pleased.

Thanks for the tip on the hamburger joint serving tray. That's exactly what I need under the press.

The whole thing is equal parts of funny and frightening. However, I am considering twin Uni-Flows on tip of this thing !!

 

[gamestalker]

The shot and powder conisters are supposed to be capped to prevent spill when you tilt them back. I inadvertantly loast mine and used corks instead, worked just fine.
So far as spills happening at the stations, make sure you have a hull and other components in ready order or the machine will drop powder and shot charges on to your bench. It's not the machine failing in any manner what so ever, it's just the nature of the process involved in using that great shotshell reloader.

 

[oneounceload]

Unless you have an issue with a hull, such as slightly out of round, or one that gets stuck in the hull, or something else that prevents a full cycle of the handle and you short stroke it - now you will have a mess and possibly empty and double charged hulls

MECS are like Jaguars - when they are running right, they work fine; but a little hiccup and powder/shot drops are common

 

[Armored farmer]

It has been my experience that you CAN goof up a shell.....but you will know it when you do. Double drops or no-drops will result in an imperfect shell.
Newer mec's have charge bar stops to prevent dropping powder/shot if no hull is present.
That new mec may take a bit of adjustment to get lined out, but once you do, you will have a a great loader that will really churn out the ammo. I wonder what hulls you are using?? You mentioned the wally-type cheapo type 100 packs...... those hulls are terrible to try to load. They feel like running gravel through a loader. Get some quality hulls. AA's or STS, are nice to reload some Federals are too. Choose one, adjust your loader to them, and stick with them.
I'm no expert or guru or whatever, just a guy who has put a few tons of lead through a mec loader.
P.S.
Reloading is serious business, it takes concentration and effort to knock out perfect shells. I don't even like to be bothered or interupted while reloading.

 

[horsearcherwannabe]

I have a mec 600 jr. I have never had any thing spill ever.