when they mess up it's a big mess. I carpeted the gun room and I bet there is well over a pound of shot stuck in the carpet. I have tried vacuum cleaner, shot vacs and I can't get it picked up.

I put a cookie sheet with lips on it under the loader. It captures all of my screw-ups

Chuck and all. The tip I got from MEC in the similar situation in 20 ga. was to add a little baby powder. It goes in every ga. now.

John thats a great idea. Did you bolt the the press and the cookie sheet directly to the bench?

I'm just going to use that bag in the 9000 12ga., no problem doing that. I did have bridgeing problems in the 12ga loader when I used 100% reclaimed shot. Now I mix it with new shot and no problem. I did use powered graphite in the 28ga loader, it helped but not completly.

I'll bet the shot can still bounce out of the cookie tray if it's not real big. I think I'll put a thin rubber mat like you would put in your tool chest in the tray. That should dampen the bounceing shot. I could probably lift the mat up and dump the contents into a container.

Another trick I use to separate the spilled powder and shot when they are combined is to use a wire mesh kitchen strainer. The powder will sift through but not the shot. Just let the wife know you borrowed it:shock::rotf:

Rich - Exactly

I use a Mec9000H I bought used for $500. The 3/4oz 12ga is my clay pigeon load and it cost me 3.45/box. My reloaders are mounted on a 2/12 in my basement workshop so any spills go on the floor. When I start sliding across the floor on shot it's swept up and thrown away.

Shot Containment
 

I mounted my reloader on a 3/4 piece of MDF and put a 1x2 around the periphery. Billy

I just have 2 MEC 600 jrs but use a plastic tray like those used at a fast food place (like Wendy's or McD's) under the presses and it catches powder and shot very well.
It makes cleaning up a whole lot easier.

Jack Kuzepski

Naw, be like Rich and use carpet - that way you can't see it.