MEC 9000 Crimp

cobra81 · October 27, 2005, 10:33 PM

I loaded about 300 12 gauge shells (Win AA) last night and noticed that the shells were not getting a very deep crimp. In fact, some of them were rounded on the crimp end. I adjusted the crimp punch down and tweaked the crimp starter, and finally set the cam adjustment down a little. That seemed to help on some of the shells, but some of them were still not crimped flat.
This is the 2nd loading for these hulls, and I was using 17.5 gr. of Clays, with 1 oz. of shot over Green Duster wads. Never had this problem with the MEC before, just wondering if any of you with MEC progressives might have some insight or tips.
Thanks.

HSMITH · October 28, 2005, 07:25 AM

Can you post a picture of the crimps? I have loaded plenty on a 9000G and could probably help if I could see the crimps.

cobra81 · October 28, 2005, 10:44 AM

Here's 3 photos of one of the shells I had a problem with. I know the close-ups aren't the best, but what I was trying to capture is the "domed" shape of the crimp.
I've experienced crimp "swirls" and a small hole in the center of the crimp before, but the finished crimp up til this batch has always been flat.
After 10 or so of these "domed" shells, I loosened the crimps punch nut and turned the screw clockwise 1/12 turns. Fewer crimps being domed after this, but still 2 or 3 out of 10 would look like this.
I pulled shells at random and weighed the powder charge, and re-checked shot charge also just to make sure I wasn't putting too much powder or shot in the hull.
The Green Duster is the specified wad in the 1 oz. recipe from Hodgdon, and I 've used it a lot in the past and never had this problem.
One other thing; immediately prior to loading these shells, I had loaded a couple dozen Remington Nitro and Premier STS hulls with no problem.....maybe switching from Remington to Win AA hulls screwed up some setting on the MEC....

Take a look at the shells and let me know what you think. Thanks.

carpfisher · October 28, 2005, 11:41 AM

I can't see the pictures.
Are you using the new AA HS hull? Winchester has specified some directions that the Crimp starter and the finisher need to be adjusted due to some design changes isn the hull. The info is printed in the new Handloading (available on line from the Win website). They even use a MEC reloader in the pictures, although is it a single stage press.
I use a Hornady 366 and Hornady had to redesign their crimping dies to accomade the AA HA hull. Since I changed the final crimp die and adjusted the crimp starter, I am back to making good looking, well crimped reloads.

cobra81 · October 28, 2005, 12:55 PM

Well, I have snapped the digital photos and downloaded them to my computer.
But try as I might, I cannot get them uploaded to this post! When I click on the attachment icon, I get the "Manage Attachments" box, and then I browse to the file on my hard drive where I have saved the photos as JPEG files, but then when I try to upload them, I get a "unable to move/copy file" message.

The file size is less than the limits posted. Not my day, I guess.
Anyway, the hulls are Win AA and they don't have any markings on them or on the box that would indicate they are different from regular AA hulls. (They do have a bright base, rather than the gold, if that makes any difference.)

carpfisher · November 1, 2005, 11:19 AM

Look inside the shell. If is is a new HS hull, you can see the new inner layer of material that strengthens the hull ( HS=High Strength). It look like a parting line from a two piece mold about 1/2 way up the shell.
AA used to be one piece but now they are 2-piece.

cobra81 · November 1, 2005, 09:54 PM

Finally figured out the pictures......any suggestions?

October 27, 2005, 10:33 PM	#1
cobra81 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 336	MEC 9000 Crimp I loaded about 300 12 gauge shells (Win AA) last night and noticed that the shells were not getting a very deep crimp. In fact, some of them were rounded on the crimp end. I adjusted the crimp punch down and tweaked the crimp starter, and finally set the cam adjustment down a little. That seemed to help on some of the shells, but some of them were still not crimped flat. This is the 2nd loading for these hulls, and I was using 17.5 gr. of Clays, with 1 oz. of shot over Green Duster wads. Never had this problem with the MEC before, just wondering if any of you with MEC progressives might have some insight or tips. Thanks.

October 28, 2005, 10:44 AM	#3
cobra81 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 336	Crimp photos Here's 3 photos of one of the shells I had a problem with. I know the close-ups aren't the best, but what I was trying to capture is the "domed" shape of the crimp. I've experienced crimp "swirls" and a small hole in the center of the crimp before, but the finished crimp up til this batch has always been flat. After 10 or so of these "domed" shells, I loosened the crimps punch nut and turned the screw clockwise 1/12 turns. Fewer crimps being domed after this, but still 2 or 3 out of 10 would look like this. I pulled shells at random and weighed the powder charge, and re-checked shot charge also just to make sure I wasn't putting too much powder or shot in the hull. The Green Duster is the specified wad in the 1 oz. recipe from Hodgdon, and I 've used it a lot in the past and never had this problem. One other thing; immediately prior to loading these shells, I had loaded a couple dozen Remington Nitro and Premier STS hulls with no problem.....maybe switching from Remington to Win AA hulls screwed up some setting on the MEC.... Take a look at the shells and let me know what you think. Thanks.

October 28, 2005, 12:55 PM	#5
cobra81 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 336	Technical difficulty Well, I have snapped the digital photos and downloaded them to my computer. But try as I might, I cannot get them uploaded to this post! When I click on the attachment icon, I get the "Manage Attachments" box, and then I browse to the file on my hard drive where I have saved the photos as JPEG files, but then when I try to upload them, I get a "unable to move/copy file" message. The file size is less than the limits posted. Not my day, I guess. Anyway, the hulls are Win AA and they don't have any markings on them or on the box that would indicate they are different from regular AA hulls. (They do have a bright base, rather than the gold, if that makes any difference.)

November 1, 2005, 09:54 PM	#7
cobra81 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 336	Shell Crimp Photos Finally figured out the pictures......any suggestions?

October 28, 2005, 07:25 AM	#2
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Can you post a picture of the crimps? I have loaded plenty on a 9000G and could probably help if I could see the crimps.

October 28, 2005, 11:41 AM	#4
carpfisher Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2004 Location: Fowlerville, MI Posts: 122	I can't see the pictures. Are you using the new AA HS hull? Winchester has specified some directions that the Crimp starter and the finisher need to be adjusted due to some design changes isn the hull. The info is printed in the new Handloading (available on line from the Win website). They even use a MEC reloader in the pictures, although is it a single stage press. I use a Hornady 366 and Hornady had to redesign their crimping dies to accomade the AA HA hull. Since I changed the final crimp die and adjusted the crimp starter, I am back to making good looking, well crimped reloads.

November 1, 2005, 11:19 AM	#6
carpfisher Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2004 Location: Fowlerville, MI Posts: 122	Look inside the shell. If is is a new HS hull, you can see the new inner layer of material that strengthens the hull ( HS=High Strength). It look like a parting line from a two piece mold about 1/2 way up the shell. AA used to be one piece but now they are 2-piece.