Recently taken over the reloading chores for group of shooters and using subject press and find the rascal a bit on the finicky side. Adjustments are crucial, primer feed can be a pain in the rear at times, but it does load some shells in quick order once it is up and running. Anyone else have experience good or bad with the MEC 9000??? Will say the factory people are most helpful with problem solving and seem to know their product and that is a big plus. Dillon's shell loader is expensive, but if price were no object, any experience with that progressive loader?? Perhaps all progressives are a bit on the edge. Any and all thoughts would be appreciated.

Put five shotshell reloaders together, and you'll get six opinions about which press is best.

I've been looking at upgrading my 650, so I've been looking and listening. The Dillon is good, but doesn't have the collet resizer (in case you're loading steel based shells). The hull feeder is excellent, and the gauge change is practical (a concern now that the wife is starting to shoot 20 ga again).

The PW is nice, but I don't like how it seats primers, and you can't take shells out once they are in the carousel. Same with the Pacific/Hornady. The Spolar is above my means.

As far as the 9000 goes, the only suggestion I've never heard anyone disagree with is to get the new primer feed. Bigger 'n better. JMO, Dutch.

I went with the PW 8oo plus. You can take the shells out of the carousel, I think Dutch is talking about the older 800 B but they also can be converted to taking the shells out, If you want a good strong press and dont want to spend the big dollars on a Spolar the Ponsness is the way to go and till the end of the month they are on sale for 649

I'm on my second 9000G. New one had the bigger primer tray so I sold my old one to another trap shooter. Easy to set-up and functions great. I'm sure there are better ones but the price is right and great customer support if you have issues. I'm set up for one load and just never change. Problem: price is always an issue.
BT

I run two 9000Gs, one in 20 and one in 12. Once its setup to run, it runs for ever.

Great units.

Thanks for the replys. Since posting this have loaded couple hundred more rounds and had no problems with the machine. Most problems I have had are "operator error" type and remembering to fold back the two bottles and slinding the bar to the left has finally stuck into my brain!! Our unit has the adjustable/knob type bar and believe have even mastered that now as well. Believe the machine will serve our purposes well. Again, thanks

after over 10 years of use my biggest problem is still don't over tighten the powder bottle if you do the measure won't slide freely & you get short weights & bloopers.

I use a 20 and a 12 9000G and found that an extremely rigid bench works....no twist or flex...let the loader work....yes it takes a bit of finagaling but when it's set up....you can make ammo quick~!

I have a P/W and the Dillon.Love the ajustablity of the Dillon.Makes trying new things easy and it does use a collet resizer.I bought the P/W because the Dillon doesn't load 410 and it works great but you have to buy bushings every time you want to experiment,were as with the Dillon you just adjust the shot and powder weights.

you are correct, they do take some understanding to get the adjustments correct and stay in the same sizes to make adjustments minimal. MEC people are very good at talking you through on the phone though. Even better in person if you take your unit in to them (convenient for those of us in SE Wisconsin).

My issue is the tightening of the bottles (apparently) and if some shot gets in the collet resizer they dome the shells (and you find this out real quick). Consistency is everything and keeping good housekeeping practices a must on the units.... which I suspect is the same on any brand.

Have had mine for about 15 years now & my biggest problem has been do not over tighten the shot or powder bottles as that will stop the charge bar from its full travel & cause bloopers & other bad things.