Loading press for 2 1/2" shells

[Paul Harm]

William, why do you think a 600 won't resize ? They do, and very well. That ring goes around the base and it has to be the right size. And, they're a lot less trouble than the collet system. I have both and can't see one being better than the other unless you want to talk about which one breaks. I think you'll find way more Mec JRs reloading 2 1/2" shells than any other machine. Now if you're going to shoot just 2 1/2" shells, do like Rich and have Mec build a progressive press for you like a 9000. Good luck.

[Brett Hoop]

Went through the 2 1/2" press hunt last winter. MEC would no longer do the 9000. PW would do a 375, they ask for hulls. I fell into a deal on Sizemasters and 600jr so reasonable I couldn't pass them up. They will load just about a perfect shell, most of the time. On occasion I end up with a crimp that isn't perfect on the 20ga, and the next one is, so it must be the hull itself. The 20ga took a lot more fiddling than the 16ga.
All I have used are RST (Cheddite) for 2 1/2" 20 and 16ga.

[Ron Scott]

My PW tooling was delivered yesterday. Haven’t had a chance to set the press up to load 2 1/2” shells yet but I think it will be pretty routine with the shorter sizing die. The small black piece allows the wad guide to move lower and fit the 2 1/2” hull.

[William Davis]

Here’s a question for PW experts.

Now that I can buy a PW short kit am scratching my head on is it useful to me. 12 & 20 my primary shell I load AA hulls full length exclusively. . 10 & 16 short loads almost all Cheddites . Have Two 375s, one set up for 12 other set up for 20. 16 & 10 I charge & crimp on MEC 600 machines.

Don’t want to load 12 & 20 on the same machine , back to front switch would be needed often.

You think the short parts would mount back side requiring a head reverse to use & not affect the full size shells loading.

That would be 2 3/4 12 front 2 7/8 10 back . 2 3/4 20 front 2 1/2 16 back. Switch to the short shells infrequent, switching not a problem.

Willam

[Ron Scott]

Originally Posted by William Davis

Here’s a question for PW experts.

You think the short parts would mount back side requiring a head reverse to use & not affect the full size shells loading.
Willam

I'm no expert but "the short parts" consist of a shorter sizing die and a shorter wad guide stop. Neither of those "short parts would mount backside." The sizing die slips in and out of the sizing die holder through the last station hole in the loading plate and the wad guide stop is changed by removing the wad guide and exchanging the long one with the short one. The only thing you would gain by mounting an additional set of dies on the backside of the tool head is the time it takes to adjust the two crimping dies -- the dies for 2 3/4" and 2 1/2" shells are exactly the same -- you just adjust them to suit the length of shells you are loading.

[Ron Scott]

I finally found some time to set up my PW for 2 1/2" shells. Things didn't work out as planned. I found out the regular length sizing die actually works better than the shorter one -- it supports the hull better and prevents the hull from collapsing. As far as the short wad guide stop goes, don't bother getting a new one. Just remove the existing one. The wad guide stops on its own when it comes into contact with the hull.

Bottom line: If you have a PW 375 set up for 2 3/4" shells and want to load 2 1/2" shells, the only thing you need to do is adjust the crimp dies and remove the wad guide stop.

Photos from top to bottom:

1) once fired 2 1/2" hull in short sizing die.
2) loaded 2 1/2" shell with crushed hull caused by crimping pressure on unsupported hull.
3) once fired 2 1/2" hull in regular (2 3/4") sizing die. (note additional support)
4) loaded 2 1/2" shell in regular 2 3/4" sizing die (ejects from sizing die perfectly fine).
5) finished 2 1/2" shells loaded without the use of additional "short parts."

[William Davis]

Thanks that’s what’s needed to see. Guess I should explain “back side “ for those not familiar with Ponsness Warren machines.

375 head has die mounting holes all around the round head. Enough for one set on the front, another set in reserve on the back. To switch gages take the head off & reverse, front set becomes the reserve, back set moved to the front becomes the active loading set. No need to re-adjust dies. You do have to switch the bottom shell holder out for the new gauge. Wad Guide needs to be gauge switched too.

I should add PW had 2 types of sizing dies. Older type are full finished crimped shell length for 2 3/4 inch, they won’t allow crimping 2 1/2 inch. New type “taper crimp” is shorter allowing the new style knock out station to put a little taper on the finished hull. One in your photo looks very much like a taper crimp. Or they may have 3 lengths now.

Think I will go ahead and order a Short 10 die & experiment with my 12 G set up machine.,

William