Anyone here shoot skeet? I'm getting back into it and the price of new ammo is out of sight so I've decided to reload.

Any comments about the various Ponsness Warren loaders or the "cadillac" Spolar. I will be loading for 20ga, 28ga and .410.

Can't answer your questions about "cadillic's" but I liked the basic "chevy/ford" MEC 9000g fitted with a adjustable charge bar.

I agree on the recommendation for MEC. They are available in basic single-stage machines and more complex progressive ones. I don't think it's possible to load better ammo than what is produced on a MEC. Moreover, you can pay a lot more for loading equipment, but I doubt that you can get any loading machine that is significantly better. Furthermore, parts and accessories are widely and easily available for MEC tools.

I myself use a Versamec (an older, single-stage machine) and have die sets for it in 12, 20, and 28 gauges and .410, and I've loaded about 30,000 rounds on it in the last 13 years. (Some skeet shooters load that many rounds in a year!)

Once you use a PW you will not want to go back to mec.

I used mec for 15 yrs, then tried a basic PW375. I now have 3 different models with kits for 28 thru 10 guage.

Mike

I used a ponsness 800c for years while I shot skeet.If I ever start shooting skeet again I will be buying another ponsness.I have used a mec and it is not in the same class.

As far as profressives, I have a Hornady 366 in .410 and 16 ga as well as Apex 3.1's in 12 and 20 and love them.

my vote goes to the hornady 366 i have never used a pw so i cant comment on them but i do like the 366

I use a Posness Warren LS1000. Great machine. I bought this model so I can load larger shot for hunting ducks and geese as well as being abel to reload for trap shooting

MEC9000G, best bang for the buck. PW are good but this is clay shooting, not brain surgery. JMO, PW is overkill for personal production. Have 2 of the 9000G. Easy set up, versatile. They take some minor fiddlin' but after a case or two of reloads get pretty monotonous. The universal charge bar is a useful addition. If you can avoid Mechanical Repetition Hypnosis(MRH) you'll be able to load about 400/hour on the MEC's witout bustin' your hump, and that's probably faster than you can shoot 'em.

If you are looking for a good Shot Shell reloading press....:
I do not shoot skeet or trap but, reload shotgun.
I started with the LEE SHOT SHELL PRESS. The darn thing came appart and I cleaned up powder and shot for 6 months. I paid about $100 for a MEC 600 Jr and then added a few extras. It is a single station and works just fine. If you want a progressive, you must pay for it. The HORNADY 366 is, in my openion, top of the line. Retail, it will cost you $522.77.

D B Bill, you have to ask yourself what is it you need to do with your machines. If your into big volumes your talking progressives. If you need a hundred or so you can probably get away with less (single stage?). And of course there is the over all factor, how much $ can I squeeze out of the house budget.

You've got a tall order there listing 3 gauges. You'll need 3 machines OR the die sets to convert one machine. Some of these machines are a PIA converting over, keep that in mind when choosing your equipment. Spending an hour in change over when you could be reloading wastes a lot of time and who has that these days.

I am a Sporting Clays shooter, using both 12 & 20 ga. I had a PW Multimatic years ago, loved it, but it was expensive and difficult to convet. My solution was to use two MEC 650 progressives. The shells are just as good and both machines were less coastly than the PW. DO PURCHASE the adjustable charge bar if you go with a MEC. They are a great invention.

Scout Master 54

I had all 4 guages in the MEC grabber, sold them and bought 3 PW 2000 with one conversion kit for the 410. The Ponsness is a piece of work but I would have to recommend the grabbers unless you just like to spend money. The PW is a pleasure to work but I do'nt believe it makes a better shell than the MEC. Good Luck!
Shayne

It depends a little on how much time you have available, etc, too. If you are short on time, a progressive comes high to the list. If you want to load hunting shells (buffered, shotwrappers, etc), being able to remove shells at each station becomes a necessity, usually associated with a single stage.

If you shoot an auto, you'll eventually appreciate a three die crimp, so you can round the top off better.

If you are looking at a progressive, do not forget to evaluate the new RCBS "grand". By all accounts a solid machine that is giving the "names" in the business a run for their money.

Right now, I'm a little down on Mec. I just had to replace another part that stripped it's thread. That's two in one year of ownership: I smell pot-metal construction. FWIW, Dutch.