two inch/two and a half inch 12ga. shotshell dies?

darkgael · December 12, 2010, 08:31 AM

I have a couple of old SXSs that are chambered for 2 1/2" shells.
Does anyone know where I can get a set of dies for that length hull?
At present, I load them on a MEC 600 and take them off to add a roll crimp. I'd like to be able to use a star crimp so as to speed things up. (No, I have not contacted Mayville about this. Maybe I should.)
Pete
(also posted at THR)

zippy13 · December 12, 2010, 01:16 PM

Pete, my friend, some of the old-timers at my gun club used to load "shorty" 12-ga loads. IIRC, they did some machine work on their MEC 600 Jr presses where the column bolt sets the loader height. The factory loader can be set to 2 3/4 or 3-inch heights, they just added a third, shorter, height. One re-loader said he'd adapted his loader to shorties by fitting a shim under the shell holder plate.

oneounceload · December 12, 2010, 02:04 PM

The difference is 1/4" - most of the MEC stations will work just fine, then all you need is the correct load/wad, and to readjust your pre-crimp and final crimp die.

Otherwise, look to Polywad, Rst, or Bpi for hulls

zippy13 · December 12, 2010, 05:15 PM

Oneounceload,
Yep, for just a 1/4-inch, an unaltered MEC 660 Jr might work, but Pete was also asking about little 2-inch shorties.

oneounceload · December 12, 2010, 05:46 PM

A MEC Jr. will handle them. The pre and final crimp will need a longer screw to do the 2", but it can be done.

I have a few 2" from Polywad. They sure feel funny in your hand, but they hit the targets just fine

darkgael · December 12, 2010, 10:31 PM

Thanks for the help. I found that Precision Reloading makes spacers that fit into the MEC stations and allow the correct crimp. There are three sizes - 1/4", 1/2", 3/4".
Pete

zippy13 · December 13, 2010, 12:08 AM

Pete, you said you'll roll-crimp your shorties off the Mec. I'm curious, I've never done a roll crimp, how long does it take? I know the old boys who tried to star crimp their shorties without skiving the hulls first didn't get very good results. I suspect there's a skiving tool in your future.

darkgael · December 13, 2010, 06:11 AM

Zippy: Here's a pic of one of the antique roll crimp tools that I use along with another pic of two regular length RC'd paper hulls - Cheddite, I believe. The actual crimp takes about two or three seconds to do. I do not have any pictures of shorter hulls
I have a skivving tool in case I need it.

Pete

zippy13 · December 13, 2010, 11:24 AM

Pete, thanks for the pics, those are nice looking crimps! They'll do an ol' SxS proud.
Next, I suppose you'll have some old time graphics on the over shot wads.

December 12, 2010, 08:31 AM	#1
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	two inch/two and a half inch 12ga. shotshell dies? I have a couple of old SXSs that are chambered for 2 1/2" shells. Does anyone know where I can get a set of dies for that length hull? At present, I load them on a MEC 600 and take them off to add a roll crimp. I'd like to be able to use a star crimp so as to speed things up. (No, I have not contacted Mayville about this. Maybe I should.) Pete (also posted at THR) __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

December 12, 2010, 10:31 PM	#6
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	spacer Thanks for the help. I found that Precision Reloading makes spacers that fit into the MEC stations and allow the correct crimp. There are three sizes - 1/4", 1/2", 3/4". Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

December 13, 2010, 06:11 AM	#8
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	tools Zippy: Here's a pic of one of the antique roll crimp tools that I use along with another pic of two regular length RC'd paper hulls - Cheddite, I believe. The actual crimp takes about two or three seconds to do. I do not have any pictures of shorter hulls I have a skivving tool in case I need it. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

December 12, 2010, 01:16 PM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Pete, my friend, some of the old-timers at my gun club used to load "shorty" 12-ga loads. IIRC, they did some machine work on their MEC 600 Jr presses where the column bolt sets the loader height. The factory loader can be set to 2 3/4 or 3-inch heights, they just added a third, shorter, height. One re-loader said he'd adapted his loader to shorties by fitting a shim under the shell holder plate.

December 12, 2010, 02:04 PM	#3
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	The difference is 1/4" - most of the MEC stations will work just fine, then all you need is the correct load/wad, and to readjust your pre-crimp and final crimp die. Otherwise, look to Polywad, Rst, or Bpi for hulls

December 12, 2010, 05:15 PM	#4
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Oneounceload, Yep, for just a 1/4-inch, an unaltered MEC 660 Jr might work, but Pete was also asking about little 2-inch shorties.

December 12, 2010, 05:46 PM	#5
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	A MEC Jr. will handle them. The pre and final crimp will need a longer screw to do the 2", but it can be done. I have a few 2" from Polywad. They sure feel funny in your hand, but they hit the targets just fine

December 13, 2010, 12:08 AM	#7
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Pete, you said you'll roll-crimp your shorties off the Mec. I'm curious, I've never done a roll crimp, how long does it take? I know the old boys who tried to star crimp their shorties without skiving the hulls first didn't get very good results. I suspect there's a skiving tool in your future.

December 13, 2010, 11:24 AM	#9
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Pete, thanks for the pics, those are nice looking crimps! They'll do an ol' SxS proud. Next, I suppose you'll have some old time graphics on the over shot wads.