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MEC Reloading Press

birdman40
Hello everyone. Got a question about reloading. I am just starting to learn about how to reload. I wanted to learn about how to reload sabot slugs for my rem premier 1187. I sent a email to MEC with a general question and one of the tecs there responded back by saying that the MEC Sizemaster is the best choice in their reloaders for reloading sabot slugs. However, I have the opportunity to buy a MEC Mark 5 600 Jr.(barely used in real good condition) for $80.00. Keep in mind that the Sizemaster runs new for around $225. What I want to know is, will the Mark 5 600 Jr. do what I need to reload these sabot slugs. Any help and guidence would be appreciated.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • 1917watercooled
    I have both machines as I use to reload upward of 300 rounds a week for trap and skeet. When I was churing out #8's & #9's, I used the 'Sizemaster'. When I was making special rounds for money shoots or defense I used the #600. The #600 is slower but one is able to do special steps like adding powered nylon to the shot cup. I never made any rounds like you want to make but I know of no reason why the #600 would not do a great job. I would think after you insert and seat the shot or slug cup you will have to remove the hull to insert the slug. Good luck
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  • thorhammer
    There's a station on the sizemaster that deprimes the shell and resizes the brass, it looks like a claw that reforms the brass. The mec 600 jr. doesn't have the resizer, just a deprimer station.
    You can buy a seperate sizer if you get the mec jr. I think there around $60 or so.
    Here lies the simplicity of having that resizer on the press making shells easier to load or doing it seperately.
    As a new reloader myself the big deal is to match the shotcup to the hull, the weight of your projectile to the powder charge and using fast or progressive powders.
    A loading book is $35 - 45 and helps you make the correct calculations.

    Good luck on reloading
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  • Mort4570
    I get by without sizing because my old double barrel will take anything I stuff in there.
    pumps and especially autos can be more picky,so sizing is more critical.It's the brass that gets resized,btw.
    If all the hulls were fired in your gun,you might get away without resizing,but if for sd,I would not risk it.
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  • rsnyder55
    I've never loaded sabot slugs, so I would ask MEC if a sizer was necessary.

    I do however shoot lots of skeet and pheasants and have a 500 Jr for 20ga and a Sizemaster in 12ga.

    If you are only shooting through one shotgun chamber, then the sizer probably isn't necessary. However, if you are shooting a SXS, O/U, or multiple shotguns, a sizer can make a difference.
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  • likemhot
    Call MEC and personnaly talk to a rep, they are very knowledgeable and helpful. By the way The MEC 600 jr Mark 5 has a built in resizer at the depriming station. Check the MEC web site for a manual and you will see the deprime and resizer at the # 1 station it isnt the greatest but it does work. If you choose to add an extra step you can always pick up used resizer, they're pretty cheap. Then pick up the latest LYMAN SHOTSHELL RELOADING HAND BOOK and read it.
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  • PA Shootist
    I would say the 600 JR will do just fine at specialized reloading, such as your sabot slugs. And as stated above, the 600 JR does indeed resize at the depriming station. I have owned several over the years, and the ring resizing at the deprime station worked just fine to resize shells used in various shotguns.
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  • mectech
    The reloading of slugs can be partially accomplished by used a MEC reloading press. The single stage reloaders would work the best as the shells can be easily removed when needed. The Sizemaster has the better resizer using a collet style while the Mark V models have a hardened ring type resizer. Both styles should work well.

    The formulas for reloading slugs must be followed exactly as the manufacture indicates.

    The shells can be ran through the depriming, repriming, powder and wad insertion stages. The shell would then need to be removed for the installation of the slug. The crimp can be either roll crimped ,with an after market roll crimper or a star crimp can be placed back onto the shell depending on the manufactures instructions. A roll crimper can be purchased through a mail order place such as Ballistic Products at 1-888-273-5623 or www.ballisticproducts.com. or Precision Reloading at www.precisionreloading.com (1-800-223-0900)
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  • birdman40
    Thanks everyone for all the info. You have been very helpful.
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  • charliemeyer007
    I have used many different makes of presses to load for lots of different shotguns with everything except steel shot. The collet base sizer is the best. The magazine tube is where the problems usually occur. My Ithaca 37's have tight tubes and will hang up/jam with most reloads, so I bought the mec collet sizer: problem solved. The looser 870's Rem tubes seem to take anything. A friend's 11-87 has problems with extracting reloads that aren't collet sized (nice square rim I think). His 590 mossberg also prefers collet ammo and will not function with cheep factory ammo.
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  • XP100
    The 600 sizes the case head. It just does not have a Collet sizer. The deprime stage has a tapered sizer that resized the hull.
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