Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums  

Go Back   Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums Non-Parker Specific & General Discussions Shotgun Shell Reloading

Notices

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
12 ga reloading Mec 650
Unread 09-03-2018, 12:17 AM   #1
Member
King Cobb
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Bill Holcombe's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,325
Thanks: 724
Thanked 1,521 Times in 405 Posts

Default 12 ga reloading Mec 650

I finally found a 650 of similar vintage(pre85) to my fathers at a favorable price.

It has been 20 years or so since I reloaded and the press I have found needs a new primer assembly.

Charge bar is labeled 12 ga 5 300.

I have a slew of 2.5 rst 12s both cheddite and paper as well as modern shells. Will have to play eith it on the length, have also been advised to try 2 inch shells in a parker.

Anyway any advise and or suggestions appreciated. I loaded a ton of 12 ga shells for my 1100 bavk when I shot skeet in 4-H so I am not a complete novice.
__________________
"The Parker gun was the first and the greatest ever." Theophilus Nash Buckingham
Bill Holcombe is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2018, 10:22 AM   #2
Member
William Davis
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,168
Thanks: 131
Thanked 770 Times in 416 Posts

Default

Best standardize gauge shell length. Components very likely different one length to another. You can convert Mec presses with a “short kit” , converted to 2 1/2 they won’t load 2 3/4 inch. 2 inch another set of issues best left to English gun that need 2 inch.

I have 600 Jr Mec presses with short kits for 16 & 10 were I prefer (16) or need (10) short shells. 12 & 20 plenty of good hulls available, Parker’s handle 2 3/4 inch well no need for me to go short and I load for a O/U those gauges too. You can load very light shot weight 2 3/4 shells by changing wads.

That’s my routine somebody else may see it different, some good reasons to load 2 1/2 inch 12 G.

William
William Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2018, 11:53 AM   #3
Member
Pa SxS
Research Chairman
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Chuck Bishop's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,859
Thanks: 1,196
Thanked 4,925 Times in 1,410 Posts

Default

Bill, assuming that the 650 uses the old style primer feed, I have one that you can have for free. Your charge bar numbers are something I'm not familiar with. New progressive bars should have a "502", followed by the weight the bar is for. Maybe your bar was made before they used the 502 code. Here is the link to MEC bars. https://www.mecshootingsports.com/co...shingChart.pdf
Chuck Bishop is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2018, 12:02 PM   #4
Member
Richard Flanders
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Richard Flanders's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,517
Thanks: 8,480
Thanked 5,538 Times in 1,717 Posts

Default

I love my older all metal 650, a gift from a good friend. Smoothest press I have by a good margin and absolutely consistent.
Richard Flanders is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2018, 01:44 PM   #5
Member
J. A. EARLY
PGCA Member
 
Jerry Harlow's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,949
Thanks: 3,920
Thanked 2,665 Times in 867 Posts

Default

The 12 GA 5 is the old numbering system MEC used to use. If you can find the old chart it will tell you what a 5 drops. Going after doves now but when I get back I will go to the garage and look up a 5 to see what it is supposed to drop.

But best bet is to put your powder and shot in it and see what it actually drops and go from there because they are always low on what they drop compared to the chart.
Jerry Harlow is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2018, 02:00 PM   #6
Member
William Davis
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,168
Thanks: 131
Thanked 770 Times in 416 Posts

Default

Probably a good idea to settle on a load you plan to use before buying parts and components. Good post would be "what is your preferred load for xyz" get opinions from the guys on this forum, pick one then set up your Mac to load.

William
William Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2018, 08:34 PM   #7
Member
King Cobb
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Bill Holcombe's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,325
Thanks: 724
Thanked 1,521 Times in 405 Posts

Default

I like shooting rst spreaders but not sure how easy that eill be to duplicate.
__________________
"The Parker gun was the first and the greatest ever." Theophilus Nash Buckingham
Bill Holcombe is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2018, 08:59 PM   #8
Member
William Davis
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,168
Thanks: 131
Thanked 770 Times in 416 Posts

Default

Slam simple. My normal 12 G recipe is 16.5 Red Dot AA Hull Clay Buster 7/8 oz wad. For spreader shells same powder and shot charge, go to Claybusters 1 oz wad which leaves room for a polywad spreader disk on top of the 7/8 oz load. In practice it’s one more stroke on the press. If You want a 1 oz spreader, use a 1 1/8 oz wad.

I substitute a green Gun Club hull for the AA, makes the spreaders easy to identify in a shell bag.

William
William Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2018, 11:39 PM   #9
Member
J. A. EARLY
PGCA Member
 
Jerry Harlow's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,949
Thanks: 3,920
Thanked 2,665 Times in 867 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Holcombe View Post

Charge bar is labeled 12 ga 5 300.
Found several old MEC charts.

5 in 12 gauge shows 3 drams equivalent, 1 1/8 ounce of shot, 23 grains of unique, wad pressure 75, 2 3/4" shell, it then says shell with HI BASE WAD 9/16" wad column, shell with LOW BASE WAD 15/16" wad column.

Now that is going back a ways when there were no plastic wads!

Substitute plastic wads? As the preacher in Blazing Saddles said after the Bible was shot through: "Son, you're on your own."
Jerry Harlow is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-04-2018, 05:44 AM   #10
Member
J.B. Books
PGCA Member
 
Pete Lester's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,857
Thanks: 1,639
Thanked 4,793 Times in 1,365 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by William Davis View Post
Best standardize gauge shell length. Components very likely different one length to another. You can convert Mec presses with a “short kit” , converted to 2 1/2 they won’t load 2 3/4 inch. 2 inch another set of issues best left to English gun that need 2 inch.
William
The MEC 650 is a progressive reloader and as far as I know all MEC short kits are for their single stage reloaders only.

Any part you need for a 650 is available directly from MEC.

Those old MEC bars are essentially scrap metal, the OP would be better off buying a couple of bars that accept MEC powder bushings.

IMO a progressive reloader is a poor choice for a beginning reloader, you have to be very careful to prevent double powder charges and spilling shot when you run into any problem that disrupts the cycle, and you will run into problems from time to time. A used 12ga single stage MEC loader is inexpensive, it can be fitted with a short kit as well, and the chance of over charging a shell or spilling powder and shot greatly reduced.
__________________
Progress is the mortal enemy of the Outdoorsman.
Pete Lester is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:36 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 - 2023, Parkerguns.org
Copyright © 2004 Design par Megatekno
- 2008 style update 3.7 avec l'autorisation de son auteur par Stradfred.