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wahoo
PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 6:24 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 Jan 2015
Posts: 345

skeettx wrote:
Be careful, the 650 was made for 2 3/4 inch ammo ONLY

To go to 2 7/8 or 3 1/2 might be beyond the capabilities of the 650


Guess I should say that I hope to load for both my 2.5” and 2.75” chambers 16ga guns. How does that effect recommendations so far.

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1929 Thomas Bland 16ga SxS 28"
1947 Browning A5 16ga 28"
1948 BRNO 16ga SxS 27.5"
1949 Stevens 530 16ga SxS 28"
1950 Stevens 311A 12ga SxS 30"
1952 BRNO 12ga SxS 28.25"
1963 Superposed O/U 12ga 27"
1968 V Bernardelli SxS 12ga 28"
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16'er
PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 6:41 pm  Reply with quote
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Location: Tappahannock, Virginia

With the mec single stage presses you can add a short kit,or use a washer spacer. The PW375 will require a trimmed shell sleeve/sizer which you can switch out easily.

Both are workable.
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wahoo
PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 7:03 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 Jan 2015
Posts: 345

So is that PW 375 single stage able to handle shells for both 2.5-2.75 chambers? Is it slower than a single stage rifle ammo press?

Edit. 16’r Your reply beat me posting this last question.

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1929 Thomas Bland 16ga SxS 28"
1947 Browning A5 16ga 28"
1948 BRNO 16ga SxS 27.5"
1949 Stevens 530 16ga SxS 28"
1950 Stevens 311A 12ga SxS 30"
1952 BRNO 12ga SxS 28.25"
1963 Superposed O/U 12ga 27"
1968 V Bernardelli SxS 12ga 28"
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skeettx
PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 7:34 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9455
Location: Amarillo, Texas

Yes, with two different sizing chambers and the other dies adjusted as needed.

Yes, about the same speed as a Mec 600 JR.

Mike


Last edited by skeettx on Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
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WyoChukar
PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 9:33 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2124
Location: Hudson,Wy

One thing I did to all of my 650 progressives was to remove the auto charge feature. It doesn't slow things down much to run the charge bar with my free hand and I can stop instantly if something hangs up. With automated charging, well crap gets dumped everywhere if something goes wrong, as it inevitably does from time to time.

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Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter...
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rkittine
PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 5:42 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 07 Sep 2014
Posts: 419

I like and use a MEC Grabber for 16 ga, but if money was no object I would buy a Spolar.

Bob

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Robert Kittine
Sag Harbor and Manhattan, New York
WA2YDV
16 Gauge O/U Browning 525 Sporting
16 Gauge SxS Rizzini Islide
16 Gauge Pump Browning BPS Upland
16 Gauge Semi-Auto Remington 1100 Sporting
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HaweaterHal
PostPosted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:38 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 20 Jan 2015
Posts: 43
Location: Victoria BC & Peoria AZ

I stated with a mec then a Dillon 900 then a PW 800 (still have a 16 ga head if anyone wants it $175)

I now have 2 Spolars and would never go back.

My wife will not shoot commercial shells just 12 ga from the Spolar.

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HaweaterHal
PostPosted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:40 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 20 Jan 2015
Posts: 43
Location: Victoria BC & Peoria AZ

Tried Mec,Dillon and PW now have 2 Spolars. They are the best and make better shells than you can buy.

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skeettx
PostPosted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:48 pm  Reply with quote
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Location: Amarillo, Texas

You have a Spolar in 16 gauge??
Cool!!!!!!!!!!!

https://spolargold.com/price-list


Last edited by skeettx on Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
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MaximumSmoke
PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:20 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Posts: 1550
Location: Minnesota and Florida

@ Wahoo,

How much do you want to shoot/reload?

Lots of good advice here. We see the single-stage and progressive systems advised here, and they are all good, but before you jump in, consider how much you will reload. If you are reloading up to 1000 or so per year in any gauge, a single-stage reloader is good enough. That volume of loading is fairly characteristic of one whose shooting is basically for hunting and occasionally for practice at clays, etc. A single stage loader also more easily lends itself to the loading of hulls of multiple types and loads, e.g. various hunting and target loads, various hull brands/types. With the MEC 600 and Sizemasters and the PW375, gauge changes within the same press are also fairly economical.

