Picked up a Hydraulic MEC - Now What?

spencerhut · February 9, 2010, 03:31 PM

Okay, I got a deal I could not pass up on a Hydraulic MEC. I have a couple large bags of quality (REM STS & WIN AA) 12ga and 20ga hulls, 8lbs of Red Dot and 16lbs of Ramshot Competition.

Now what else do I need to get?

What should I start loading first?

We use our shotguns for 3-Gun and a little Sporting Clays now and then.
Benelli M1 Super 90 & Rem 1100

P.S. I've been reloading rifle and pistol for a long time, never shotgun.

oneounceload · February 9, 2010, 03:35 PM

Lyman's manual, it is either the 49th or 50th edition by now; a scale, shot, primers, wads. What charge bar and bushings came with it? If not what the recipes call for, you'll need different ones.

You can't load both 12 and 20 on the same machine

Pick a load that looks to do what you want. I shoot sporting clays, and I prefer 1oz loads (hence the screen name) or lighter. Your shoulder will thank you when you're 60

spencerhut · February 9, 2010, 03:47 PM

It's got all sorts of stuff with it. I have not been able to go through it all yet. I'll pick up the Lyman manual. Have a scale.
So . . . shot, wads and primers.

Can't change them over from 12 to 20 huh? Bummer. Oh well. Guess we'll be shooting more 12 than 20.

1oz loads, that is what I am talking about. The guy I got it from shot out his shoulder shooting skeet I think.

oneounceload · February 9, 2010, 04:13 PM

You'll need a recipe before buying components as recipes are wad, powder and primer sensitive. Different primers cause different pressure spikes, different wads are made for different hulls. There are clone wads available to use, but they need to match the hull.

February 9, 2010, 03:31 PM	#1
spencerhut Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 147	Picked up a Hydraulic MEC - Now What? Okay, I got a deal I could not pass up on a Hydraulic MEC. I have a couple large bags of quality (REM STS & WIN AA) 12ga and 20ga hulls, 8lbs of Red Dot and 16lbs of Ramshot Competition. Now what else do I need to get? What should I start loading first? We use our shotguns for 3-Gun and a little Sporting Clays now and then. Benelli M1 Super 90 & Rem 1100 P.S. I've been reloading rifle and pistol for a long time, never shotgun.

February 9, 2010, 03:35 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Lyman's manual, it is either the 49th or 50th edition by now; a scale, shot, primers, wads. What charge bar and bushings came with it? If not what the recipes call for, you'll need different ones. You can't load both 12 and 20 on the same machine Pick a load that looks to do what you want. I shoot sporting clays, and I prefer 1oz loads (hence the screen name) or lighter. Your shoulder will thank you when you're 60

February 9, 2010, 03:47 PM	#3
spencerhut Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 147	It's got all sorts of stuff with it. I have not been able to go through it all yet. I'll pick up the Lyman manual. Have a scale. So . . . shot, wads and primers. Can't change them over from 12 to 20 huh? Bummer. Oh well. Guess we'll be shooting more 12 than 20. 1oz loads, that is what I am talking about. The guy I got it from shot out his shoulder shooting skeet I think.

February 9, 2010, 04:13 PM	#4
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	You'll need a recipe before buying components as recipes are wad, powder and primer sensitive. Different primers cause different pressure spikes, different wads are made for different hulls. There are clone wads available to use, but they need to match the hull.