Progressive VS single stage

[Rich Anderson]

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.

[John Davis]

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

[Rich Anderson]

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:

[William Davis]

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

[CraigThompson]

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 .

[William Davis]

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

[Paul Harm]

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.

[Paul Harm]

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.

[Stan Hillis]

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

[edgarspencer]

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.

[Chuck Bishop]

When I had a shell jam in the collet and it wouldn't release, it was due to a rusted primer not ejecting or the primer drop tube going down too far in the fork under the base.

I had 3 MEC's, 1 hydrolic, 1 9000, and 1 grabber. They took up too much bench room. Lucked into a Spolar Gold hydrolic with 12, 20, and 28 gauge die sets at a local auction. Takes about 15 minutes to change dies. Never any adjustments needed after changing dies. Spolars have many similarties to PW progressive machines.

[Rich Anderson]

I managed to get the hull out by moving the ring back with a screwdriver and pliers to get the hull out. A major use of tools for me:rotf: I'm just getting back from quail hunting in Georgia and brought back a big case of gout that finally is on the mend so I'll mess with this again shortly.

[John Dallas]

Too much red wine?

[Rich Anderson]

To much meat and bourbon I think. Drove back from Georgia with it and could barely walk. Not a fun drive but a great quail hunt:rotf:

[Dennis E. Jones]

I went to Ponsness Warren presses thirty years ago and never looked back. I gave away a couple of my MEC presses and felt bad for the people that I gave them to. The last three MEC presses burnt up in a fire in my shop in 2015. The insurance didn't pay me much for them but then again I didn't think they were worth much.

Of course your mileage may vary.

Just my $0.02 worth.

[Mike Koneski]

Geez, what's with all the hate for MEC 600s?? I run them, 1 each for 2 7/8" 10g, 2 1/2" 12g, 2 1/2" 16g, 2 1/2" 20g, 2 1/2" 28g, 3" .410. Even use a Lee Load-All for 12g black powder. Also have a MEC Sizemaster and a MEC Hull Conditioner. All run like a raped ape. I have a Spolar Gold with heads for 12, 20, 28 and .410 if I need high volume production. None of the MEC were purchased new. I won't get in to the metallic presses. :shock: If you keep the MEC presses clean and all the linkages lubed there's no problems. Biggest issue I have is the wad guide fingers breaking. Cheap and simple fix though.

[CraigThompson]

Geez, what's with all the hate for MEC 600s?? I run them, 1 each for 2 7/8" 10g, 2 1/2" 12g, 2 1/2" 16g, 2 1/2" 20g, 2 1/2" 28g, 3" .410. Even use a Lee Load-All for 12g black powder. Also have a MEC Sizemaster and a MEC Hull Conditioner. All run like a raped ape. I have a Spolar Gold with heads for 12, 20, 28 and .410 if I need high volume production. None of the MEC were purchased new. I won't get in to the metallic presses. :shock: If you keep the MEC presses clean and all the linkages lubed there's no problems. Biggest issue I have is the wad guide fingers breaking. Cheap and simple fix though.

Nothing wrong with the single stage MEC’s and I actually prefer them for bismuth , buckshot and slugs . I like the MEC single stage for those applications better than the PW 375C . I’ve never fooled with the Spolar machines but I’m sure they’re nice I’ve just got an almost forty year affection for PW 800’s . Geeezzzz as to metallic presses I’m using the same PW Metallic II I got almost forty years ago although I’ve also got a big CH-4D for the 505 Gibbs a Lee 1000 for the 357 Magnum a pair of Lee Loadmasters for 10mm and 45 ACP and finally an a RCBS 4x4 I’ll eventually set up exclusively for the 30 Carbine round . The Lee 1000 and RCBS 4x4 were purchased used as I wouldn’t have paid new for the RCBS as an exclusive cartridge unit . I did most certainly however got the pair of Loadmasters to set up for a single cartridge exclusively . As I’m sure you surmise by now I DO NOT like changing over progressive presses from one thing to another .

[Mike Koneski]

PW and Spolar progressives are awesome machines. When I would load shells for practice and tourneys for 12g, I'd have my son or wife set the wad on the wad guide and we could crank out 1000 shells an hour when we were in sync. The MECs are great but I only do maybe 4 boxes at a time so the high volume doesn't matter especially when all of my MEC presses combined cost about as much as the current cost of 1 Spolar toolhead gauge change!!

That all said we do have a client here who has a PW for sale. I'll get more info from him. Think he said around $300.

[Mike Koneski]

12g PW Size O Matic 800-B. Message me for price if interested. I will get a pic up here sometime today.

[Pete Lester]

9000+ shells. That's how many you can load on a single stage MEC in a year if you spend + or - 12 minutes a day and load a box of shells. I am going to venture that is more than the average person shoots.

[Mike Koneski]

Yes sir! Let’s just say you divide time between 7 presses, that’s 1286 shells per gauge if you split the time evenly. PLENTY of shells to play with!

[Mike Koneski]

Here is a pic of the PW.

[Bill Murphy]

That sure is a clean looking PW 800B. All my 800Bs were bought used for peanuts. If I didn't have a bunch of them, I would consider the one Mike pictured. The MEC collet resizing system is made for high condition empties and loose chambered guns. There are certain combinations of empties and guns where MEC sizers just don't work.

[John Dallas]

Mike - Do you like the shovel handle on your machine? I've had a number of PW's and always thought that the handle modification seemed to be 90 degrees off

[Mike Koneski]

Mike - Do you like the shovel handle on your machine? I've had a number of PW's and always thought that the handle modification seemed to be 90 degrees off

It’s not my press so I can’t answer that.

[Bill Murphy]

John, the shovel can be turned. Loosen the set screw at the end of the axle and turn the shovel. I have shovels on all of my PWs except the 375s.

[bill grill]

Pacific 366 . Love em. Winter is reloading season. Ready and no where to go. The country has closed.