If you reload several thousand, or tens of thousands of shells in any gauge, you really need a progressive, and likely will set up for one or two loads and one or two similar hull types. Changing gauges with progressives is costly -- with some, like Ponsness-Warren and its close derivative, Spolar, you change with a carriage die set, and with MEC, their progressives are not really gauge changeable and you need multiple machines. By the time you've acquired systems to load, say 4 gauges for U.S. skeet or sporties, the cost of one brand over another (except for Spolar) is not too much different, with MEC still coming out ahead after raising their prices considerably over the last 10 years. I highly recommend an electric or hydraulic assist if you need to cut the wear and tear on hands and shoulders.

I fall into the MEC category, have used them for the last 50++ years, and have used almost all models they have ever made starting with the 300. I have 16 MECs. I have 600's/700's in 7 different gauges for hunting loads and load experimentation, and the rest are 9000's and one old 650, all configured for the Automate electric assist devices (2) for target loads (high production). Due to excellent functional concepts and economy of design and manufacture, MEC has captured by far the largest share of the shotshell reloader market. Consequently, MEC's are ubiquitous, and thus are very easy to sell or buy on the used market. MEC manuals, factory assistance, service and parts availability are the best out there IMHO. The only shotshell reloaders I would advise against are the Lee Load-All and the Lyman Easy-Loader. They can be frustrating to use. Some folks do swear by them, but I think most would eventually swear at them. Remember, it is difficult for people to resist defending the logic of their purchase -- me too, I guess Laughing
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JPM98VMI
PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 3:49 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 171
Location: VA

As a low-volume shooter the PW375 fits my production needs. A busy year of informal clays and I'll press out 500 rounds.

Being patient to wait until I got a gently used one for a significant discount makes it all the sweeter. I had made up my mind that the 375 was the way to go and drastically discounted was the only way I'd buy one. That took a little time and a lot of luck for it to work out that. Stay tuned to the Craig's List and eBay for folks that don't really know what they're selling. Of course, buyer be ware too.

Happy hunting... for machines and critters a like.
jpm

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VA -- eastern slope of the Blue Ridge, South of the James, North of the Staunton
2007 Browning Citori Lightning Feather
2007 Browning BPS Upland Special
1947 Browning Automatic-5 (stealth Sweet 16) - ventilated Poly-Choke
1937-42 Savage 430
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wahoo
PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:00 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 Jan 2015
Posts: 345

I think that I'm likely not going to be reloading more than 1K rounds a year. That might change though after I retire the second time....For now though, I'm leaning hard towards a single stage, and like JP mentioned, will be on the hunt for a good used PW 375 I think.

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1929 Thomas Bland 16ga SxS 28"
1947 Browning A5 16ga 28"
1948 BRNO 16ga SxS 27.5"
1949 Stevens 530 16ga SxS 28"
1950 Stevens 311A 12ga SxS 30"
1952 BRNO 12ga SxS 28.25"
1963 Superposed O/U 12ga 27"
1968 V Bernardelli SxS 12ga 28"
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HaweaterHal
PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 2019 2:41 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 20 Jan 2015
Posts: 43
Location: Victoria BC & Peoria AZ

I sold my PW and bought a Spolar.
The Possnes Warren was good but the Spolar is amazing.

It takes 20 min to change heads on the PW and 10 min on the Spolar.
Either way all you need is one machine and extra heads. There is no need for any adjustments when you change heads as it will be set the same as when you took it off with both.

Still have 16 ga and 410 ga heads for the 800 Plus or 800 CVT if you are interested. $175 ea.
If you get a PW get the removable dies.

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duckdup
PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 2019 3:20 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 12 Feb 2018
Posts: 258
Location: West-central Missouri

12ga, 16ga, 410 Bargain on e-bay for someone...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MEC-600Jr-SHOTSHELL-RELOADING-PRESS-410-16-12-ga-SINGLE-STAGE-ADJUSTABLE-BAR-C/202589171634?hash=item2f2b416fb2:g:0tUAAOSw~5ZcU5Ua:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!64012!US!-1:rk:7:pf:0

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An ounce of fives, the smell of nitro in paper hulls, wet gundog, and Hoppe's #9...
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Brewster11
PostPosted: Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:43 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1301
Location: Western WA

I use the MEC 600 JR for a handful of boxes of non-tox and a hundred or so boxes of 2 1/2" trap & skeet annually. It works great, albeit with a little teasing and tuning.
Then I see the Spolar for $2k, but when I go to http://www.losttarget.com/costcal.htm the numbers don't pencil out compared to simply purchasing ammo (std. or premium) from https://ammoseek.com/ or even Cabelas w/ discount & free shipping. What am I missing?

V/R
B.


Last edited by Brewster11 on Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
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