Mec 600 jr

Bootstrap · July 12, 2012, 04:59 PM

I've recently started reloading and I'm having a little trouble with the crimp on my shells. I'm using a mec 600 jr. Recipe is remington gun clubs, 19.5 gr green dot, 1 1/8 oz #8, fig 8 wads. I have attached a picture of the crimp. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

**Unclenick** · July 12, 2012, 05:05 PM

Shotshells come with either six fold or eight fold crimps. You have to change the crimp starter die to match the original fold count on your hulls. Looks to me from the creases and indentations that you are using an eight fold crimp starter on a six fold shell. It's easy to tell. Just look up into the die and count the number of fold ridges.

wild willy · July 12, 2012, 05:15 PM

Looks like you need to back your crimp off a little both the crimp start and the final crimp.Dosen't hurt to have a small hole in the middle of the crimp

BigJimP · July 12, 2012, 05:17 PM

I think you need to back off on the crimp depth too...( but I don't want a hole in the middle of my shells either).

Go to the MEC website ...and download a manual for your press...it tells you / and gives you some photos ...on how to adjust for a good crimp.

oneounceload · July 12, 2012, 06:57 PM

Sorry, but to me, it looks like he has the 6 point crimp installed instead of the 8 point which the STS uses

Crimp depth looks fine; ideally about a nickel thickness is the "ideal" thickness according to many. As long as you do not have a hole in the middle and you get the right precrimp installed, you should be good to go

Bootstrap · July 12, 2012, 07:36 PM

Looks like you guys were right, the crimp starter is a 6 pt and my gun clubs are 8 pt crimps. I'll look into buying the 8 pt crimper. In the meantime, is it ok to shoot the shells I've already loaded? Will the odd crimp alter the pattern at all? Thanks again for the help!

oneounceload · July 13, 2012, 07:49 AM

Shoot them up and reload them, again - this time with the right crimp starter - Gnader, Cabela's and stores like that all carry MEC parts - even one of my wally worlds does

**Unclenick** · July 13, 2012, 09:17 AM

Yep. Shoot them. The worst thing that can happen is they will be worn out a little prematurely from overworking the plastic.

Unless I missed something, that photo was of a 6 fold shell that looks like an 8 fold starter was used on it, so I'm assuming the 8 is what you have and what you need is the 6.

BigJimP · July 13, 2012, 11:43 AM

Yes, I'd shoot them ....and then work on my crimp settings the next time thru...

crowbeaner · July 13, 2012, 09:09 PM

Blast them and reload them again; the GunClub hull isn't the high dollar STS or Nitro 27 or the old favorite RXP hull anyway. I've had the same trouble before WITH the 8 point starter installed. As long as the crimp is tight and no hole in the middle they're OK.

birdshot · July 14, 2012, 08:25 PM

There is a dodad that fits in your drill, that conditions the hull, removing the old crimp. Midway has them, I believe they call it a hull conditioner.

oneounceload · July 15, 2012, 04:13 PM

NICK - if you look at his crimp you can see he made six point crimps - except Gun Clubs are all 8 crimps - it's the opposite - I did what you were saying when I tried to reload some Kemens which ARE 6 point and I had my 8 point on the press - they don't look like his

simple to fix, pull off the wrong one and snap on the right one

Crowbeaner - the GC's are the same hull as the STS when it comes to longevity

**Unclenick** · July 16, 2012, 02:35 PM

I guess my eye was seeing it backward: the 6 fold crimp with creases and spacing from an 8 fold starter, as opposed to those same creases as artifacts of a previous 8 fold crimp to which a 6 fold start was applied successfully. Glad your experience sorted it out. I don't recall ever using those shells.

July 12, 2012, 05:05 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Shotshells come with either six fold or eight fold crimps. You have to change the crimp starter die to match the original fold count on your hulls. Looks to me from the creases and indentations that you are using an eight fold crimp starter on a six fold shell. It's easy to tell. Just look up into the die and count the number of fold ridges. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 12, 2012, 06:57 PM	#5
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Sorry, but to me, it looks like he has the 6 point crimp installed instead of the 8 point which the STS uses Crimp depth looks fine; ideally about a nickel thickness is the "ideal" thickness according to many. As long as you do not have a hole in the middle and you get the right precrimp installed, you should be good to go Last edited by oneounceload; July 12, 2012 at 07:08 PM.

July 13, 2012, 09:09 PM	#10
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	Blast them and reload them again; the GunClub hull isn't the high dollar STS or Nitro 27 or the old favorite RXP hull anyway. I've had the same trouble before WITH the 8 point starter installed. As long as the crimp is tight and no hole in the middle they're OK. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

July 14, 2012, 08:25 PM	#11
birdshot Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2008 Location: north platte nebraska Posts: 344	Hull conditioner There is a dodad that fits in your drill, that conditions the hull, removing the old crimp. Midway has them, I believe they call it a hull conditioner.

July 16, 2012, 02:35 PM	#13
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I guess my eye was seeing it backward: the 6 fold crimp with creases and spacing from an 8 fold starter, as opposed to those same creases as artifacts of a previous 8 fold crimp to which a 6 fold start was applied successfully. Glad your experience sorted it out. I don't recall ever using those shells. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 12, 2012, 05:15 PM	#3
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	Looks like you need to back your crimp off a little both the crimp start and the final crimp.Dosen't hurt to have a small hole in the middle of the crimp

July 12, 2012, 05:17 PM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I think you need to back off on the crimp depth too...( but I don't want a hole in the middle of my shells either). Go to the MEC website ...and download a manual for your press...it tells you / and gives you some photos ...on how to adjust for a good crimp.

July 12, 2012, 07:36 PM	#6
Bootstrap Junior Member Join Date: June 9, 2012 Posts: 4	Looks like you guys were right, the crimp starter is a 6 pt and my gun clubs are 8 pt crimps. I'll look into buying the 8 pt crimper. In the meantime, is it ok to shoot the shells I've already loaded? Will the odd crimp alter the pattern at all? Thanks again for the help!

July 13, 2012, 07:49 AM	#7
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Shoot them up and reload them, again - this time with the right crimp starter - Gnader, Cabela's and stores like that all carry MEC parts - even one of my wally worlds does

July 13, 2012, 09:17 AM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Yep. Shoot them. The worst thing that can happen is they will be worn out a little prematurely from overworking the plastic. Unless I missed something, that photo was of a 6 fold shell that looks like an 8 fold starter was used on it, so I'm assuming the 8 is what you have and what you need is the 6. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 13, 2012, 11:43 AM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Yes, I'd shoot them ....and then work on my crimp settings the next time thru...

July 15, 2012, 04:13 PM	#12
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	NICK - if you look at his crimp you can see he made six point crimps - except Gun Clubs are all 8 crimps - it's the opposite - I did what you were saying when I tried to reload some Kemens which ARE 6 point and I had my 8 point on the press - they don't look like his simple to fix, pull off the wrong one and snap on the right one Crowbeaner - the GC's are the same hull as the STS when it comes to longevity