MEC Shotgun Reloaders?

[wizofwas]

If I start shooting enough, I might want to try my hand at shot shell reloading. The local reloading shop here has some used MEC reloaders for sale. What little research I've done on them, they look like they work just fine and will last a long time. The reloader that I'm looking at is a MEC 600 Jr. Just wondering what others thought of them and any pro's or con's on them. TIA for any info.

 

[32shooter]

Wiz, I have used the MEC 600 Jr. for years. No problems. I also have a Ponsness-Warren progressive press bolted on the bench beside the MEC. I use the MEC for small batches of ammo(quick & easy change over) and the P/W for my standard clays round. I used the MEC for years before I bought the P/W. Hope this helps.

 

[loaded round]

I started with a MEC when I started shooting trap many years ago and the two I had served me extremely well with just minor problems until I upgraded to a Dillon SL900 five years ago. Bottom line is you can't go wrong with a MEC and the company does provide excellent customer service.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

The Mec 600Jr. Shotshell loader will make fine ammo. If you have not reloaded shotgun
Shells before you need to pick up a good load manual that includes the hull make and type as part of the load data and load using the exact components listed until you have built some experience. Some components can be substituted successfully and some can't. Stay safe,

 

[sandman228]

the mec 600 jr is a decent press I own 2 of them 1 for 410 the other for 12 gauge . for 410 its worth it , but with the cost of shot (38.00 plus tax locally per 25 lb bag) its hardly worth reloading 12 or 20 gauge . im a bullet caster so I keep lead on hand at all times anyhow so I invested in my own shot maker ,that brings the cost way down .

 

[Bucks Owin]

I have three MEC loaders, two 600 jr and a Versamec. (20, 16 &12 ga setups) All around 30+ yrs old. They are excellent pieces of equipment IMHO, no complaints... :wink:

 

[wizofwas]

Thanks for all of the replies. Sandman, yours was probably the best. After looking at reloading supplies, I was wondering if it would really be cost effective. I would be reloading and shooting 12 gauge only. I've been told that I can have all of the lead that I want, so if I get into reloading, I'll have to get a shot maker too. Thanks again.

 

[sandman228]

well thanks , I used to have the costs figured out I think with store bought shot the savings was less than 1.00 per box of 25 if I remember right it was only about .50 verses buying elcheapo 12 gauge walmart ammo .now for making your own shot im not trying to talk you out of it or into it for that matter .if you have access to free lead that's a very good start ,but to buy a good shotmaker like a Littleton your getting into $$$. I bought an affordable shotmaker on e bay ,its basicly a square pan about 10by 10 with shot drippers on 1 side with a small piece of steel welded on for an incline for the shot to roll down into your coolant .the biggest challenge with these is keeping them hot enough (don't even attempt to use on a colder day) they have to be very hot to work . the next challenge is finding the best coolant to use DO NOT USE WATER molten lead dropped into cold water blows up like popcorn . I use fabric softener ive heard of guys using antifreeze , laundry detergent , atf , diesel fuel ,and any and everything in between. the next challenge getting your shot round I still have yet to perfect this 1 my shot isn't perfectly round but ive learned to live with it ,it works fine , I can blow a clay pigeon out of the sky just as good as store bought and im sure it would take out small game if I chose to do so . the affordable shot maker costed me about 100$ it does work ,but it very much a pain in the a$$ yes in my opinion . I cranked out about 50 lb of shot in 2 sessions last summer and hope to do the same this summer that should last me quite some time then hopefully I can put the shot maker away and forget about it lol. here again im not trying to talk you into or out of it that's your call, im just telling you my experience . I got into shot shell loading only because I own and enjoy shooting my Mossberg 500 410 and like I mentioned before its worth it to reload for .I also own a benelli nova 12 gauge I reload for it because I was given a mec 600 press and reloading supplies for 12 gauge .on occasion my son ,my father in law and myself will spend an afternoon shooting clay pigeons usually I supply all or at least most of the ammo . that's basicly what all my shot shell ammo is used for other than the 000 buckshot I cast and load it usually gets used to blow holes in zombie targets . by the way ,no way I would use diesel fuel for shot coolant im just repeating what ive read.

 

[XP100]

You will save 1.00+ per 25 rounds. The other advantage is you can find a load that works best in your gun and have the same load all the time. Different guns like different loads and pattern & shoot better with consistent loads. Unless you buy premium loads, Winch. AA, Rem. STS or Fed. GM shells you may not get consistant loads. Less Expensive factory rounds are cheaper for a reason.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

My 600 JR is over 40 years old and still produces quality ammo. It was in 12 ga. Several years ago I bought a 20 ga. conversion and now it serves double duty.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I've got four Versamecs (fancy version of the 600 when they were in production) dating back to about 1975. 12, 20, 28 and .410 for all gauge skeet use. Also have a "newer" 600 Jr., probably 20 yrs old by now. All have served well, with probably 150k+ rounds on the 12 ga Versamec after I put away the skeet gun in favor of a trap gun. About 50k between the others combined. Can't find it in the rubble right now, but I believe my original Mec 250 (20 ga) from Christmas, 1965 still lives here, too.

