At 78, Who In Their Right Mind...

edgarspencer · 11-28-2025, 08:10 PM

goes out and buys a new press? Me, but for the part about being in my 'right mind'.
My 1974 20ga. 600 Jr was still fine, but since I seem to be mostly clay shooting with either one of my 28ga., or one of my 20s, I find the speed at loading 20s was becoming tedious.
Since I have a 28 with 2 1/2" chambers, and another with 2 3/4" Chambers, converting my 9000 press to load 2 1/2" was a worthy undertaking. I am in the same boat with the 20s, some short, and some long, so I only loaded 2 1/2" for them also.
I grudgingly like the 9000, but have to remain diligent or I'll end up with shot and powder everywhere, and I wanted to avoid that with a new, progressive, 20ga. press. I opted for a "Grabber", which is essentially a 9000, but without the mechanism that automatically advances the turret. That contraption makes catching a primer miss-feed difficult. Without it, it adds a minute and a half to the 2.5 minute rate per 25, of the 9000. Very acceptable.
The conversion to 2.5" was easier the 2nd time, and the Grabber loads factory-like shells, without a single spill. MEC modified their 200 primer feeder a little bit, mostly for the better, except a sharp edge on the lock-out ring, that drew blood. A fully loaded turret does seem to take a bit of muscle, but not bothersome.
At one time, I stated that I believed the conversion could be done on a 16ga. press, but I've re-thunk that.

6pt-Sika · 11-29-2025, 12:14 AM

I believe any more my suggestion would be purchasing a flat of 20 gauge skeet loads with 8’s or 7 1/2’s . My desire to load large amounts of shells for clay birds has about left me .

6pt-Sika · 11-29-2025, 12:20 AM

You know I had a 20 gauge 9000 and a nice used 20 Grabber popped up on here for a real good price so I bought it and kept it at the shop . Last couple years I loaded 20’s I used that Grabber pretty much exclusively . Same can be said for 16’s I’d bought a LNIB 16-9000 off EBay and shortly thereafter I got a 16-650 in a deal that I purchased because there were 5k plus of the older WIN “AA style” hulls included . Anyway I loaded all my 16’s on that press at the shop well except for Buck/slug loads I used a 600JR .

Stan Hillis · 11-29-2025, 08:43 AM

2.5 minutes per 25 is 600 per hour. Very good, IMO.

I can crank out 600-700 on my 9000G, if my mind is totally on my "business" that day. But, I seldom stay with it for a solid hour, preferring to hit it for 30 minutes or so at the time, these days. I don't shoot nearly as many shells now as I did back when competing seriously in the NSCA, anyway.

Age in years is totally irrelevant. I hope you shoot 'til you're so old that your new MEC is worn out. My goal is to shoot a limit of doves on my 100th birthday, October 13, 2051.

Bill Murphy · 11-29-2025, 08:52 AM

Both of my PW 800Bs are broken. I found a MEC 600 Jr on the giveaway table at my club. I started loading, and a few hours later, I had more .410s than I will shoot in the next two years. I don't think I need a progressive loader any more.

GH-16 · 11-29-2025, 09:22 AM

Congratulations on getting your new press. Out of the various MEC presses I've had, the grabber would probably be my favorite.

Edgar-You're an inspiration for me. You have ten years on me and I can only hope I'll make it to 78. let alone still be in the market for a new press.

Keep-on, Keeping-on my PGCA friend!!

Andy · 11-29-2025, 10:45 AM

Edgar, I have a grabber and yes, can load a flat in about half an hour. I also have a 9000E and I know your perspective and understand. I think the Grabber for a 20g is literally money in the bank. Have fun!