help!!! 6 point crimp starter???

[Keith Parrish]

Can anyone help point me towards an old style MEC 6 point crimp starter? I have a new one and just don't like it and am having no luck finding the old 6 point one anywhere. I'm restoring an old MEC 650 that was found in a barn close to colapse. If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated!!!

[calvin humburg]

Ballistic Products has brass ones there kind of pricey. Don't know if there for a 650 but worth a look if Jent don't have it.

[Keith Parrish]

Yes, I'd like the old metal style6 point.Yes in 12 gauge. Not the spindex plastic like i got swendeled into purchasing.

I've seen the brass ones not made from MEC but I'd like to keep it original, You know?? And those are around $30
When I found the 650 it has the 8 point metal crimp starter but I've heard if the hull is a 6 point you should stick with 6 point. Which makes since.

Tried looking at ballistic and midway and sportsman warehouse and cabelas and some local shops but no luck.

Any idea where or who has one?????

[Dave Suponski]

Keith, I dug through my old Mec stuff. Is this what you need?

[Keith Parrish]

YES SIR!!!! actually I just neet the insert I have the bolt and holder but what works for you?

[Dave Suponski]

Keith, Check your PM's

[Keith Parrish]

HEY you all are teasing this young buck HAHA "O I got 3 or 4 of those in my drawer".

But why do you perfer the new plastic one?

[Dave Suponski]

I don't know about 3 or 4. I found that one thats all I had.

[Keith Parrish]

Hello Keith, We all have those in our junk drawers. We have all switched to the newer type of crimp starter. I probably have 3 or 4 of those in my junk drawer. I will go and look. Jent


What newer ones are you talking about? the brass or the plastic? Whats the difference?

[Keith Parrish]

DAVE THANKS!!!

Now thats out of the way. I am going to try the spindex but I had to have the original for my sake of knowing. Does anyone know when the 650's were introduced? How can I find out if mine is pre 85' the guy at MEC said that the NEW knockout bushings fit the sizer attachment (which I just got) but my knockout doesn't have the threads for the sizer should I try going with a new knockout bushing to see if it fits the machine itself???

Just wana learn

[Paul Harm]

I think the pre 85 had a metal and red plastic insert for a wad guide. After they used a one piece black plastic wad guide. I'm not sure what you mean by " knockout bushing". Is it the cam crimp punch that goes in the cam crimp housing ? I have an extra old Grabber 87 in 12ga that I'm converting to 10ga. Disconnected the resizer. Then ground out the shell carrier to take 10ga. Put on the start crimp and final crimp stations [10ga] from my 600jr. So far it works up to the start crimp station but still binds a bit when indexing to the start crimp station. I'll have to take it apart again and grind a bit more clearence on the base - the old machines had the outer guide cast in the base instesd of riveting on a piece of sheet metal. A 650 would have been easier but I didn't have one. If you look at a 600jr and a 650 you'll see they used the same drop tubes, start crimp and final crimp equipment. So far I can use the progressive action up to crimping and then I can pull the shell out and roll crimp. I get the rest working and then I can star crimp. Paul

[Paul Harm]

Oh, I've never had any trouble with the new plastic star crimp, 6 or 8 point. They are easier to adjust- the old ones need washers. I do think the old metal ones "look better" but don't think they work any better. I have had to order plastic ones because it wouldn't stay on rod [ from changing 6 to 8 and back too often]. Paul

[Keith Parrish]

P.H.

Now that you mention it the older crimp starter does loosen pretty easy. I did purchase the plastic one and have given it a try but just wana try the old metal one.

The knockout bushing is the part that is attached to and sits just above the deprimer.
I purchased the resizer which fits over this peice but the older ones don't have the threads for the resizer.
I'm going to hope that the new one fits. I also noticed on the deprimer where it attaches to the machine, it is threaded for an attachment I was hoping it was for the resizer and the resizer threads fit but I realized it was upside down so there is something that belongs in these threads that I can't find because of the age of the model they don't show what would go in the original 650 at MEC.

[Dave Suponski]

Or a MEC Supersizer.

[Keith Parrish]

on the MEC 650 parts page items #43 and #19 go with #80 and attach to the knockout bushing to resize your hulls in a seperate step you have to take the punch out and can only resize one at a time.