Which MEC?

N2GN2 · April 18, 2010, 09:01 AM

Hello all,

I'm looking toward your advice on which MEC reloader I should get for 12 g. I won't be reloading a ton right away, but I also would like to have a press that I will never need to upgrade. I'm very confident that I will never need a progressive. I think I have narrowed it down to a 600, sizemaster, and a grabber. I will be reloading for trap with a rem 870. I also expect to reload hulls that I find and ones that are given to me. Thank you for sharing your experience.

kraigwy · April 18, 2010, 09:49 AM

I really found the Mec 600 Jr. the easiest to use, and its quite quick for a non=progressive.

I use to shoot a lot of trap and skeet, I had one in 12, 20, 28, and 410. The 410 was a real pain in the butt to load for, so I didnt use it much.

I only have the 12 and 20 right now as I dont do that much shotgun shooting.

I bought my Mec 600 JRs in the mid 70s and they still work great today.

N2GN2 · April 18, 2010, 10:19 AM

Do I need to worry about the better MEC having better resizing options?

rbernie · April 18, 2010, 10:20 AM

Since I want the base resized, I use the 600Jr. The progressives will go faster, but you'll have to resize the bases off the progressive (which will obviously slow things down again).

I can crank out a pretty good amount per hour on the 600 Jr; maybe 150 per hour or so. That's about as fast as I need to go.

greco · April 18, 2010, 10:25 AM

I have 2 MEC models I have had for about 20 years or so. The are the model 9000, and they eject a complete round for each stroke of the handle. The base is resized at the first station. The loads look and perform beautifully.

One is manual and one has a spring/gas assist which turns it one station at a time. I kind of prefer the manual one because if you mess something up, it is easy to stop the sequence, fix the problem and get right back to it. This happens more often than you think. Sometimes a primer may get out, or upside down, or a wad won't enter correctly or something.

I have reloaded over 100,000 rounds with these 2 machines since I used to shoot skeet in tournaments all over the place. They still work just fine with no repairs.

N2GN2 · April 18, 2010, 10:25 AM

If I get the 600, is the primer feed the way to go? If it is, would it then be better to get the sizemaster?

l98ster · April 18, 2010, 05:12 PM

i have both the sizemaster and the 600 jr. the primer feed is a must. DEFINITLY!!! also, the sizemaster will resize the brass on the first station and has a larger shot bottle.

So, if its a choice between the 600 and the sizemaster, go with the sizemaster.

However, if you plan ondoing a lot of trap and skeet shooting, I would step it up to a progressive. Dont get me wrong, the sizemaster can truck along pretty well, but I was shooting about 500 rounds a week, and the sizemaster was taking up a lot of my time.

-George

N2GN2 · April 18, 2010, 06:30 PM

Thank you everyone for your help! I'm confident that the MEC Sizemaster is the shot press for me. I hope to order it soon!

rottieman33 · April 18, 2010, 06:43 PM

I just got in to reloading shot shell and have a Mec 600 Jr. I did about 500 rounds in 4-6 hours taking my time. My dog kept wanting to play ball so that slowed me down a little. Do get the bottle supports for it. I had mine fall off on me and it made a mess of #8 shot all over the place.

Magnum Mike · April 18, 2010, 08:06 PM

Quite a difference between a 600 and a grabber! I have both. I use the 600 for screw ups and handicap loads. The grabber is about as progressive as it gets only it does not auto index! I would never go back to the 600 for my main press.

April 18, 2010, 09:01 AM	#1
N2GN2 Junior Member Join Date: April 18, 2010 Posts: 4	Which MEC? Hello all, I'm looking toward your advice on which MEC reloader I should get for 12 g. I won't be reloading a ton right away, but I also would like to have a press that I will never need to upgrade. I'm very confident that I will never need a progressive. I think I have narrowed it down to a 600, sizemaster, and a grabber. I will be reloading for trap with a rem 870. I also expect to reload hulls that I find and ones that are given to me. Thank you for sharing your experience.

April 18, 2010, 09:49 AM	#2
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I really found the Mec 600 Jr. the easiest to use, and its quite quick for a non=progressive. I use to shoot a lot of trap and skeet, I had one in 12, 20, 28, and 410. The 410 was a real pain in the butt to load for, so I didnt use it much. I only have the 12 and 20 right now as I dont do that much shotgun shooting. I bought my Mec 600 JRs in the mid 70s and they still work great today. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

April 18, 2010, 10:20 AM	#4
rbernie Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2004 Location: Plain Ol', TX Posts: 713	Since I want the base resized, I use the 600Jr. The progressives will go faster, but you'll have to resize the bases off the progressive (which will obviously slow things down again). I can crank out a pretty good amount per hour on the 600 Jr; maybe 150 per hour or so. That's about as fast as I need to go. __________________ -A conclusion is not a destination, it's simply a convenient place to stop thinking.- -Reading a thing doesn't automatically make it so; repeating it doesn't necessarily make it any truer.- -Every Texan should be a member of the Texas State Rifle Association.

April 18, 2010, 10:25 AM	#5
greco Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2005 Posts: 125	I have 2 MEC models I have had for about 20 years or so. The are the model 9000, and they eject a complete round for each stroke of the handle. The base is resized at the first station. The loads look and perform beautifully. One is manual and one has a spring/gas assist which turns it one station at a time. I kind of prefer the manual one because if you mess something up, it is easy to stop the sequence, fix the problem and get right back to it. This happens more often than you think. Sometimes a primer may get out, or upside down, or a wad won't enter correctly or something. I have reloaded over 100,000 rounds with these 2 machines since I used to shoot skeet in tournaments all over the place. They still work just fine with no repairs. __________________ NRA Pistol, Shotgun, Rifle Instructor Last edited by greco; April 19, 2010 at 06:57 PM.

April 18, 2010, 08:06 PM	#10
Magnum Mike Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 347	Quite a difference between a 600 and a grabber! I have both. I use the 600 for screw ups and handicap loads. The grabber is about as progressive as it gets only it does not auto index! I would never go back to the 600 for my main press. Last edited by Magnum Mike; April 18, 2010 at 08:14 PM.

April 18, 2010, 10:19 AM	#3
N2GN2 Junior Member Join Date: April 18, 2010 Posts: 4	Do I need to worry about the better MEC having better resizing options?

April 18, 2010, 05:12 PM	#7
l98ster Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2010 Location: Hopewell Junction, NY Posts: 454	i have both the sizemaster and the 600 jr. the primer feed is a must. DEFINITLY!!! also, the sizemaster will resize the brass on the first station and has a larger shot bottle. So, if its a choice between the 600 and the sizemaster, go with the sizemaster. However, if you plan ondoing a lot of trap and skeet shooting, I would step it up to a progressive. Dont get me wrong, the sizemaster can truck along pretty well, but I was shooting about 500 rounds a week, and the sizemaster was taking up a lot of my time. -George

April 18, 2010, 06:30 PM	#8
N2GN2 Junior Member Join Date: April 18, 2010 Posts: 4	Thank you everyone for your help! I'm confident that the MEC Sizemaster is the shot press for me. I hope to order it soon!

April 18, 2010, 06:43 PM	#9
rottieman33 Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2009 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 223	I just got in to reloading shot shell and have a Mec 600 Jr. I did about 500 rounds in 4-6 hours taking my time. My dog kept wanting to play ball so that slowed me down a little. Do get the bottle supports for it. I had mine fall off on me and it made a mess of #8 shot all over the place.