Looking for a press for shotgun reloads
- Thread starter axeman40
- Start date
It is funny how we all like different equipment. I started with the 375's one in 12 and one in 410 and had one 366 Hornady. Both produced a quality round for sure but I absolutely hated them. Just too bulky and heavy for me.
I am MEC to the bone
Certainly you are right that we all have our personal preferences. We all appreciate different aspects more, which can effect our ranking.
However I just have to ask what bulky and heavy has to do with?
I don't find the PW 375 to be more bulky then a MEC, maybe my memory of the single stage MEC I used is poor, but i remember them being a similar size.
What are you doing with the press that the weight matters? Mine get bolted to the bench and never move. You might have a good reason, but I just can't grasp it on my own.
However I just have to ask what bulky and heavy has to do with?
I don't find the PW 375 to be more bulky then a MEC, maybe my memory of the single stage MEC I used is poor, but i remember them being a similar size.
What are you doing with the press that the weight matters? Mine get bolted to the bench and never move. You might have a good reason, but I just can't grasp it on my own.
I wish I could do that but with many it is hard to do. I have one solid heavy duty bench I reload at with a universal plate I made up to mount all mec presses from 600jr, sizemasters, steelmasters to 9000g.
So one press mounted at a time.
I reload every gauge from 410 to 10ga in lead and steel and have a press set up for each.
For example in 410 a 600jr for 2 1/2 hunting loads, a sizemaster for 3" and a 9000g for my skeet loads. Like 6 different 12ga alone if you add the 3" and 3 1/2" steelmasters in
So pending what I am reloading tonite I have to switch out the press so the weight matters to me carrying them across the basement to the bench. Here is a few of them waiting their turn on a shelf in a spare room. A 9000g is about 23 pounds vs 34 for a 366 to an old guy I notice it plus I could never find the storage room for the same amount of loaders in a hornady or p&w design
Am I out of control for sure but it just happened over 40 plus years of reloading shotgun, and picking up a press here and there.
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That is an awe-inspiring picture. In your shoes, my handle would be "mecman".
I run a MEC 8567 Grabber, very happy with it. The resizer, a collet-style, is essential for the loading I do (once-fired hulls from wherever don't always want to fit in my chamber).
Tried a number of lower-volume routes, got frustrated, moved up. MECs are relatively inexpensive (particularly used on eBay), parts and accessories are available (especially the adjustable charge bar), and mine at least works flawlessly.
easyrider604
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Too funny.
It is like guns, first there is one, then six then you know the rest of the story. Now I wish I had not been so stupid 10 or 12 years ago and sold off all my rifle stuff. Rebuying it this year at todays prices is scary. 
I use a Lee LoadAll II. Works like a charm, especially with AA's. But what do I know.
you're not alone
Thanks 3macs1, now I can see what your point is.
I run a PW LS-1000 that I can load 12 gauge, 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" or 10 gauge 3 1/2 with. That stays permanently mounted.
Then I have a MEC 8567 in 410 that usually gets put up and run's a batch of 2k once a year, before being replaced on the bench by my PW 375 for putzing with test loads etc.
In progressives you are absolutely correct, that MEC's are half the size of a PW, however it's the size of the PW that I like, I find it easier to work with. Again just personal preferrences. Your making me feel better anyway, I only have 3 shotgun presses, to go with my 3 progressive and 3 single stage cartridge loaders.
Guess I better go buy some more presses to keep up. Actually a hull feeder for the PW is on the wish list right now.
I run a PW LS-1000 that I can load 12 gauge, 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" or 10 gauge 3 1/2 with. That stays permanently mounted.
Then I have a MEC 8567 in 410 that usually gets put up and run's a batch of 2k once a year, before being replaced on the bench by my PW 375 for putzing with test loads etc.
In progressives you are absolutely correct, that MEC's are half the size of a PW, however it's the size of the PW that I like, I find it easier to work with. Again just personal preferrences. Your making me feel better anyway, I only have 3 shotgun presses, to go with my 3 progressive and 3 single stage cartridge loaders.
Guess I better go buy some more presses to keep up. Actually a hull feeder for the PW is on the wish list right now.
Three presses is fine I just got tired of switching dies and resetting machines and it seemed so many of my friends that shot in the 70's and 80's got out of it so I would end up buying all of what they had and extra presses came with the deal. I find now once I have them working and crimping the way I want I just leave them alone.
I also keep a few jr's in 12 and 20 just to lend to young guys that were starting to reload to see if they liked it prior to getting their gear.
Unfortunately not much demand there now like it was 20 years ago. I new reloader this year we helped that is all. Sad
They are readily available on eBay. I found that the crimps weren't all that good, and of course there is no resizing.
I have a 12ga. lyman resize die that you hammer them in then use a wood dowl to drive the shell out. Not sure why i bought it but i picked it up at the old Rifle Ranch that Al Peterson ran. Was likely pickeled, lots of drinking at that shop.
I have the Lee version. It works, even resizing the rim, but is painfully slow and noisy. Great if you are surviving on a desert island and somehow have access to powder, primer, wads, and shot, otherwise not worth it.
