Progressive VS single stage
 

I have been using Mec 9000 presses in 16,20,28 and 410 for years and invariably sooner or later they have some kind of issue. When they mess up it's a big mess. Right now I have a case stuck in the depriming/resizeing colette. I'm beginning to think it would be much faster and a lot less hassle to go back to the single stage press.

Rich, that's a good idea. Reload a couple of flats with the single stage and you'll remember why you appreciate the 9000.

I'll probably end up sending this to Mec to have it fixed...again:cuss: A couple of years ago I asked them to make me a 9000 in 12ga for the 2 1/2 inch case (all my presses are 2 1/2 except the 28) and they declined saying they wouldn't do that anymore. Right now I'm glad I still have the single stage 12ga press.:rotf:

I sold my Mec Grabber, & two 600 Jrs,

Now running two Ponsness Warren 375 machines.. The two PWs are set up for 2 3/4, 12 & 2 7/8 10. 2 3/4 20 & 2 1/2 16. Covers my Parker’s.

Problem with the progressive it was difficult to change loads and jammed often.

If I shot a lot of one gage would Probably get a PW 800. Would not get rid of the 375s. Slower but no malfunctions. Key to the single stage is don’t load a lot at one time. Mounted in my basement shop, pass to take the dog out or wait for the coffee pot load a box full.

William

When I first started loading shotgun shells almost forty years ago I started with a pair of Ponsness Warren 800B’s in 12 and 28 quickly followed with a pair of 800C’s in 20 and 410 . Eventually I upgraded the pair of B’s to C’s and added a PW 375C with two heads one for 16 and the other for 10 gauge 3 1/2” . When I thought I was done with shotgun stuff I sold them all . I still think nobody makes better machines than PW . But now I’ve got a pair of MEC 9000 12’s a 9000 16 a 9000 20 a pair of 9000 28’s a 9000 410 , Grabber 28 , Grabber 410 , 650 12 , 650 16 , Steelmaster 12 3” , Sizemaster 10 , 600JR 10 , 600JR 12 , 600JR 16 , 600JR 20 and 600JR 410 . All of those except four were bought used at what I consider a great savings . I use the 9000’s for skeet,trap,sporting and birds . I use the Sizemaster 10 for all 10 gauge stuff and wish they made a 9000 10 2 7/8” , I use the Steelmaster 12 for all 3” , 600JR 12 for buckshot slugs and Bismuth , the 600JR 16 again for buck slug bismuth , 600JR 20 for buck n slugs . I had a 600JR 28 that I sold to a friend before I decided to try buck and slugs , and was about to get another 600 or Sizemaster for the 28 but I’ve been using the Grabber 28 that had been setting there doing nothing . Now with all that being said if money were no object all the 9000’s would be gone and replaced with PW 800 Plus machines as well as a PW LS-1000 for 10 gauge 2 7/8” and a LS-1000 12 gauge 3” . But I’d still have MEC Sizemaster’s for the 10 , 12 , 16 , 20 and 28 for buck and slugs . While I like the PW 375C it’s not as user friendly for placing buck and slugs as a Sizemaster/600 are . Now before someone says the obvious , I’ve got way more presses than one guy needs however if they come my way in good shape and cheap I tend to pick up duplicates from time to time hence the reason I’ve got a pair of 9000’s for the 12 and 28 .

One reason I have gone to two gauge PW machines is bench space. Bolted to a heavy table with lead & shot on a bottom shelf it’s rock solid, 4 presses in a row, The pair of PW presses, Lyman Turret press set up for two rifle calibers & a Lyman TruLine Jr converted to carry 7/8 inch pistol caliber dies.

That’s all the space I can give to loading equipment. Other machinery & benches share the 26x24 foot shop. Should say none of the presses or other machinery was purchased new. Some needed extensive refurbishment all needed some work.

William

Rich, have you tried to push/force the ring around the collet back down ? They do take some grease occasionally. Maybe go over to www.shotgunworld.com and on their reloading forums are a couple of guys who " wrote the book on Mecs ". Not really, but it seems like it. They are very strong on Mecs and there are many guys who could help. Curly even has a couple of stickies on fixing them.

Another thought, do you keep a tray for used primers under the machine that maybe filled up and is stopping the action under the machine from functioning properly ? Maybe you already have, but if not a hole drilled in the table under the primer drop will allow the spent primer to fall through and alleviate the problem. Your floor will look like $hit unless a bucket is used.

They do not recommend grease for the collet sizer but, instead, "never seize" (anti-seize compound). I hate messing with the stuff as I often get it all over me, as carefully as I try to apply it, but it's all I use for that.

SRH

It is absolutely impossible to unscrew the cap without it flying to the most inaccessible parts of your body.