Anyone know if the Rio hulls are Cheddite? They do have the star-number headstamps. The BPI load data I got through Rio lists Rio-209 primers for all the loads as the primer holes are metric, meaning, they say, that American primers fit too loosely. The hulls are very nice, much like the old green ribbed Remington hulls - sturdy case, nice high brass. I like them and am going to reload them if I can get Rio primers sent to Alaska somehow.

Rich, I have reloaded Rios as an experiment using Cheddite recipes. Don't bother...they are junk.

All the Remington hulls reload the same. At my club the "gun club" lay around everywhere. In the Remington 28ga, the plastic base goes over the primer hole a little so unless you use a Remington primer [ that is a skosh shorter ] you must run a drill through the primer hole to open up the plastic a little. For 12ga, most the guys at my club shoot 7/8 or even 3/4 oz in 12ga at 1200fps or lower. This makes a nice low pressure, low recoil load. Paul

Looking at buying a used MEC 600JR in set up in 12g. For around $100. Any concerns / limitations with this model?

Brian, Keep an eye on EBay. You should be able to score a 650 for $100.00 or so. Don't get me wrong the JR. is a great machine and I use them for 16,20 and 28 gauge. But for higher volume reloading ya can't beat a 650.

Well Ebay is where I found the Jr. that I speak of. I do not really intend on doing Large scale reloading persay. But I will keep my eye out for the 650s as well.

Brian and Dave, my advice to someone starting out is to stick with a single stage press such as the MEC 600JR or an older out of production VersaMec. Both are relatively inexpensive, of course the more bars and bushings you want push the overall price up. They are great machines and will if cared for provide a lifetime of service. $100 is too high IMO, here is one that may sell for $40.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/mec-shotgun-...item27c1331595

I do not advise anyone new to reloading to start with a progressive reloader such as the MEC 650. When things go wrong, and they will, one must stop and think where each of the six shells is and what status they are in. The chance of double charging powder, crushing a wad with a wad, a double charge of shot spilling everywhere is quite high for the inexperienced and still happens to the best of us on occasion.

Brian, Pete is right. I started out with four 600jrs, But I shoot so much (6500 to 7000) rounds a year, shooting skeet, that I had to move up to something with more volume. I had to go to the 9000g loaders. Like Pete said every now and then you will goof. The only thing about the 600jr is you have to pull the handle 6 times to load 1 shell. It mainly comes down to how much you are going to shoot and how much you need to reload. The amount I was talking about shooting skeet doesn't include what I load to shoot in the side X sides. Also I like the Remington and Federal hulls in the 12ga. I usually get mine once fired on E-Bay. Make sure you ask the person selling the hulls if they are good clean hulls. I have gotten some that I had to throw half of them away. ( looked like they had been laid in the mud and run over with a tractor) If you keep an eye out you can get some good deals now and then. Good luck and have fun, Mike

My vote is for a Sizemaster. Have them in 12, 16 & 20 ga. The hull resizing and primer setup are worth the few extra bucks. Also suggest a universal charge bar. I sold all my bars/bushings in favor of these due to the easy adjustments between powder/shot drops.

Anyone else using the CB4100 wad for 7/8 oz 12 loads? Recently started using this wad with Clays and really like this combo.

Mike

One more for the ease of a 600 I have moved to a 650 after one fell into my lap. I studied the machine and took careful time before running full throttle and have had acouple of squibs but luckly no double charges. I will weigh the drops very often even when on my 600.

I have changed my 600 to drop light loads for which I roll crimp. Not my 650 though that baby pushes out the shells in no time and can load about 75 in an hour thats weighing every 5 or so. Thats 3 good boxes for a nice afternoon of clays or squirels or crows what ever I may be craving.

My only problem is finding cheap shot... And time.