12 gauge reloading Press

2BGood

January 13, 2009 10:45

Any thoughts on who makes the best press and model.
I would like to get into the game thought I would check with you guys great place to start. Im thinking I would like a progressive press.

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  burdz19

  January 13, 2009 16:11

  MEC 650 or 9000 depending on how much you want to spent both work well

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  theracedivision

  January 13, 2009 18:29

  Spolar is the best and most expensive followed by Ponsness Warren.

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  Nwcid

  January 13, 2009 19:21

  How much do you want to spend and how many rounds are you planning on doing.
  
  For under $150 the Mec 600 will kick out a fair amount of shells pretty quick but is "single stag". Here are some good choices to look at http://www.grafs.com/shotshell/429

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  frisky-maddog

  January 13, 2009 19:30

  hello
  my wife and i use the ponsness warren 900. it may be old but works fine. she loves to reload when i use this and shot her first 25 out of 25 in trap using her own pet load she worked up for her gun. easy to change powder bushing and shot bushing. have not used there new ones but have never heard anything bad about them and if you dont want to pull the handle they even have electric or hydrulic upgrades so you can use a foot pedal or switch or even automatic.

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  PA Shootist

  January 14, 2009 04:54

  I have shot trap and skeet for many years, and originally had single-stage MEC 600 Jr's, but they were too slow. I sold them and did my reloading for many years with progressive MEC 650's. But, the 650 doesn't resize the case head, and there were often reasons to wish that it would have, especially when shooting different shotguns. Some over-unders seemed to have tighter chambers, and the semi-autos have less chambering power at times. I have since sold the 650's and bought MEC Grabbers, and they have done just fine. I had a couple Ponsness-Warren 800's along the way, one in 410 and the other in 12 gauge. The 410 press was much-used, and offered ongoing difficulties and frustrations, so I didn't keep it; the 12 gauge was an older model too, used but not worn out. This one worked well but didn't taper the front of the case enough to feed flawlessly and reliably in my semi-autos, so I didn't keep it either. Note the newer P-W's taper the front of the case. Overall the Grabbers I now own in the four gauges do fine for the money, and I am content.

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  ghay

  January 18, 2009 21:01

  Get yourself a Mec 8567 cost new $400 - $450. Look on e-bay i bought one in Dec for $205. and it works great. I used a Mec 600 jr for years but i love my 8567 Grabber they will last forever with proper maint.

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  toad67

  January 25, 2009 07:46

  Check this out
  http://conniescomponents.com/8567n_grabber.html

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  Rocky Raab

  January 25, 2009 09:00

  Here again, the term "best" can mean many things. Do you mean the absolute highest quality press? The one that churns out the highest volume of ammo? The one that is the most expensive? The least expensive? The one that is simplest to use?
  
  First, analyze how many shells you now shoot a year - and if that may change.
  
  If you shoot a couple of hundred, a machine as simple and inexpensive as the Lee Load-All may suffice.
  
  A thousand? You'll need something more robust, like one of the MEC machines. Or a Hornady or RCBS.
  
  Ten thousand? You are already spending enough on factory ammunition to buy the best Ponsness Warren or Dillon machine made and still save dollars.
  
  But as with metallic cartridges, if you have never reloaded, I think a progressive machine is a poor choice. They do churn out a lot of reloads, but they are very poor at teaching what is going on, or what to look for. Starting on one would be like taking your first flying lesson in an F-16 -- solo.

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