Hello,
Currently I run my shotgun stuff on a Lee-Load-All because it was what I could afford years ago. I am thinking of upgrading to a MEC 600 Jr. with the adjustable charge bar. The problem I always had with the Load-All is that the crimps on the shells are erratic, and sometimes they do not stay closed. I have checked and I do not think the closure problems are due to too much stuff in the hull. (overfilled hull). Do you have any opinions on the 600 Jr.'s crimping ability compared to the Lee?

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Load Hot, Shoot Straight
JoeM

JoeM, I bought my 600jr in 1973 and have loaded more than I have the ability to count. That's a whole bunch and some more. I still use that press and it works flawlessly. I like it so well that I bought a 20GA 600JR for my son's smoke pole. and I also bought a mec progressive loader for trap loads.

Your problem with crimping is mostly due to using the wrong wad. The MEC can adjust wad preasure but when you use a recipe from the load manual you must follow it to a T. If you don't you won't need the press because it might blow up your smoke pole and hurt you real bad. The load manuals give you specific hulls to use and wads, powder type and weight, shot charge, primer. If you follow this recipe the 600 JR will give you loads that look like brand new loads. Don't take chances and live a long fruitfull life of reloading enjoyment. Keep your powder dry...ol crip

Depended on my Ponsness for years, until my kids bought me a SL900 from Dillon for christmas. Now my neighbor owns the Ponsness. I'll never look back. What a machine!

Dear Ol Crip, and fellow board members:
After reading your reply I double checked the data. The chart that came with the Lee press specified that for "AA" type hulls, Herco Powder, a 3 1/4 dram eq. with 1 1/4 oz of lead shot you should use bushing #163 which drops a charge of 23.8 grains.

So I looked in the Hercules Reloaders Guide for Hercules Smokeless Powder and got the following data, again for a 3 1/4 dram eq. with a 1 1/4 ounce lead shot payload.

Winchester AA hull-which I am using
Winchester 209 primer-using that as well
Herco Powder-25.0 grains, so I am actually using a little less than I could be.
Wad-Win WWAA12F114-using these

So my recipe cross checks for accuracy and correct components. But crimping problems persist, as does the occasional crushed wrinkled hull. The Lee press does not feature an adjustable crimper, and it has no way of setting wad pressure; from the Lee owners manual "in reality crimping applies wad pressure."

So back to my previous question, does anybody think the MEC will give me better results seeing as how it features an adjustable crimper and a wad pressure gauge? Or should I look at something else first?

As a histoical byline, I used to make up some 1.5 ounce loads using the Ballistic Products 2 piece wad system, they were OK, but I remember having problems here too. Additionally I have never been able to crimp anything but Winchester and old style "thick wall" Remington cases. Federals come out looking like pretzals. Nothing with a 6 pt. fold will crimp.

One other thing. I looked in my Hercules reloaders publication, my Winchester reloaders publication, My Hodgdon Shotshell Data handbook, and my Ballistic Products "Loading Data for High Performance Buckshot loads" and none of them feature a notation for wad pressure. If I get the MEC how will I know how much was pressure to install?

I just want to get my shotgun stuff to be as reliable as my rifle and handgun stuff has become. HELP!!!!

Thanks in Advance,
Joe

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Load Hot, Shoot Straight
JoeM

Hi, JoeM:
I started with a Load-All and couldn't get good crimps either. Thin walled hulls crimp better than thick walled hulls like Remington RTLs. I got a used MEC Sizemaster and that was the end of crimping problems. MEC has two adjustments on the Crimp die and that lets you sort out most problems. I recrimped some shells when I got the Sizemaster and they looked a lot better.

Bye
Jack