These single stage MECs aren't fancy, but will load tournament winning ammo, and given reasonable care, will last most users a lifetime. And if something does give up on them, MEC's really good about furnishing spare parts. Several online vendors also stock the "usual stuff" like charge bars and bushings, wad guides and a couple of other items.

Haven't "done the math" for a while, but when I was loading shotshells regularly, I figured I could load a "comparable" shell for about half what the factory charged. So if a box of Win A-A trap loads ran $7, my trap loads were about $3.50-$4.00. A $20.00 box of factory duck loads ran about $10.00-$12.00 to duplicate. There's no way I could compete with Wally's bulk packs for price, but there's no way they performed anything like my better grade loads, either! To top that off, it's a long story I won't tell here, but a major brand promo load was responsible for blowing the end of a barrel on one of my 870s once--that was really a false economy, and I never bought another one.

Rick C

 

[wizofwas]

Thanks again for the extended info. It's still something to think about, but for the time being I'll have to stick with the store bought ammo. I'm thinking of trying my hand at doing some cowboy shooting but from what little I've seen of that, there's not really much of an advantage of hand rolled vs. store bought in the shotgun. I can see where loading your own would be helpful in trap, skeet and hunting loads, but I've only been trap shooting once and have never hunted with a shotgun. Now I can see why there isn't much discussion of shot shell reloading here (I looked), for the most part, it's not really worth it for the casual shooter.

 

[warren5421]

The biggest advantage is you can load black powder. Shooting SASS you can save a $100 in no time shooting black by reloading. I loaded for 5 shooting black for several years, saved enough to make several state matches.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

I buy inexpensive Buy Mart ammo for Cowboy shooting. Reloads usually don't slip into the chambers or extract and fall out as slick as factory stuff in my guns. In cas,
Speed is more important than power or quality of the shot given the easy targets we shoot. Also there is none of the mess of sorting and reloading the cases. It's not worth it to save a buck or two per match for me.

 

[sandman228]

I was at a local gun shop the other day buying a pound of 4227 for 327 loads I happened to come across 2 bags of laurance mag shot on the shelf 47.95 per 25 lb bag wow . before I started making my own I was buying an import brand called Viking for 38.00 at a shop about 30 min from me which was still a bit high imo .

 

[loaded round]

Shot is 38.00-40.00 per bag in my area.

 

[hawk_driver]

I got a MEC 600 for Christmas when I was 15, in 1983. I cant count the number of shells that press has loaded. I have never had a single problem with it. Keep it clean and lube the pivot points and it should outlast you.

 

[RedLabel]

I just like reloading for the fun of it and yes, I've got three 600s. Every time someone says its not worth reloading anymore the price of new ammo goes up too. It's still worth it and fun too!!!

Now if I could just find a never ending source of .410 empties.

 

[warren5421]

RedLabel get a 12 year old grandson, give him a 410 double, have a auto clay bird slinger, this will equal a never ending source of .410 empties. Don't ask how I know, next one gets a 12 gage.

 

[oyeme]

Thanks again for the extended info. It's still something to think about, but for the time being I'll have to stick with the store bought ammo. I'm thinking of trying my hand at doing some cowboy shooting but from what little I've seen of that, there's not really much of an advantage of hand rolled vs. store bought in the shotgun. I can see where loading your own would be helpful in trap, skeet and hunting loads, but I've only been trap shooting once and have never hunted with a shotgun. Now I can see why there isn't much discussion of shot shell reloading here (I looked), for the most part, it's not really worth it for the casual shooter.

I started with MEC loaders but eventually moved on to the Pacific (now Hornady 366 progressive). I have also owned and used the Ponsness Warren 375 single stage a great deal and like it best for a single stage machine. The single stage reloaders like the 600jr are fine for a few boxes but get old quickly if you shoot a lot. If you are a casual shooter, you are absolutely correct that it no longer pays to reload. This applies to 12 and 20 gauge but not to 16, 28 or .410. Those are so darn expensive that it does pay to reload them. If you shop carefully online and wait and catch sales with free or minimal shipping you will find 12 gauge and 20 gauge for most uses that you may have for approximately $6 delivered. I have also come to the same conclusion that it no longer pays to reload 12 & 20 gauge. 16, 28 and .410 are the exception. I shoot 4-8 boxes of shells per week and have 40+ years of shotshell reloading so I guess that makes me a bit more than a casual shooter.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I have also owned and used the Ponsness Warren 375 single stage a great deal and like it best for a single stage machine. The single stage reloaders like the 600jr are fine for a few boxes but get old quickly if you shoot a lot.

Hi,

All the P-W machines are very nicely done. Somewhat like Dillon in the metallic world: after a certain price point, small improvements come at large increases in price. Not that they're not worth it, just something to consider for the new buyer.

I've used MEC single stages since I got a used 250 for Christmas, 1965. Can't find it today, but am pretty sure it's still here in a box somewhere! Currently have Versa-Mecs in 4 gauges (from skeet shooting days) and a 600 Jr. Loaded about 25k rounds/year--competition ammo which would hold its own with anybody's--on the 12 ga Versa-Mec (pretty much what today's 600 Jr. is) for several years. Never got "old" for me. YMMV.

Rick C