My son has just moved on from a 20 bore to a 12 bore (just when I eventually got the Mec 9000 set up to reload nice shells)

I have been offered a Posness Warren 600 which I believe is an older machine.

the newer model is the 800B.

Does anyone out there have any experience of either model who could advise aither way.

I'm not worried about high volume, just decent shells reasonably fast (ie not single stage)

Cheers

Brian

Brian,

The two machines are quite different.

The 600 (is it a 600 or a 600B?) is a manually-operated semi-progressive machine built on the small base that they still use for the 375 single-stage. The 800B is an older model of their large progressive, built on the large base. The current comparable models are the 200 and the 800 Plus.

The original 600 did not have primer feed; primers had to be put on the seating post individually by hand, just as with the 375. The 600B added a primer feed. The machine does not advance from station to station; you have to turn the turret by hand. This is not that much of a disadvantage, as you also have to drop the powder and shot by hand, and it's quite easy to establish a rythym.

The B models do not taper their shells; the shell crimps are rather square on the end.

There was a conversion kit to make the 600B into a C (taper crimp) model, but it was quite expensive, as the sizing dies are the really pricey parts, and the 600 uses ten (the 800/2000 series only has eight) (there was never a 600C made). The parts for the kit are still current, I believe, as they are used in other machines; they could probably put one together for you.

It's not critical in a breakopen shotgun; the taper is primarily important with pump and semi-auto shotguns, for easier feeding. I've shot thousands of shells loaded on a 600B in my O/U trap and skeet guns.

The real problem with the 600 is the charging ring - the plastic part that holds the bushings, beneath the powder and shot reservoirs. The mold P-W was using broke about 15 years ago, and since the press had by then been out of production for about ten or fifteen years (this is from a conversation I had with them about five years ago, so if I'm not completely accurate, my apologies), they decided not to replace it. This is the primary breakage problem with these presses; the ring cracks, especially at the corners of the recess for the stop pin. Especially if an original is available, a replacement could be made, either metal or plastic, but the molding or machining cost would probably be close to the difference between a used 600 and a new 800 Plus. BTW, P-W has their big loaders on sale through the end of the year; check their website (www.reloaders.com). That comparison and the sale price is why I retired my old 600B in favor of the 800 Plus.

The 600 series has, in essence, three groups of parts. Some parts are common with the 375 loaders. Some are common with the 2000/800 Plus loaders. All of these parts are still available. Some, though, are unique to the 600, and those are no more. When I spoke with them, I got all of the unique 600 parts needed to convert to 20, 28 and .410 (being optimistic), plus their last toolhead. They were out of .410 wad rams, and I believe I got some of the last of the other parts (I did get an extra 28 ga. wad ram to have turned down).

In my own opinion (and I admit that I'm prejudiced, as well as unexperienced with other makes of loaders), no loader on the market turns out better shotshells than a P-W. I live two hours' drive from Dillon, and while I have one of their presses for metallic loading, I still got a P-W when I got my new press recently, instead of a Dillon.

It turns out wonderful ammunition - and I can't shoot it as fast as it loads it, even with my partner shooting with me (I'm a better shot than she is <G>.

If you can get the 800B, it will turn out good ammuntion, live forever, so to speak, and is still supported by P-W. They will be as helpful as they can, I expect, if you have problems with the 600, but they have limited parts, and somehow, just talking about problems isn't always enough.

Between the two, get the 800B. If you can, get a new one. The new machines are still excellent - and believe it or not, they only cost about twice what they did when they were first introduced about forty years ago.

Anthony,

Thanks for the detailed descriptions. I've been looking for a used PW in .410. Your information will help.

BH

It is pretty easy to find used 800Bs in our area for between $200 and $300. A great bargain, but, of course, most of them are in 12 ga. I've loaded 100s of thousands of shells on mine, it kind of sits looking lonely now that I'm no longer shooting competitively.

Don't even think about it, get an 800, not the 600. Be patient, go to a few of the larger gun shows and you'll find one on the cheap.

Thanks for your help guys.

A Pacific 366 came along and I decided to go for it.

The 800b sells second hand for about �300/350 in Britian.

The Pacific is turning out great shells.

I even managed to shoot better than my son on one of the pegs at skeet.

I shot 2 out of 4 and he hit one.(he was trying to show off and kill them early. I just waited and somehow managed to kill them late on)

I had a 366 once, they are good loaders, but if you have the inevitable shot spill, you will get some under the table and it will start to drag big time, it is a pain in the butt to have to stop and clean it up. But it does make a good shell. Good luck on your shooting.