Which MEC progressive?...

[Dave McCracken]

It's looking like a good time to move up from my old 600 JR. I want to stick to MEC. Their service and durability are exemplary.

I've been reading the catalogs. Is auto indexing worth the extra $70 or so to get the 9000 vs the Grabber?

Since I use my shells in a variety of 870s, I want them sized. So, the 650 is not on the short list.

While the universal charge bars have their fans, I hear of the settings drifting.

Once I have it set up, I'll dial in my load of choice and turn out a few cases at a time. I'll need a 1 oz and a 7/8 oz bar. I have a handful of powder bushings that'll work.

I'd look for one used, but they're not common around here and I'm loath to try Ebay.

Any input?

Thanks....

 

[kudu]

I have 4 old grabbers lined up on my bench. They all have original shot and charge bars, mainly because I was too lazy to get an adjustable set. My 12ga is set up for 1oz loads that I generaly don't mess with and I have never set down and loaded 7/8oz on it. The 20ga, 28ga, and .410 all have 7/8, 3/4, and 1/2 oz bars in place.

All but one press I got used from a friend who upgraded to Ponsness Warren presses. Two of them have been rebuilt by MEC before I had got them. All going strong after tens of thousands of rounds.

I have never used a 9000G, but I have heard the output is a little more than the grabber but if a primer fails to drop, and I fail to notice it would seem it's easier to back up the grabber over the 9000G. I don't know how the turrent indexes on the 9000 but grabbers rotate both directions.

Either way you go Dave you should be good to go for 30-40 thousand rounds before either of them needs service work.

 

[sm]

I used the 9000s. One for each ga.

I prefer the sizing method of the single stage like my Versamec 700 over the collet dealie. So since I had 4 MEC single stages ( one for each ga) as well...err...in addition to the Versamec...err then it got crowded...

Basically I used the 9000s, sometimes I would do a "full" resize using the single stages.

I had "stuff" everywhere...just "pick one" and start reloading...

I did not feel the need personally for the hydraulic 9000s. I have used them. I can make a big enough mess with a single stage, gets bigger with the regular 9000...I didn't need any help

Ponsess Warrens are nice, I had one,some...anyway I preferred to keep everything redundnent and interchangible. About the the only thing I had that was matching and color coordinated ...Red &Mec...

As you know I got rid of all of mine...feel good about what I did ....still wished I'd known - I'd sent one/ some your way.

Post a note at the clubs. Never know when someone will want to updgrade to hydraulic or go P/W. I have found some through the newspapers want ads. Sad...but if a fellow becomes ill , has to quit shooting or passes on, I have bought some that way as well. Person and families wanted someone to appreciate. Saves shipping.

 

[Norton]

Dave,

I'd be willing to let you try out my MEC Sizemaster.......maybe I could even figure out how to use it!

 

[HSMITH]

Dave, I have a Grabber, a 600 and 9000G's. The 9000G is in another class all around, the others don't even compare. I had the 9000 before the Grabber and consequently hate the Grabber, it is more work and a lot slower. I can load 600 per hour on the 9000G pretty easy, and can't top 450 on the Grabber. I would not pay more than $75 total for a Grabber new in the box for my own use.

I broke my 9000G, specifically I mangled the wad guide, in the first box of shells I reloaded. I replaced it and that was the last component I replaced, WELL over 100K rounds ago and probably close to 150K rounds ago. It runs well once you know the tendencies and realize you have to keep it clean. Mine has a tendency to run out of primers without any regard to my feelings at all, then powder dumps all over and we have to stop and clean up. Adjusting the primer drop is the only other possible quirk to the 9000G, as the die adjustments are just like the others.

The 9000G is THE frugal/working man's production machine. If you are like me you don't reload for the sake of reloading. I reload to shoot more, if I cut my ammo cost in half and I can shoot that much more. I reload good quality ammo in the least amount of time possible, and don't mind paying a little more for a quality machine that will help me save time without compromising quality. I feed a pretty healthy ammo habit and will not take any more time than necessary from time with the family and so on.

The 9000G is COMPLETELY worth the extra money over the Grabber.

The Dillon SL800 is also worth every red cent it will cost if there is any way in heck you can swing that much money. You have to use the Dillon to realize just how nice it is, nothing else short of fully automated commercial machines is even close. I used one at the state 5 man last year and it blew me away, it is fully twice as fast as my 9000G and requires a lot less effort on the handle. Hoppers are big and strong, and hold enough for several hundred rounds along with an adjustable powder and shot bar. It is everything I want in a shotshell loader.

 

[sm]

HSMITH

Yep - we agree again , this time on 9000s .

So YOU are the other guy MEC said they were sending out the part to as well to fix a mangled wad guide. Small world

I guess we both rec'd the "non self filling" primer tray as well...Amazing how some Rock&Roll and the primer trays ,shot and powders bottles get empty - huh?

