12 ga reloading Mec 650

[William Davis]

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

[Pa SxS]

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

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by William Davis

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.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

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.

While I don't disagree with you the first loader I ever owned and used was a used Ponsness Warren 800B 12 gauge followed very shortly with the other three skeet gauges in PW 800's .

It's almost as if I reverted going from the PW's to 600's and now a menagerie of 600's Sizemasters , 650's , Grabbers and 9000's !