Mec reloaders

[highpowermatch]

I recently picked up a bunch of reloading stuff at an estate sale. In the stuff were 3 Mec loaders. One 600jr, one Versamec 700 and one Sizemaster. I am wanting to reload 12ga and 410. I have only loaded handgun rounds with a Dillion square deal and a single stage press and that is the extent of my reloading knowledge. I can only keep one of the Mec loaders because I have to get some of my $ back before the better half kills me Now without ever using one of these I would say keep the latest model Sizemaster with the auto prime. But when looking on line folks seem to like the JR a lot and the conversion kits are $50 less. Any advice on this would be appreciated.

[M61]

I've used the Mec Jr. for years and its economy and ease of use can't be beat - can easily load over 80rds an hour!

[highpowermatch]

Thanks for the input! what size do you load? and do you load steel shot?

[M61]

12ga & 20ga and usually just for skeet/sport shooting...I haven't used steel shot, but can't imagine it's any different. My Mec Jr. is at least 30yrs old and it's just really nice to be able to find all the parts/bushings and such in stock and for CHEAP!! Very easy and smooth loader and once you get the swing of it, you can push out quite a few boxes/hr!!

[rksimple]

The jr has been more than sufficient for me. Its easy to use and fast enough.

[highpowermatch]

Thanks rksimple!

[rksimple]

Thanks rksimple!

No problem. I started using my dad's when I was 15. Now 15 years later I've had my own for only a few years. Having a lot of parts available and for a good price is attractive. If it weren't for the price of shot, I'd be doing a lot more shotshell reloading.

[sargenv]

Of the three, I'd stick with the sizemaster. The collet resizing station beats the ring resizer of either of the other presses hands down. It should have come with a primer feed tray which when properly set up will dropa new primer on the priming station when you do your final crimp. I own both a 12 and 20 gauge Sizemaster. The progressive I have in 12 gauge is the 8567 Grabber. I'd sell the other two.

[Revoman]

I would agree that the Sizemaster is the loader to hang with.

As far as reloading shotshells is concerned, you will do well to keep it simple, by that I mean use one kind/brand of hull and settle on one wad, powder and primer manufacturer. (Unless you have or get some freebies.)

Shot can be expensive right now, but lead is dropping dramatically in price so it should trickle down. Many of the trap/skeet ranges sell it for much less than the big stores.

If you're shooting trap, use 7.5 or 8 shot, skeet use 8 or 9 shot. Either 1 OZ or 1-1/8 OZ. (I opt for 1 OZ as there isn't much value in the extra 1/8 OZ anyway....plus you get more rounds out of your lead shot!)

Once you set your machine up to do one load, it won't take much tweaking beyond that if you load the same everytime.

You may want to purchase a couple of extra bottles for shot and powder, they come in handy sometimes, and of course make sure that you have the correct powder bushing by measuring the charge on a scale. DO NOT TRUST THE BUSHING CHARTS!!!!!