Dental pick...gotta keep a dental pick handy. One should anyway. Get a pieceof shot in that collet and /or under indexer....Of course H,- you never had that happen I'm sure...

 

[TrapperReady]

I've got a 9000G that I got used for $150. It was well-used when I got it, but has been nearly flawless. I've done upwards of 10,000 shells on it, and I've only got about 8 or 9 shells which have been mangled in some way.

The only area I'm not completely happy with is the primer feed, but as long as you pay attention and ensure that a primer drops with every pull, then it's fine. If you do end up dumping powder, it's a minor pain to clean up. It normally takes me about 5 or 6 minutes to get going again. Dumping shot (especially #8.5 or smaller) is a bigger pain, since that will get into the small places and start grinding and crunching if you don't get every last piece out. Fortunately, the only time I've had that happen is when something has been out of adjustment... so it's a rare occurance.


I'm not super-fast with mine... but I can crank out a flat's worth of shells in less time than it would take me to drive across town and buy some from Gander Mountain.

BTW, those 8 or 9 mangled shells have universally been due to a slightly out of adjustment wad guide. Funny how the shot doesn't want to stay in the cup when it's mashed the side of the hull down.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, folks. One big advantage this forum has over others is the wealth and depth of experience here in all things Shotgun.

So far, the 9000G is ahead. Let's see how others chip in.....

 

[PJR]

And the 9000G extends it's lead...

I own one and have loaded well over 100k on it. The only replaced parts are the wad guide, the leaf spring in the primer feed and the primer feed coil spring.

The 9000G isn't perfect however. You need to watch the primer like a hawk and ALWAYS make sure it falls correctly. If not you have a powder spill. Sometimes the auto advance falls off the unit but that happens only rarely. The height of the wad guide needs to be adjusted correctly otherwise the machine may not function correctly. All of these things are quite minor and don't detract from what I consider to be the best progressive reloader in its price range.

Paul

 

[45auto]

I'm a big fan of Mec so I doubt you can make a wrong decision.

I load and "box" an easy 500 rounds an hour with a Grabber, using the E-Z loader from Mec. Often, I load without the resizer which is faster and easier.

I don't own a 9000 but "worked" it in the store to determine whether I should upgrade or not. I decided not to because with a manual turret I can place the shell in the E-Z loader instead of having it "kick out" and then box them from a pile of shells.

With a Grabber, by the time the handle is fully brought back up with my left hand, the right hand has advanced the turret so I'm not sure I see the time advantage in an automatic advance.

But, I could be wrong.

Mec should start building loaders for metallic ammo.

 

[HSMITH]

LOL, BUSTED!!!! I have had shot clog up the sizer die and tie up the index (head hung low)......

 

[sm]

*ahem*

In order for my friend HSMITH and I to save face WE actually discovered a little known built in feature of the 9000.

Determination if shot is hard or chilled.

That is correct. If the pliers are not handy to determine via the "plier test", if the shot is hard or soft, there is a built in feature [ HSMITH just nod your head yes].

You see the chilled shot will index easier, often just burnish itself and actually can make operation smoother. In the collet, it can again just flatten itself and fall away.

IF one were to use a dental pick , it is easier to remove the chilled shot.

It is true.

Since 99% of the time the hardest shot found is used - yeah buddy - it'll stop that sucker up! Hard as hell to pick out and will break dental picks...( that is another fun dealie).

Little known tidbit HSMITH and I have kept to ourselves. Hey - we are among friends here and ...wellllll...we decided to finally share.

[ H - you think they bought it?]

 

[RussB]

Another vote for the 9000G...

...I've had mine since 1997. They are a great machine. I highly recommend it.

I've broken a few primer "chains", and the brass spring in the primer tray. Like others have said, you gotta watch that a primer drops each time.

 

[HSMITH]

Shoot Steve, that was good enough I bought it so I'm sure the rest did too

 

[akanotken]

Universal bars

While the universal charge bars have their fans, I hear of the settings drifting.

I don't reload too much, but I do have MEC's that have the universal bar in them. I like them a lot, and have never had one drift on me. As stiff as the adjustment is, I wouldn't think this would be a problem.

Biggest thing I've heard (this is second hand and theoretical) was that the cylinder of a non adjustable would throw a more consistent charge (shot and powder). Think I read that in a reloaders manual 15 years ago. I've not been able to prove that and my loads have been good enough for me.

HSMITH wrote:

WELL over 100K rounds ago and probably close to 150K rounds ago

and

if I cut my ammo cost in half and I can shoot that much more

Holy understatement of the century! lol

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks for the input,folks. The shot tester feature sounds intriguing....

I'll be sure to watch the primer drop.